Partner

Shona Frame

Languages

English

Social media

Shona has been involved in construction and infrastructure dispute resolution since 1994. She provides strategic advice on the management and resolution of complex construction and infrastructure disputes in litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation and expert determination, acts as Arbitrator and Adjudicator and is a CEDR Accredited Mediator.

Sector experience includes healthcare (acute, general, mental health and secure hospitals), infrastructure (roads, bridges, airports, interconnectors, wind & solar farms); PFI projects (schools, hospitals, waste, sewage treatment, water treatment, waste to energy – in operational phase and approaching handback); marine (coastal defences, harbour); commercial developments (shopping centres, offices, hotels, retail, conference centres, housing, leisure centres); education (university and college campus developments, research facilities, student accommodation) and utilities.

She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb), an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (HonFRIAS), a CEDR Accredited Mediator and a Fellow of the International Academy of Construction Lawyers (IACL).

She is ranked in Chambers & Partners (Band 1) and Legal 500 (Hall of Fame), recognised in Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal Construction) (Global Elite Thought Leader) and Lexology Index Mediation and Arbitration.

Shona frequently writes for industry publications and speaks to industry bodies.

Awards & Recognitions

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"I have worked with Shona Frame on several occasions and have always found her level of knowledge, calm and composed demeanor and practical approach to be beneficial in all situations. Definitely someone you would want on your side."

Legal 500, 2026
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"Shona Frame is a friendly yet formidable leader. She is quickly able to grasp both the detail and big picture arguments."

Legal 500, 2026
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"Shona is highly professional and a pleasure to work with. She is clearly a very experienced leader."

Chambers, 2026
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"Shona is extremely knowledgeable, experienced and always professional and responsive."

Chambers, 2026
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"Shona understood the issues really quickly which was very impressive."

Chambers, 2026
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"Shona Frame provides brilliant tailored and practical advice."

Legal 500, 2025
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"Shona Frame is very experienced and knowledgeable, and works very hard."

Chambers, 2025
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"Shona is an incredibly competent lawyer and having had the pleasure of working with her, it is no surprise that she is so highly regarded."

Chambers, 2025
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"Shona is an excellent lawyer."

Chambers, 2024
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"Shona is always an exceptionally safe pair of hands who I know will get the law right as well as offer commercially appropriate and strategic suggestions for dispute resolution. She will also be a formidable opponent who will have second-guessed the other side's position. Shona will undoubtedly deliver as promised on time."

Chambers, 2024
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"She is a very experienced construction disputes lawyer and always impresses with her serenity. She is very calm and someone we like to work with."

Chambers, 2024
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"Shona Frame brings a calm approach to stressful situations. Her client awareness skills are excellent."

Chambers, 2023
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"Shona Frame has the ability to grasp complex technical matters and assess them in the context of legal priorities. She demonstrates great skill in forming arguments and is extremely attentive in all aspects of the service offered."

Chambers, 2023

Relevant experience

Claims arising from passive fire protection and other alleged defects in a number of operational phase PFI hospital projects.
Claims related to student accommodation provider’s portfolio of properties with alleged fire defects.
Extension of time and loss and expense claims related to commercial projects including redevelopment of historic theatre, residential, hotels and office developments.
Disputes related to defects in sub-sea interconnector links and underground cabling for wind farms.
Numerous fire safety claims related to residential accommodation, hospitals and schools.
Advising authorities in relation to expiry of PFI projects including claim related to valuation of capital payment and pre-expiry processes related to condition of assets, remedial work required and security package.
Delay and cost increases and other project advisory work during construction phase of new 650+ bed acute general hospital in England.
Claims for defects alleged in a number of schools under the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) schemes.
Claims arising from key infrastructure contract for new business and commercial district.
Contract advice arising out of issues on several PFI contracts (schools, hospitals, waste, sewage treatment, water treatment, waste to energy) including allegations of defects, application of deductions, issues related to PPM and lifecycle and termination claims.

Publications

Authored chapters for:
o    The International Compendium of Construction Contracts (De Gruyter, 2021)
o    FIDIC Contracts in Europe: A Practical Guide to Application (Informa Law, 2022)
o    Major Issues in International Construction Law (Wiley, 2025).
Editor and co-author of MacRoberts on Scottish Construction Contracts (Wiley Blackwell, 2014).
Articles in Construction Law, Construction Law International, Project Scotland, Scottish Construction News.
ESG – Ten Steps to Success for Construction Companies (CMS).
Guide to Contract Alliancing in Construction (CMS).
CMS Law-Nows.

Memberships & Roles

Officer for the Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section (SEERIL) of the International Bar Association (2025 - 2026).
Co-Chair of the International Construction Projects Committee of the International Bar Association (2020 - 22)
Education Officer for SEERIL (2023 - 24)
Director of the Scottish Arbitration Centre (2016 - 2020).
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (HonFRIAS)
CEDR Accredited Mediator
Fellow of the International Academy of Construction Lawyers (IACL).

Lectures list

Negotiating Remediation Agreements in Building Safety Disputes (CMS client training).
Fire Safety Issues for Investors (CMS client training).
Dispute Resolution Approaches for Energy Transition Infrastructure (CMS Future of Renewables 2024).
Arbitration in Construction Cases (Scottish Arbitration Centre Training Day 2025.
The Legal Roadmap to Net Zero (IBA Annual Conference 2023).
NEC4 Term Service and Facilities Management Contracts (CMS client training).
Design v Performance Specifications (IBA International Construction Projects Committee Biennial Conference 2025.
Defects Liability Regimes (International Academy of Construction Lawyers Annual Conference 2025).
Supply Chain Management (GIIA Conference 2024).
Mediation Overview (CMS client training).
The Growing Demand for Energy Transition Infrastructure (IBA Annual Conference 2023).
Construction Insolvency (Canadian College of Construction Lawyers).

Education

2015 – FCIArb, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
1995 - Notary Public
1992 – DipLP, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
1991 - LLB (Hons), University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh

Practice Areas

Dispute Resolution Alternative Dispute Resolution Construction & Engineering Disputes Energy Disputes

sectors

Construction & Engineering Facilities Management Infrastructure NEC Contracts

Insights

Global Reach

UK Pay Gap Report 2024