Partner

Helen Johnson

Languages

English

Helen is a Partner in the firm’s construction practice, with significant experience advising contractors, developers and consultants on a wide range of projects. She has particular experience drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts on a broad range of complex residential, office, retail and leisure projects, and regularly advises on JV contracts, providing strategic procurement advice for major multi-phase developments. Helen is also a specialist in drafting relating to building safety issues.

Helen advises on all the major forms of internationally recognised construction contracts, particularly the JCT, FIDIC and NEC suites of contracts, and their derivatives.

Helen is part of our Northern Energy, Projects and Construction (EPC) Group, based in our Sheffield office. She is an executive board member of the Sheffield Property Association, very highly regarded in the local construction and property market and is recommended by both Chambers and Legal 500.

Awards & Recognitions

01 –

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"Helen Johnson's communication is clear and direct but also accommodating in sensitive discussions, which has helped move forward several difficult topics."

Chambers, 2026
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"Helen Johnson is friendly, approachable and intuitive."

Chambers, 2026
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"Helen Johnson offers a full service because she does both contentious and non-contentious work."

Chambers, 2026
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"She has been incredibly helpful and I highly recommend her."

Chambers, 2026
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"One thing I really like about Helen is that she's able to digest the requirements and put them into practice but she doesn't do it in legal jargon."

Chambers, 2025
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"Helen Johnson and her team are fantastic."

Legal 500, 2025
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"Helen is incredibly patient, positive and experienced in matters."

Chambers, 2025
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"Helen is approachable, knowledgeable and tenacious. She listens to the niche business needs, digests them, and then delivers a phenomenal piece of work, first time, all the time."

Chambers, 2024
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"Approachable, knowledgeable and flexible."

Chambers, 2022
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“Confident, tactically astute and industrious.”

Legal 500, 2021

Relevant experience

JV responsible for a GBP 1bn development consisting of 5m sqf of offices, hotels, advanced manufacturing facilities, logistics facilities, hybrid and ancillary retail space.
A local authority in relation to its city centre masterplan and, in particular, the sale of a shopping centre and the redevelopment of a former travel interchange.
International investors in relation to the construction elements of a purchase of 19 hotels, with a purchase price in excess of GBP 500m.
An international theatre group in relation to all construction issues across its extensive property portfolio.
On an acquisition of a portfolio of office space across London at various stages of conversion to residential apartments.
Newly promoted premier league football club in relation to proposed development of its existing assets.
Football club on development, reconfiguration and refurbishment of a hotel adjacent to stadium, including franchise arrangements with major hotel chain.
On a project advisory basis, an international theatre company, helping navigate contractual management issues during refurbishment and development works on listed and complex sites.
On construction aspects of an acquisition of industrial sites, the value of which exceeded GBP 500m.
An institutional investor in relation to various construction projects affecting their portfolio of mixed commercial use premises.
UK national rail company on construction documentation requirements for various property holdings.

Education

2008 - Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales.
2006 - Legal Practice Course, University of Law, Chester.
2005 - LLB, Oxford University, Oxford.

sectors

Construction & Engineering

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024