The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators - Thames Valley Branch

Rock and a Hard Place: Tunnelling, Ground Conditions and Risk

Date: Thursday, 26 Nov 2026, 18:30 Location: The Saïd Business School - Oxford , Park End Street , Oxford , Oxfordshire , OX1 1HP Member cost: £0 (including VAT) Non-member cost: £0 (including VAT)

Ivor Thomas, Adrian St.John and Diarmuid Bairead

Tunnelling, is, by its nature, a risky business. It can expose all parties to significant technical, commercial, contractual and legal risk.

This talk explores the technical and contractual aspects associated with tunnelling, ground conditions and the associated risks. In particular, the session will cover: engineering innovations arising out of challenging ground conditions; how contracts and project personnel might best deal with such challenges; how standard form contracts, such as FIDIC, deal with the apportionment of risk for ground conditions.

We look forward to hearing from our speakers:

  • Ivor Thomas – Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers with more than 40 years’ experience working in civil engineering contracting, most recently tunnelling at Hinkley, Silvertown and Thames Tideway.
  • Adrian St.John - Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers with over 30 years' experience in the design and construction of complex infrastructure projects across the UK, Caribbean and Eastern Europe. Adrian was Chief Engineer for the BFK JV tunnelling works on Crossrail C300/C410/C435 and has been Design/ Engineering Director for EKFB JV on HS2 since 2015. 
  • Diarmuid Bairead - Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Civil Engineer and delay analyst with an MSc in Construction Law. He has experience advising on major tunnelling and infrastructure projects across the UK and Europe under FIDIC, NEC and bespoke forms of contract. He regularly acts as a delay expert in adjudication, arbitration and litigation, with particular expertise in complex construction and engineering disputes.

Cost: There is no charge for this event. Guests and non-members are most welcome, but registration must be made on-line via the CIArb branch website at: Events | Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Thames Valley Branch.

Please direct any queries to Kirsten Beckett of Ciarb - Thames Valley branch on 07782 285127 or ms.kirsten.beckett@gmail.com.

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