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Author
The Projects & Infrastructure team can often be seen as a bit of an enigma, with people often not being aware of the type of work that the team undertakes. I initially completed my second seat in the team and have now returned for my fourth and final seat. I am also pleased to say that I will be qualifying into the Projects team in September 2025. The aim of this blog is to shed some light on the Projects team, our clients, and what life is like as a trainee… because in my opinion, it’s a brilliant team and the seat has really helped build useful and transferable skills and experience.
What are the team like?
The Projects team at Michelmores sits within the Real Estate Group. The team is primarily based within the Exeter office (which is where trainees will be based), with one of our partners also located in London. The team takes one trainee per rotation and is made up of nine lawyers and two support staff. The work is complex and typically partner lead, with trainees working closely with the partners in the team, as well as the other lawyers. The team often works together in person and review contracts in the collaboration areas in the office. That being said, there is flexibility to work remotely and have balance in your week between being in the office and at home!
So, what do the Projects team do?
We help our clients with all aspects of managing PPP (Public-Private Partnerships) Projects. At its core, a PPP Project seeks to facilitate investment in national infrastructure (hospitals, schools, prisons, etc.) without increasing public debt. The team specialises in Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts, a type of PPP, in which the private sector contracts with a public authority to assist with the financing, design, construction and ongoing maintenance of infrastructure projects.
A common example of this is private lenders agreeing to fund the construction/refurbishment of a hospital for an NHS trust. A project company, which is a privately owned and funded special purpose vehicle (SPV), contracts with an NHS trust to design, build and subsequently maintain and provide services to the hospital. The SPV will then pass these responsibilities down to specialist subcontractors for design, construction and ongoing maintenance packages, amongst other matters. PFI contracts (and associated subcontracts) generally span for a term of 20-30 years.
We act for both public sector and private sector clients. These may include NHS trusts, local authorities and councils, SPVs, and subcontracted maintenance companies. We support our clients with navigating challenges arising over the course of a PFI contract, such as assisting with implementing variations to the PFI contracts and negotiating with the public sector, lenders and subcontractors. As the terms of these PFI contracts expire, the team has a new pipeline of work in which we can help our clients with the ‘handback’ procedure. This is where an asset is passed back to the public sector as the SPV’s role comes to an end.
By virtue of the nature of the team’s work, we work collaboratively with other teams within Michelmores to be able to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for our clients. The construction team assist with the drafting, negotiating and executing building contracts and the appointments of subcontractors. Our disputes teams also help us advise our clients when things go wrong and provide specialist advice regarding defects or disputes.
What can I get involved with as a trainee?
The short answer is…everything! The work the team undertakes is so varied and so as a trainee in the team, you will get involved in different projects across different sectors and have a chance to work with lawyers across the team and the wider firm.
The high level of client contact enables you to build and develop your client communication skills as you are often emailing clients and attending meetings to discuss matters alongside your colleagues. You will also have the opportunity to draft main transaction documents, as well as ancillary documents, and will be involved in the process of completing matters and so you will have a chance to test your DocuSign skills!
If you have any questions about undertaking a seat in the Projects & Infrastructure team, please feel free to email me and I would be more than happy to assist.