Derek Nelson

Derek Nelson is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor and Chartered Engineering Surveyor, with over 40 years of construction and engineering experience. He has acted as expert on over 70 occasions in delay, disruption and quantum matters.

Derek is both an accredited and certified expert witness, fellow and current chairman of The Academy of Experts and has acted as a delay and quantum expert witness in arbitration, conciliation, litigation and mediation and as an expert determiner. He has been cross-examined on over 20 occasions and has delivered concurrent evidence in disputes from Belize to Brunei and Scotland to Singapore. Alongside his work as an expert adviser for ongoing projects, Derek undertakes the role of ‘project neutral’, independently reviewing international projects in preventative, on-the-job dispute resolution.

In addition to his expert commissions, Derek continues to provide clients with contractual advice, claims preparation and contract administration services on major contracts worldwide. He specialises in the preparation, negotiation and settlement of claims, whether disruption, acceleration or prolongation. Derek delivers advice and procedures to rapidly resolve or avoid disputes in a cost effective and timely manner.

Derek has held senior commercial and contracts positions for major international contractors and owners across Asia, Europe and the Middle East. His expertise includes matters of quantity surveying practice, valuation, damages, contract administration, contract management, commercial management and cost management, which he combines with his tested planning and delay analysis capabilities.

Aside from his extensive accreditations and wide experience, Derek is often called upon to deliver training and seminars on contractual problems, claims preparation, negotiation and dispute resolution. Derek is a contributing author to Delay and Disruption in Construction Contracts, 5^th Edition First Supplement, Chapter 17, Disruption to Progress and Lost Productivity. In October 2018, he was welcomed as a Freeman in the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.

He has a strong reputation with peers and clients alike and is Derek Nelson is commended for his “professionalism and thoroughness in evaluation and analysis” as well “the breadth and depth of his experience”. Derek “performs well under cross-examination” according to respondents who praise his “clear and well-researched reports”. The “impressive” Derek Nelson is a “much respected” figure in the market, commended by respondents for his outstanding work dealing with quantum, delay and disruption disputes.  The “highly respected” Derek Nelson is recognised for his “depth and breadth of technical know-how and industry experience” when it comes to complex construction disputes.  Derek Nelson has a broad international practice and impresses peers with his “high- quality reports, well substantiated conclusions and excellent performance under cross-examination”. Derek Nelson “performs well in cross-examinations” and offers “professional and consistently high-quality work” whilst referred to as “usually the quickest to comprehend the crux of a matter and from there he offers and communicates the practical options or solutions”.  Derek is “a gifted quantum expert” that is commended for his “vigilance” during construction disputes. Nelson’s technical background coupled with his “intimate knowledge of international construction law and arbitration hearings” ensure that he is “highly sought after” to testify in disputes.