Boutique by Design - International by Instinct
Francesca holds a Master’s degree in Museums, Galleries, and Contemporary Culture (distinction), and a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities (distinction). She has also completed several Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) examinations in bookkeeping and accounting.
Francesca leads the Office Management Team where she handles administrative responsibilities, oversees daily office functions, and maintains a supportive environment for both Clients and the Firm. Previously, she was a Senior Paralegal with the Firm, specialising in commercial real estate and commercial law. She assisted in complex transactions such as property acquisitions, share purchase completions, and corporate compliance.
Her background also includes project management experience, notably contributing to “Europe on Track”, a collaborative initiative with Interrail and the European Youth Foundation. In this role, she coordinated events across twelve European cities to raise awareness on social issues like mental health and social inclusion, honing her skills in management, logistics, communication, and cross-cultural collaboration.
The maxim of ne ultra petita is well-understood. But, Tribunals also enjoy discretion to conduct arbitrations efficiently. What happens when these two concepts clash? What if the parties do not seek a particular relief, but a tribunal orders it believing such relief aids efficiency? The Paris Court of Appeal considered the above in Tecnimont […]
The Singapore High Court in DRL v DRK [2026] SGHC 32 upheld an Award rendered by a SIAC-administered arbitral tribunal which had terminated an arbitration on the basis that it was impossible to proceed with the arbitration due to sanctions. The situation is nuanced. We say this because – different to Singapore – Courts in […]
Hamish Lal was the Presiding Arbitrator of a Tribunal that also included Sir Patterson Cheltenham (former Chief Justice of Barbados) and Ms Vicki Telford B. Arch, MBC, FCIArb, RA, BIA. The Tribunal sat at the University of the West Indies on 26 February 2026 at the Final Hearing of the Berrys International Commercial Arbitration Moot Competition […]
Hamish Lal has been Author of Part A of the Manual of Construction Agreements, published by LexisNexis, since 2015. The Manual of Construction Agreements is a comprehensive guide to the law and practice governing construction contracts, with a focus on the major standard form agreements. Part A provides an in‑depth analysis of the relevant areas […]
Hamish Lal has been both General Editor and the International Case Note Editor of the Construction Law Journal, published by Sweet & Maxwell, since 2022. Ece Tahan is Editorial Assistant of the Construction Law Journal. The Construction Law Journal provides an authoritative forum to which construction law professionals can turn for guidance, comment, and informed […]
Case law on FIDIC Contracts is always instructive. In Uniform Building Contractors Ltd v Water and Sewerage Authority of Trinidad and Tobago [2026] UKPC 2, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council looked at the FIDIC Yellow Book (1999 Edition). The Judgment provides authoritative guidance on (i) the proper analysis of variations; (ii) the limits […]
