Malcolm Harris

Qualifications

  • BSc (Hons) – Honours Degree in Quantity Surveying awarded by Bristol Polytechnic (1981)
  • LLB (Hons) – First Class Honours degree awarded by the London Southbank University (2008)
  • MRICS – Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (1986)
  • FCIArb – Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (1997)
  • Registered Adjudicator – Panel member of the RICS (1998), RIBA (2009) and AICA (2006)

Summary

Malcolm Harris’s 35-years plus experience in the construction industry is the result of employment and association with construction cost consultancies and leading contracting companies in the role of contracts adviser and commercial manager.  He has extensive experience on procurement strategies, commercial and contractual audits and the management and resolution of construction disputes.  Having obtained formal legal qualifications he has gained considerable experience on contentious and non-contentious assignments for a wide variety of Employer organisations, Main Contractors and Subcontractors.

In 1997 Malcolm established Harris Consulting International Limited, a firm of Construction Consultants specialising in procurement, dispute resolution services and post contract quantity surveying support services.  The company is very strong and well regarded in the construction dispute arena.

Malcolm is a high achiever and in recognition of the impact of the Housing, Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act 1996, (the “Construction Act”), he obtained the status of “Registered Adjudicator” with the RICS, RIBA and AICA and is regularly nominated Adjudicator.  In addition to fulfilling the role of Adjudicator in nearly 200 disputes he has also represented and advised many clients in respect of disputes referred to adjudication.

With a commitment to professional development Malcolm undertook and successfully completed (June 2008) an LLB degree at the London Southbank University, obtaining First Class Honours.  During the four year course he was awarded the following prizes:

  • Sweet and Maxwell Law Prize for ‘Best Performing Student on full-time and part-time LLB’ for year 2
  • Sweet and Maxwell Law Prize for ‘Best Performing Student on full-time and part-time LLB’ for year 3
  • Oxford University Press Law Prize for ‘Best graduating student on part-time LLB’

As part of the law degree Malcolm opted to undertake two modules in ADR that focused on Mediation practice and procedure.  This included presentation of a paper entitled ‘Is there a case for compulsory mediation in the Construction Industry’ for which he achieved a mark in the category of first class honours.

Malcolm has successfully represented clients in mediation.  In view of the Civil Justice Reforms over the last 15+ years mediation has increased significantly as a means of dispute resolution.  In consequence of this Malcolm undertook and successfully passed an accredited training programme in Mediation (RICS) and now regularly receives mediation appointments from the RICS.