Kevin Harnett - Partner
Kevin is a partner and the head of Hayes solicitors’ construction team. He has over fifteen years’ experience in advising on construction issues and construction-related disputes. Kevin is also an accredited mediator.
His practice encompasses advice to the various industry stakeholders, including contractors, developers, public bodies, designers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, insurers, materials suppliers and insolvency practitioners. In addition to contract drafting, negotiation and mid-project strategic advice, Kevin’s practice covers all forms of dispute resolution, including adjudication, conciliation, arbitration and court representation, on issues such as payment disputes, negligence/defects claims, bond claims, product liability, termination, delay and disruption, and insurance coverage disputes.
Key Experience advising:
- Various contractors in the negotiation of construction contracts and ancillary documents for a number of large-scale developments, including apartment complexes, data centres, pharmaceutical and computer chip plants.
- A materials supplier in one of the largest ever product liability / building defects claims before the Commercial Court.
- Contractors in the pursuit, and defence, of claims in numerous statutory adjudications in Ireland and in the UK.
- A financial institution in the defence of a claim on a performance bond.
- The contractor on a dispute arising from a motorway PPP project.
- A JV participant in a dispute with its JV partner in a water utilities project.
Kevin is a partner and the head of Hayes solicitors’ construction team. He has over fifteen years’ experience in advising on construction issues and construction-related disputes. Kevin is also an accredited mediator.
His practice encompasses advice to the various industry stakeholders, including contractors, developers, public bodies, designers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, insurers, materials suppliers and insolvency practitioners. In addition to contract drafting, negotiation and mid-project strategic advice, Kevin’s practice covers all forms of dispute resolution, including adjudication, conciliation, arbitration and court representation, on issues such as payment disputes, negligence/defects claims, bond claims, product liability, termination, delay and disruption, and insurance coverage disputes.
Key Experience advising:
- Various contractors in the negotiation of construction contracts and ancillary documents for a number of large-scale developments, including apartment complexes, data centres, pharmaceutical and computer chip plants.
- A materials supplier in one of the largest ever product liability / building defects claims before the Commercial Court.
- Contractors in the pursuit, and defence, of claims in numerous statutory adjudications in Ireland and in the UK.
- A financial institution in the defence of a claim on a performance bond.
- The contractor on a dispute arising from a motorway PPP project.
- A JV participant in a dispute with its JV partner in a water utilities project.
- A U.S. bank in respect of the fit-out of its Irish headquarters, including delay issues arising from contractor insolvency.
- In various disputes under the RIAI, PWC, FIDIC and JCT forms of contract, involving university campuses, housing developments, water projects, hotels, retail and commercial developments and airports.
- On contractual issues (delays and cost overruns) arising in connection with legislative changes emanating from the pandemic, and market inflation and disruption.
- Developers, insolvency practitioners and contractors in defects claims at apartment and commercial developments.
- A contractor in conciliation arising from a supermarket development for a German retailer.
- On regulatory issues, including health and safety, building control and certification of works.
Qualifications
- B (Ling Germ) (1:1), Trinity College, Dublin (2003)
- Qualified as a solicitor, Law Society of Ireland (2007)
- Accredited mediator (IMI) (2022)
Memberships
- Law Society of Ireland
- Council member, Irish Commercial Mediation Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Construction Bar Association
- Society of Construction Law
- Dublin Solicitors Bar Association
Testimonials
"Kevin Harnett is precise, clear and unequivocal with his advice. He has a brilliant turn of phrase. He is always on the end of the phone when I call."
“We worked with Kevin Harnett. Kevin presents a high degree of competency which the litigation context is very reassuring. I feel he is a safe pair of hands who is happy to take on board ideas and comments from others and thinks very well on his feet.”