Steve Johns

Steve is an experienced infrastructure and major projects specialist. Working across the public and private sectors, he has an excellent track record of supporting clients in the successful delivery of large scale public projects.

Steve is expert in the complex contracting and financing arrangements required for such projects, and has substantial experience of guiding authorities through the often lengthy regulated procurement process necessary for these schemes. He has worked on projects involving passenger transport, renewables, energy from waste facilities, highways and street lighting, schools, social housing, hospitals and emergency services facilities.

Amongst other things, throughout his career he has advised on long-term PFI/PPP projects. More recently, this has included advising on issues arising from operational schemes, such as dispute avoidance and resolution, refinancing, major variations and early terminations. 

Steve regularly provides training to clients on procurement law and contract management in the context of major projects.

Notable cases

• West of England Combined Authority – suite of innovative Future Transport Zone projects including MaaS, micromobility, DDRT, mobility hubs and urban freight;
• Alstom Transport UK – £642m contracts for full refurbishment and long-term maintenance of the West Coast mainline Pendolino train fleet, along with depot leases and improvements;
• Merseytravel – Procurement of the new Mersey Ferry vessel;
• Dudley Council – Development of the Very Light Rail National Innovation Centre;
• Walsall Council – £65m M6 J10 improvement scheme, in partnership with National Highways;
• Harlow and Gilston Garden Town – Advising on the infrastructure and partnership elements of this major garden town development involving £172m grant funding;
• Bolton Council – Installation of a £20m spine road to unlock the strategically-important Rivington Chase brownfield development;
• Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority – Comprehensive advice over many years in relation to the Authority’s two £multi-million operational PPP contracts; and
• PFI – Advising Copeland Council on early termination of its office accommodation PFI project; advising a council on a dispute relating to insurance premium risk sharing arrangements, and securing a successful adjudication decision resulting in payment to the council of c.£1m; separately advising a number of councils on disputes relating to historic poor performance by PFI contactors and application of the performance mechanics in the relevant contracts; advising DfT on a £1.4bn refinancing of a high-profile rolling stock PPP project; advising the Project Company on a £400m refinancing of a hospital PFI in the north of England.