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Index of tables

  1. Construction – Leading Sets
  2. Construction – Leading Silks
  3. Construction – New Silks
  4. Construction – Leading Juniors

Construction – Leading Silks

Construction – Leading Juniors

Atkin Chambers offers a ‘thoroughly professional service, where the clerks do their best to facilitate speedy access to some of the finest minds at the construction Bar’. David Streatfeild-James QC is a ‘heavyweight specialist in the field’. Nicholas Dennys QC is ‘one of the most practical and pragmatic lawyers out there’. Andrew White QC delivers ‘superb turnaround times’. ‘A rising star silk’, Peter Fraser QC has ‘excellent cross-examination skills and gets exactly what he needs out of a witness’. Manus McMullan QC is ‘very clever, commercially minded and very easy to work with’, and the ‘friendly and inclusiveFiona Parkin QC took silk in 2011. Top juniors include the ‘very bright and approachableJames Howells, and the ‘phenomenally intellectualChristopher Lewis, who is ‘gifted at understanding the complications of a technical subject matter’. Mark Chennells has ‘an excellent eye for detail and grasps the most difficult cases easily’.

Premier construction setKeating Chambers remains ‘streets ahead of its competitors’, and its clerks are ‘approachable, realistic and offer an unrivalled service’. ‘Fearless on his feet’, Marcus Taverner QC is ‘quite simply the best construction barrister around’. Paul Darling QC is ‘creatively aggressive and stunning in cross-examination’. Stephen Furst QC has ‘superb ability to get to grips with technical issues and translate complicated concepts into simple matters’. New silks Adam Constable QC (‘a real star, who will no doubt become an outstanding QC’); Simon Hughes QC (who ‘works with you every step of the way’); and Vincent Moran QC (‘a breath of fresh air, who gives bullish, no-nonsense advice’) are all highly regarded. Among the juniors, Marc Rowlands is appreciated for his ‘tenacity and technical expertise’, Jonathan Selby has ‘an excellent way with clients’, and Piers Stansfield gives ‘spot-on advice and is very willing to roll up his sleeves to get the job done’.

Crown Office Chambers has ‘a wide range of experience’ and delivers ‘technically strong and practical advice’ to its clients. The ‘first-classAndrew Bartlett QC has ‘phenomenal intellect’, and ‘works formidably hard but remains calm and extremely approachable at all times’. Roger ter Haar QC is ‘a silent assassin in court’, and Andrew Rigney QC, who took silk in 2010, is also highly regarded. At junior level, Cyril Chern (of ‘the highest calibre’) and the ‘excellentAnna Laney are well-respected barristers. Jane Davies retired in 2011.

Thirty Nine Essex Street is ‘an excellent set for construction law, where the clerks will work tirelessly to assist and make things happen’. ‘An excellent choice for any litigation team’, Stuart Catchpole QC is ‘exceptionally talented and masterful in his contractual analysis’; and Richard Wilmot-Smith QCseems at home in the senior courts and is exceptionally gifted at dealing with complex arguments in the most challenging of forums’. Of the juniors, Kate Grange is ‘tenacious and thorough’, Karen Gough has a ‘hands-on approach’, and Karim Ghaly is ‘a star of the future, with a very impressive understanding of complex issues’.

4 Pump Court is adept at handling construction-related professional negligence and insurance cases. ‘The chambers is down-to-earth, friendly and extremely able; you cannot ask for much more than that.’ Of the silks, David Friedman QC has an ‘excellent analytical brain’, and Jeremy Nicholson QC is highly recommended. Nicholas Vineall QC is well versed in the areas of engineering, offshore construction, shipbuilding and process plants; he is ‘easy to work with and organised, and an excellent advocate’. Also recommended are Rachel Ansell (‘very hardworking’); Simon Henderson (‘technically very strong and quick to get to grips with a case’); and Alexander Hickey (‘proactive and very good on his feet’).

At Four New Square, Roger Stewart QC has ‘a knack of getting to the crux of issues quickly’, and Ben Patten QC is ‘bright, hardworking and good with clients’. In 2010, it welcomed the arrival of the ‘very strongDavid Sears QC from Atkin Chambers.

Also recommended are: the ‘good-humoured and courteousMichael Black QC of XXIV Old Buildings; Michael Bowsher QC of Monckton Chambers (‘excellent with clients and very much at ease in the courtroom’); 3 Hare Court’s William Godwin, who has ‘good attention to detail’; Stuart Kennedy at 3PB, who is ‘extremely pleasant to work with and puts himself out for clients’; and, at Hardwicke, Nigel Jones QC, who ‘goes the extra mile’, and the ‘approachableDavid Pliener.

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Legal Developments in the UK

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