Howes Percival 2026 Spotlight

Howes Percival’s Construction team supports clients across the full lifecycle of development and construction projects, from early procurement and contract drafting through to delivery and dispute resolution.

Working closely alongside clients and their wider project teams, the focus is on keeping the construction process clear and straightforward, so projects can move forward with confidence.

As a proud Patron of ProCon Leicestershire, Howes Percival is firmly embedded in the regional property and development market. With projects spanning the Midlands and beyond, we thought this was a good moment to introduce the Construction team. 

Piet van Gelder leads Howes Percival’s Construction team as Partner and Head of Construction. He advises clients across the construction, engineering and renewable energy sectors, providing practical, commercial support at every stage of a project.

Piet’s experience covers procurement, contract drafting and dispute resolution, and he regularly supports clients in navigating regulatory change, including the Building Safety Act.

ProCon readers may already recognise Piet through his role as a Director at ProCon Leicestershire and his active involvement in the local construction community.

Piet is closely supported by Victoria Reeves a Senior Associate in the Construction team. Victoria focuses on the non‑contentious side of construction projects, helping clients put clear, well‑structured contracts in place from the outset.

She advises developers and contractors on drafting and negotiating construction contracts and project documentation, bringing a practical, commercially focused approach shaped by time spent on secondment within the construction industry.

Like any successful project, the team is built on solid foundations. Supporting the Construction team across both project work and disputes is a strong group of junior lawyers and paralegals who play an active role in day to day matters.

Anna Smimi is a Trainee Solicitor specialising in construction and engineering. She supports a wide range of construction project agreements, including building contracts, professional appointments and engineering contracts, while gaining hands on experience across development and infrastructure work. Anna is also an active member of ProCon Leicestershire and part of an enthusiastic next generation shaping the regional construction community.

Will Needham is a Trainee Solicitor who supports the Construction team alongside wider property and disputes work. He assists on a variety of construction related matters, contributing to both project delivery and dispute resolution.

Harry Webb Jenkins is a Paralegal in the Construction team, supporting a broad range of construction and engineering matters. He assists on live projects and disputes, helping to keep matters progressing smoothly as projects move forward.

Katie Smith joined Howes Percival in 2025 as a Paralegal. A law graduate, she supports both non contentious project work and dispute resolution matters, including adjudication and litigation, bringing an organised and practical approach to the team’s work.

Howes Percival is committed to investing in the future of the construction sector, with rising talent already playing an active role in supporting complex, high profile projects. To find out more about Howes Percival’s Construction team and how they support projects across the built environment, visit www.howespercival.com.