Duncan
Athol

Duncan, a partner based in London, is a seasoned commercial development expert in our Construction team with a focus on offices, Build to Rent, student accommodation, data centres and logistics. He is particularly focused on data centre procurement and the impact the Building Safety Act has on the as-built environment, offering deep insights into these rapidly evolving areas.

Acting for institutional developers, funders and global tech companies, Duncan covers both developer and occupier perspectives. He advises on various contracting methods, both domestic (JCT and NEC) and international (FIDIC) projects, showcasing his versatility in handling diverse client needs both in the UK and internationally.

“Duncan Athol works really hard to make the service which he offers stand out from that of his competitors and he consistently succeeds on that front.” Client Quote - Legal 500, 2025

“The construction team at Simmons & Simmons has very quickly established itself as a key trusted adviser.” Client Quote - Legal 500, 2025

Duncan collaborates with colleagues in Asset Management & Investment Funds, Financial Institutions, and TMT sectors providing construction advice to owners, developers, and funders. His broad experience and collaborative work ethic are vital to the firm’s service in construction and development.

Duncan’s experience includes advising:

• Legal and General in relation to the £150m forward funding of a residential development (627 homes) in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• BlackRock Private Markets via its real estate business in relation to the forward funding of The Castle, a 32 storey (462 apartment) residential scheme in North Acton, London.
• Hines relating to the forward funding of a 260 bed student accommodation scheme in Bristol.
• A data centre client relating to the self-build of data centres throughout EMEA and the Nordics.