Max Wieliczko
About Max
Max Wieliczko has worked exclusively in construction law since 1987 and he runs many of HFW’s largest and most challenging cases.
He is one of the leaders of an HFW construction team of which it is said: “The HFW team includes very seasoned and experienced counsel, as well as young but very bright associates.“; “HFW are my go-to law firm when I have a legal dispute that is complex and not run of the mill. Their ability to think outside the box and quickly attend meetings is crucial to facilitate a strategy and scenario options enabling, where possible, the timely and appropriate resolution of the dispute.” (Legal 500 UK 2023)
“The HFW team are true experts in this area and their depth of knowledge is readily apparent.“(Legal 500 UK 2022)
and
“…their lawyers combine legal skills, proactiveness and the ability to take a practical approach, which is very valuable.“ (Chambers UK 2022)
He has advised on projects with equivalent values of more than US$2.5bn and claims of in excess of US$800m. Max’s work has a focus around complex international engineering and infrastructure with a particular expertise in ports, railways, roads, tunnelling, decommissioning, and a broad range of energy projects, including oil, waste to energy, hydroelectric and solar.
A large part of his work over the last 15 years has been project support and dispute resolution in relation to offshore wind and subsea interconnector links in respect of facilities in Europe (including Germany; Norway; Denmark; Belgium; France, England and Scotland) and Taiwan. Max’s team has been involved in advising on approximately 70% of the UK’s offshore wind measured by capacity.
The offshore wind work has included work in respect of many of the world’s largest offshore wind projects whether measured by wind farm capacity, number of turbines or turbine or foundation size/weight. Max frequently advises on projects involving ground-breaking technologies. He is also very familiar with the peculiar challenges of advising on projects which have a variety of international participants and different laws and/or different dispute resolution processes governing different aspects of the same project.
As an international lawyer he advises in relation project support, delivery, and recovery in respect of projects around the world in both common law and civil law jurisdictions in arbitrations, local courts, DABs and all manner of alternative dispute resolution processes. Major disputes Max’s team have helped resolve include onshore and offshore projects in UAE; Kuwait; Qatar, South America; India; Africa; Australia as well as a variety of different European jurisdictions. And is experienced in resolving disputes where’re the contractual arrangements are governed by local law.
Max is recommended by the independent directories that review the legal market and testimonials include:
“Intellectually ahead of his peers – he thinks around the problem, makes sure all the angles are covered without overcomplicating his advice. This is a key skill!’’ (Legal 500 UK 2022)
“Max Wieliczko is unique in his ability to think outside the box. His tenacity and desire to achieve the best result for his client is what makes him stand out from the rest.”(Legal 500 UK 2023)
“He provides excellent advice and is a very talented and efficient lawyer” and “he showed very good analytical skills and an ability to understand very obscure technical issues.” (Chambers UK 2022)
“He’s extremely quick and clever, and I feel assured with him in my corner” (Chambers UK 2018)
“[He] is [a] stand out partner; he has the energy and drive to produce results, along with the knowledge of construction and construction law to approach any issues in an effective way.” (Legal 500 2020)
“Max Wieliczko…tempers courtroom verve and tenacity with a vertiginous knowledge of construction law”
And that
“[He] wins high praise from market observers, who describe him as ‘a master of handling complex construction disputes”
“…has superb industry knowledge and experience combined with an amazing ability to see through complex matters from the outset.”(Chambers)
Max is co-author of Construction Contract Variations, published by Informa Law, and which is the only specialist textbook on this subject.
Max is a member of Adjudication Society and Society of Construction Arbitrators. He speaks regularly, and provides thought leadership, at conferences both in the UK and internationally, and published articles in a variety of legal and construction industry journals.