Dr. Lancaster is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and Chartered Marine Engineer with 42 years of experience which spanned roles from a full mechanical apprenticeship, design draughtsman/engineer, project engineer, project manager, director of project controls & planning (EPC/EPCM), and general management (EPC) totaling approximately 25 years, followed by approximately 17 years working as a delay analyst focusing on the provision of testifying expert witness services in the oil & gas/power sector.
Dr. Lancaster has vast international experience having worked on, and advised in relation to, projects in over 30 countries living and working in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, U.S., and Australia. In particular, his focus is on oil & gas and power projects including onshore and offshore oil & gas assets comprising LNG liquefaction (10 projects), LNG import terminals (4 projects), LPG plants, oil refineries, tank farms, pipelines (subsea and onshore), FPSO and FSOs (conversion and new build), FLNG, shipyard fabrication, semi-submersibles, jack-ups, platforms, exploration drilling, offshore T&I and HUC, and petrochemicals (Polyethylene, Propylene, Aromatics, Ammonia, Urea, Polysilicon), nuclear, fossil fuel, wind farm and solar power projects. He also has a significant track record with respect to mining & metallurgy.
Dr. Lancaster has been appointed as a delay and/or disruption expert witness in international arbitrations on 73 occasions, which required oral testimony to be given at hearings 23 times (dispute values up to multi-billion USD) in numerous jurisdictions (virtual hearings & hot tubbing).
Lexology Index ranks Dr. Lancaster as a Global Elite Thought Leader across several different categories. Dr. Lancaster is a longstanding figure in the construction field, where he provides exceptional expert witness services as a delay specialist. He is a standout practitioner regarded by market sources as a “first-call delay expert.” Dr. Lancaster is ranked as a Global Elite Thought Leader in several Lexology reports — including Arbitration, Construction, and Consulting Experts (Construction (Quantum, Delay & Technical)). Lexology has also named Dr. Lancaster as a Thought Leader in their Thought Leaders – Construction guide, a Highly Recommended expert in their Client Choice guide, and a Recommended expert in their Southeast Asia guide (in the Arbitration Expert Witnesses and Construction Expert Witnesses categories).
According to Lexology:
- “John is one of the top delay experts in the Asia-Pacific region”
- “He is incredibly hands-on and produces exceptional reports”
- “He has in-depth experience in the construction industry”
- “John is prompt and responsive to queries from the clients and peers”
- “He is measured in giving opinions, yet confident in his analysis and able to manage and meet client expectations”
- “He is a leader in his field”
- “An excellent, well-known construction expert”
- “John never fails to impress”
- “He has strong experience in the Middle East and Africa”