Devonshires has announced the appointment of Sean Garbutt as a Partner in its Construction team. Joining from Gowling WLG, Garbutt will be based in Birmingham, reinforcing the firm’s ongoing investment in its national construction offering and enhancing its capacity to support clients across the Midlands and beyond on increasingly complex construction and building safety matters.
Garbutt brings extensive experience in construction disputes, advising a wide range of industry participants including employers, main contractors, registered providers, national and regional housebuilders, specialist subcontractors, consultants, insurers, insolvency practitioners, and end-users. His broad perspective across the sector provides valuable insight into the commercial and strategic drivers underpinning complex disputes.
He has particular expertise in matters arising under the Building Safety Act and related regulations, having acted on numerous Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution Orders. He also advises registered providers and funders on managing historic and future building safety liabilities associated with acquisitions, disposals, and development projects.
In addition to his building safety practice, Garbutt advises on a wide range of construction disputes, including claims relating to delay, defects, payment, and insolvency. His experience spans projects in the housing, commercial, infrastructure, logistics, rail, and energy sectors, as well as issues arising from long-term PFI and PPP contracts.
According to Mark London, Head of Construction at Devonshires, Garbutt’s appointment “further strengthens the depth of expertise within the team and enhances the firm’s presence in Birmingham, enabling greater support for clients across the Midlands while continuing to expand the national Construction practice.”
Garbutt commented that joining Devonshires represents “an opportunity to contribute to a highly regarded team known for its work on complex construction disputes and building safety matters, supported by strong relationships across the real estate and social housing sectors.”
This appointment forms part of Devonshires’ continued investment in its 40-strong Construction team, which advises clients throughout the lifecycle of construction and infrastructure projects—from procurement and contract drafting to dispute resolution, building safety, and regulatory compliance.
Devonshires is a leading full-service UK law firm founded in 1841. Headquartered in London with additional offices in Leeds, Birmingham, and Colchester, it employs over 380 professionals. The firm is widely recognized as a market leader in social housing, commercial litigation, banking, and real estate.
