Owen Knight

He/himSenior Associate

I strive to provide strategic commercial and legal advice, working closely with clients throughout matters to take them forward to successful completion.

Emailowen.knight@akd.partners

Call+44 20 7796 6407

London

About

Owen Knight advises both the private and public sector (including funders) on major infrastructure projects and various commercial contracts, procurement, structuring, construction and regulatory issues. These include all stages of major high-value, high-profile and complex projects (including PPP/PFI and PF2) across the defence, education, healthcare, social infrastructure, transport, and utilities sectors.

Owen is self-starter and provides strategic commercial and legal advice in a timely, easily accessible and personable manger. He works closely with clients throughout matters (including ministerial, investment committee and lender approvals processes) to take matters forward to completion. Owen has developed particular experience in the InfraFunds and Defence sub-sectors. He advises sponsors and project companies on operational issues and major variations associated with distressed projects, and ministries of defence and industry participants on key capability insertion and supporting infrastructure programmes.

Owen is a member of the AKD Partners Project Simulator (DPS) Steering Committee and the UK & Ireland representative for Iris (AKD Partners’s global people network for LGBT+ colleagues and their allies).

Areas of FocusProjects and Project Finance

Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

Amber Infrastructure and La Caisse (formerly CDPQ) on their approx. £2 billion investment into Sizewell C, the UK’s 3.2GW nuclear power project. Developed under the UK Government’s Regulated Asset Base (RAB) model, Sizewell C is expected to operate for 60 years and generate low-carbon electricity to meet 7% of the UK’s forecast demand and enhance national energy security. Owen was part of the core team advising on all aspects of the project including RAB licencing, project / contractual structuring (including construction packages), government support package and procurement process.
UK Ministry of Defence (UK MoD) on the £1.617bn Fleet Solid Support ships programme. Owen has been the 'go to' contact for the client on a day to day basis advising on strategic, procurement and contractual issues, including the impacts of the recent insolvency of a key sub-contractor and impact on the construction of the vessels. He led on aspects of contract negotiation with multiple bidders in parallel and finalised the contractual arrangements with the preferred bidder to complete the transaction in accordance with the published timetable.
The joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Babcock on their bid for the single-sourced 1B Fixed Wing package (training equipment and services) to the UK MoD as part of the £3.2bn UKMFTS project. Owen advised on all aspects of the procurement, including funding and subcontract arrangements. In addition to the usual complexities relating to the use of high tech simulators in the military arena and the complex interfaces, there were added layers of complexity due to integration into the wider UKMFTS structure. Owen has since advised Babcock in 2021 on a major variation to reflect the uplift in requirement following the Strategic Defence and Security Review and in 2024 and 2025 on the construction, ICT and services contract and related contractual arrangements as part of the new FIRCTS package (including NEC flow-down construction arrangements to its sub-contractors).
A portfolio of 9 InfraRed and John Laing owned project companies on securing an interim services provider, the negotiation of key project documents, and ultimate transfer of the FM services to a replacement FM provider, following Carillion’s liquidation. Owen provided advice on the transition of services (preserving service continuity), bankability of the replacement arrangements, as well as Carillion-caused construction defects and their rectification.
InfraRed and Dalmore on the Gravesend firearms training facility project, including major variations to remove areas from scope and the construction of a new Skills House facility and, most recently, the preparation for expiry and handback (and associated contractual implications).
Development Bank of Wales on its equity investment (as the Welsh Government shareholder under the MIM) in Hold Co as part of the £1.3bn expansion of the A465 ‘Heads of the Valley’ Project, including advice on the novel equity bridge loan structure and project documents.

Education

University of Law, Legal Practice Course, 2015

University of Exeter, LLB (Hons), 2014

Publications

Project Autumn – Industry Consultation Report: PPP Handback and Expiry (UK), September 2022
Public-private partnerships for infrastructure investment: a global perspective, March 2021
COVID-19 – UK Government guidance on supplier reliefs for public sector suppliers (including PFI/PF2 contracts), 10 April 2020
Key themes in distressed projects, 20 August 2019