
Anna Mills
PartnerAnna is Global Co-Chair of DLA Piper's International Arbitration practice and has focused on construction and engineering disputes for over 20 years. Anna acts for a wide range of domestic and international clients across a number of different industry sectors including renewables (particularly wind), conventional power, infrastructure, oil and gas, transport and manufacturing. Anna advises clients on large, complex, high value, multi-party disputes which are frequently international.
Anna's extensive experience covers a variety of different dispute forums including international arbitration (both ad hoc and under institutional rules), litigation (TCC, Commercial Court and QBD), adjudication, expert determination, mediation and all other forms of ADR. Anna also provides strategic 'live project' and dispute avoidance advice.
Anna is also an active member of the firm's pro bono team focusing on large scale or complex litigation.
Anna is described as "absolutely excellent… immensely hardworking, very bright, dedicated to her clients, pragmatic and very easy to work with – a first-rate solicitor" – Legal 500, 2024
“She's a pleasure to work with and makes the process of managing a claim more enjoyable.” – Chambers, 2024
“Anna is a strong team leader who is thoroughly across the big issues in the case” – Chambers, 2024
“Anna Mills combination of knowledge, drive and attention to detail are second-to-none, and she delivers excellent results” – Legal 500, 2023
EXPERIENCE
OFFSHORE
- Advising a major international contractor in relation to the suspension and termination of its contract to manufacture, supply, install and commission a c.100 turbine US offshore wind farm. The turbine supply agreement is based on FIDIC with substantial bespoke amendments. The contract value is c.USD 1.5bn, and the anticipated suspension and termination claims are in the hundreds of millions.
- Advising a major EPC contractor in 2023 in relation to claims worth over GBP 110m arising from its construction of offshore wind inter-array cables, an offshore and onshore substation and connection to the onshore grid via roughly 80km of export cables.
- An EPC contractor in respect of design, defects and delay issues arising out of various aspects of the design, construction, operation and maintenance of an offshore wind farm involving 2 international arbitrations (LCIA), separate but related adjudications, and bifurcated TCC litigation.
OIL AND GAS
- A European gas interconnector operator in relation to claims for force majeure under its transmission contracts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A major South Korean contractor in respect of a dispute concerning an FPSO in Africa.
RENEWABLES
- A global supplier of solar modules in an ICC arbitration concerning one of the largest solar farms in the world in the Middle East. The claim value is in excess of $400m.
- An SPV in relation to various issues including defects and delay arising out of an EPC contract for a large solar farm in the UK.
- A major European fund in emergency NAI arbitral proceedings in respect of a dispute with its joint venture partner regarding the asset management of a portfolio of onshore windfarms across the Nordics.
- A large renewable energy developer in relation to an onshore windfarm project in Scandinavia and issues relating to: serial defects in equipment supplied and installed, claims by the Contractor for extensions of time and additional payment, delays to taking over and the interrelationship of the EPC contract, TSA, SAA and PPA and turbine collapse.
POWER
- A major OEM in respect of an ICC arbitration seated in London concerning alleged defects in a CCGT plant in Greece. The claim value is in excess of $300m.
- A major OEM in respect of an ICC arbitration (seated in Singapore) concerning gas turbines at a power plant in Malaysia.
- A major EPC contractor in respect of an ICC arbitration (seated in Vienna, Swiss law governed) regarding a joint venture dispute arising out of a power plant in Turkey.
- A major EPC contractor in respect of a delay and disruption dispute relating to the wet flue-gas desulphurisation plant at a coal-fired power station in South Africa (FIDIC DAB).
- An EPC contractor in TCC litigation in respect of a dispute concerning the design, supply, construction and commissioning of a large, gas-fired industrial boiler plant - the issues included whether the works were complete, defective and of proven design.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- Acting for a major Belgian contractor in respect of an ICC arbitration seated in London regarding the construction of a port in Morocco. The claim value is in excess ofEUR150m. We are also advising in respect of associated DAB proceedings on a separate phase of the project.
- The UK’s largest supplier of concrete in respect of a dispute arising out of an NEC concrete supply contract for a nuclear power plant in England.
- A major construction materials business in respect of a dispute concerning the conveyor systems used to transport materials at a major Port in England.
- A global consultant in respect of a dispute in the New York courts in respect of the design of a data centre in Germany.
- A global data centre operator in respect of a dispute against the professional team for defects in two data centres in South East England (TCC).
- A major global contractor in respect of two potential delay and disruption disputes (ICC arbitrations) relating to the supply of major equipment for process projects in the Middle East.
- A leading infrastructure consultant in respect of a significant dispute concerning structural engineering defects in a portfolio of projects in the UK including issues related to the health and safety of the portfolio.
- A JV (Malaysian investor and contractor) in respect of disputes concerning 3 significant infrastructure projects in London – adjudications and Part 8 TCC proceedings.
MANUFACTURING
- One of the UK’s leading food companies in respect of a dispute regarding the ammonia refrigeration system at one of its major production facilities in the UK.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS/TRANSPORT
- A major EPC contractor in a series of delay and disruption arbitrations (ad hoc) in respect of a large PFI project for the design and installation of a telecommunications system on a transport network in the UK.
SHIPBUILDING/MARINE
- Advising a world leading Brazilian producer and supplier of intervention and stimulation equipment in a dispute with a major provider of floating offshore energy solutions concerning the delivery of seawater treatment equipment for an FPSO in Asia.
NUCLEAR
- A major international EPC contractor in respect of the construction of 2 large nuclear power station projects in the UK.
WATER
- A major international EPC Contractor in respect of a dispute with a major international subcontractor regarding a water treatment plant in Brazil. The issues concerned the quality of the subcontractor’s workmanship and the extent to which the works were substantially complete (ICC arbitration).
- Bar Vocational Course at Inns of Court School of Law – awarded Diplock Scholarship from The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, 2003-2004
- City University, Common Professional Examination (law conversion), 2002-2003
- Bristol University - BA Hons English Literature, 1999-2002
Awards and Recognitions
- “Who’s who legal” for renewables, 2022-24
- Legal 500 "Next Generation Lawyer", 2017-20
- Super Lawyers Rising Star, September 2015
- The Times "Lawyer of the Week", 13 November 2014
- Association of Women Solicitors: Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year – Winner, 2012
- Law Society Excellence Awards: Shortlisted for Lawyer of the Year, 2012
- British Legal Awards: Shortlisted for Assistant Solicitor of the Year, 2012
- Lawyer Awards: Associate of the Year – Runner-up, 2010
- The Times "Lawyer of the Week", 5 November 2009
- British Legal Awards – Nominated and Shortlisted for Associate of the Year, 2009
Pro Bono
- Acting for two victims of modern day slavery in one of the first civil claims for compensation.
- Acting for a victim of modern slavery in respect of an application to CICA for compensation – success in the first case of its kind.
- Acting for the family of Margaret Hassan (executed in Iraq) in respect of proceedings in Baghdad.
- Acting for 11 war veterans/appellants against the MoD in respect of a test case concerning their alleged exposure to ionising radiation during the British nuclear testing programme in the 1950s and 60s at Christmas Island and Maralinga.
- Acting for the Defendant/Respondent (AB) in an action for malicious prosecution in the High Court and Court of Appeal following the Claimant's conviction for rape and later acquittal - decided by Supreme Court in 2010 in the Respondent's favour.
Publications
- Difficult week for the Energy Charter Treaty, 31 May 2024
- Construction Bulletin: Spotlight on the UK disputes team, 11 October 2023
Memberships And Affiliations
- Higher Rights of Audience in the Civil Courts of England and Wales - 2014
- Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) - 2004