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Jess Chen

Managing Director

Photograph of Jess Chen

Suite 1901, Two Taikoo Place, 979 King’s Road
Quarry Bay, Hong Kong SAR, China

+65.6276.9050 Main

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Jess Chen is a Managing Director at Ankura based in Hong Kong. She has over 15 years of experience in delay analysis, planning and programming, construction dispute resolution, project controls, and civil engineering related work.

She is a highly qualified civil engineer with a dual degree in finance, bringing a wealth of site experience as a project engineer across various multidiscipline infrastructure projects.

Her expertise as a delay analyst is backed by substantial experience in handling time-related disputes, including claim preparation, adjudications, arbitration, and forensic delay analysis. Jess employs industry best practices and techniques that adhere to international standards across different jurisdictions.

Jess has extensive international experience working on projects across Asia Pacific and the Middle East with a proven aptitude to apply theoretical knowledge in a diverse range of construction environments.

Jess has developed her skills across a range of key industry sectors including healthcare, commercial buildings, rail, civil engineering, shipbuilding, power and energy, and onshore and offshore oil and gas processing plants.

Experience

Jess’ professional experience includes:

  • FPSO, Brazil – Commission lead for a FPSO EPC contractor to prepare delay and cost claims for three separate FPSO in relation to the extensive delay and disruption experienced arising from force majeure events including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russo-Ukrainian War, and port congestion.
  • Integrated Chemicals Complex, Middle East – Lead assistant to delay expert to provide an independent assessment on critical delays to the mixed feed cracker which formed the basis of multiple downstream polyethylene trains loss of production claims.
  • Combined Cycle Power Plant, Australia – Lead assistant to the quantum expert responsible for productivity and disruption analysis that occurred after the termination of a major subcontractor.
  • Oil Field Development Project, Middle East – Lead delay analyst for an international contractor to compile a detailed claim for an extension of time and additional costs in relation to the owner’s suspension order. The claim considers several force majeure events including the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome epidemic and the Islamic State movement which had severely impacted the re-mobilization process in the Middle East.
  • Jack-Up Drilling Rig, China – Lead assistant to delay expert on behalf on the shipbuilding company to provide an independent assessment on critical delays that occurred on vessel construction up to the date of buyer’s termination.
  • Hospital, Australia – Appointed as the lead delay analyst by the builder to undertake forensic delay analysis and to develop the delay claim, which would form the statement of claim in an arbitration.
  • LNG & LPG Cryogenic Tanks, Australia – Lead assistant to delay expert on behalf of one of the JV partners to complete critical path analysis for arbitration proceeding.
  • Natural Gas Processing Facilities, Qatar – Appointed as the senior delay analyst for a Japanese contractor to provide delay analysis support for amicable settlement negotiations between contractor and employer. Jess continued to be engaged by the contractor to work alongside the delay expert and counsels to produce an independent expert opinion and advice on the success rate of arbitration.
  • CBD Light Rail, Australia – Appointed as the senior delay analyst by the DCJV to provide support for alternative dispute negotiations between contractors and the owner by carrying out an independent delay analysis using an ad-hoc methodology which is a combination of retrospective and prospective analysis while taking cognisance of zero-cost mitigation measures by the contractors.
  • Ammonia Fertilizer Plant, Algeria – Appointed by the EPC contractor to provide expert assistance to identify causes of delays and assess the validity of claims submitted by its subcontractors based on various delay events. Delay events include terrorist attacks, tank collapses, lack of nitrogen supply, and ammonia/urea price fluctuations.
  • Skyscraper Complex, China – Led the delay analysis on behalf of a Chinese main contractor for amicable settlement negotiations between contractor and employer for multi-building complex.
  • LNG Jetty and Ship Loading Facility, Australia – Lead assistant to the delay and disruption expert appointed on behalf of the main contractor responsible for the design and construction of LNG loading jetty, constructed by combination of jack up barge, crane barge, and cantilever bridge.
  • Coal Terminal Ship Loading Facility, Australia – Lead assistant to the Delay expert appointed to complete delay and disruption analysis on behalf of the main contractor for offshore plant and infrastructure including 1.8km approach jetty, wharf, berthing and mooring dolphins, ship access platforms, jetty conveyor, and transfer towers.
  • Coal Terminal, Australia – Lead assistant to the delay and disruption expert appointed on behalf of the main contractor responsible for construction of coal export terminal facilities including jetty, wharf, ship-loader, conveyer systems, platform and dolphins.
  • Gas Plant Project, Oman – Delay analyst to provide claims consulting services for EPC of a gas processing plant. Responsible for delay analysis of a contractor-submitted claim, including contractual review, analysis of baseline, progress, and as-built programs.
  • John Holland, Australia – Contracts engineer in the civil division. Tasks include reviewing contracts terms and conditions of potential projects in preparation to Risk and Opportunity Workshops to identify contract issues and involvement in various contract claims.
  • Chevron Wheatstone LNG Project, Australia – Project planning engineer responsible for the development and maintenance of a fully resourced construction program.
Education
  • LLM, Construction Law and Arbitration, Robert Gordon University, UK
  • BEng, Hons., Civil Engineering, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • BCom, Hons., Finance, University of Melbourne, Australia
Certifications
  • President’s Prize, Chartered Institution of Arbitrators (2016)
Affiliations
  • Fellow of Chartered Institution of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
  • Member of Society of Construction Law Australia
  • Member of National Association of Women in Construction
Languages
  • English
  • Mandarin
  • Cantonese

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