Construction in London Bar

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Construction

Atkin Chambers

Crown Office Chambers

Hardwicke

Leading Silks

Stephanie Barwise QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Stephanie really is an exceptional silk. Genuinely special and dazzling to watch. I've not seen a better construction silk out there.’

Sean Brannigan QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Sean is the best construction silk bar none. Great to work with. Very easy manner. Brilliant on strategy, tactics and big picture thinking. His cross-examination can be brutal but devastatingly effective. You would definitely want him on your side rather than against you.’

Stuart Catchpole QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He’s an advocate that the judge wants to hear from because his views are respected. He is also very meticulous.’

Adam Constable QC - Keating Chambers ‘He has an excellent reputation and is very impressive, which means other lawyers respect his views. He is very good with clients who like his calm manner and empathy.’

Anneliese Day QC - Fountain Court Chambers ‘Piercing intellect, good manner with clients and hard-working. Identifies and grapples with the central issues quickly and succinctly.’

Simon Lofthouse QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is an imposing advocate and ferocious cross-examiner. He will skewer the ill-prepared or over-partial expert witness.’

Manus McMullan QC - Atkin Chambers ‘First class, extremely hard-working, knowledgeable and fantastic with clients. Great strategist.’

Alexander Nissen QC - Keating Chambers ‘Alexander is a compelling advocate, who is extremely approachable and responsive.’

Paul Reed QC - Hardwicke ‘Widely regarded as the leading authority in relation to Construction All Risks Insurance, and he has a compendious knowledge of the subject. He's a brilliant advocate, both persuasive and forceful. His legal advice is spot on, and always has an eye on wider commercial considerations.’

Andrew Rigney QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is an excellent advocate. He is intelligent, well-prepared, attentive to detail and dedicated. He is always pleasant to deal with.’

Roger Stewart QC - 4 New Square ‘He's just excellent, loved by clients, a great silk.’

David Streatfeild-James QC - Atkin Chambers ‘David is one of the finest advocates in the construction Bar. He is perhaps unmatched on a good day.’

Marcus Taverner QC - Keating Chambers ‘One of the very best construction silks at the Bar. Increasingly he is building a reputation as a first-rate arbitrator.’

Andrew White QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is a superb tactician and uses his immense experience and uncanny ability to read tribunals and opponents to plot clear and effective campaign strategies from the outset.’

Rachel Ansell QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Exceptional talent in relation to expert evidence. Very good in cross-examination. A strategic thinker.’

Nicholas Baatz QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Very approachable and is an excellent team player who communicates well at all levels.’

Paul Darling QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is a heavyweight of the construction Bar.’

Stephen Dennison QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He has a superb legal brain and is extremely good, thorough, amazingly patient and a joy to work with.’

Nicholas Dennys QC - Atkin Chambers ‘He is authoritative and extremely hard-working.’

Chantal-Aimee Doerries QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Chantal is my leading counsel of choice for construction disputes. Her responsiveness, attention to detail and excellent client facing skills make her an absolute star in my opinion.’

Roger ter Haar QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘Has an ability to cut through and focus on the important issues. Hard-working and always a pleasure to deal with.’

Richard Harding QC - Keating Chambers ‘Possesses the best Middle East practice, fluent in Arabic, a phenomenal barrister.’

Simon Hughes QC - Keating Chambers ‘Incredibly cerebral, always proactive and very client friendly.’

Jeremy Nicholson QC - 4 Pump Court ‘A go-to silk for complex construction litigation, very calm under pressure.’

David Sears QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is a calm and assured presence in any room. He is easy to deal with and always well on top of the issues. I have no hesitation in recommending him to any client.’

Fiona Sinclair QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Fiona is an excellent communicator and advocate and provides robust practical legal advice. She has an excellent rapport with clients and instructing solicitors.’

David Thomas QC - Keating Chambers ‘Really good at managing big cases. A standout performer. His advocacy is brilliant.’

Adrian Williamson QC - Keating Chambers ‘Clear thinking, concise, focused. Gets to the nub of the matter swiftly.’

Richard Wilmot-Smith QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘One of the great doyens of construction.’

Michael Black QC - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is highly experienced, a good case manager, and has a good understanding of the UAE market.’

Martin Bowdery QC - Atkin Chambers ‘One of the most imaginative barristers I've come across - sees things from angles other people don't and which other people have missed.’

Mark Cannon QC - 4 New Square ‘His ability to work and cross-examine based on the original documents is prodigious and demonstrates the sharpness of his mind.’

Jonathan Acton Davis QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Jonathan is as smooth as silk and backs it up with perfect manners covering a steel core.’

Andrew Goddard QC - Atkin Chambers ‘A very experienced construction barrister. His opinions are thorough and easy to understand. His advocacy is extremely modern and effective.’

Simon Hargreaves QC - Keating Chambers ‘Simon is always impressive and a joy to work with. He has outstanding experience on PFI disputes.’

Adrian Hughes QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘A superb barrister with top notch advocacy.’

Duncan McCall QC - 4 Pump Court ‘He is a highly skilled advocate who is able to put the case forcefully and clearly.’

Fiona Parkin QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Always into the detail and really knows her stuff. Excellent on her feet with very impressive cross-examination skills. A joy to work with. She is also a real fighter and good tactician.’

Ben Patten QC - 4 New Square ‘Highly articulate and intelligent, well regarded by his clients.’

Joanna Smith QC - Wilberforce Chambers ‘Very good at drilling down to the facts, has great commercial understanding and provides very clear and well-reasoned legal advice. She is a real quality act and a great team worker.’

Anthony Speaight QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Fights his clients' corner in court with charm and great tenacity.’

Piers Stansfield QC - Keating Chambers ‘A formidable intellect. Top-rate cross-examiner. Fantastic eye for detail.’

Steven Walker QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Very thorough, dedicated, has an excellent manner with clients and is an absolute pleasure to work with. He has a cross-examination style which is highly effective.’

Philip Boulding QC - Keating Chambers ‘Popular in the Far East - very nice and gregarious, very experienced.’

Michael Curtis QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is an extremely capable technical lawyer, exceptional judgement and strong advocate.’

Justin Fenwick QC - 4 New Square ‘He is an embodiment of legal acumen, competence, agility and commitment.’

Karim Ghaly QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He is very good, popular and hardworking, with strength in PFI disputes.’

Sarah Hannaford QC - Keating Chambers ‘An all-round superb barrister. She has the analytical abilities, attention to detail and presentational skill to be expected of senior counsel at Keating but she also brings a commercial approach and excellent case management.’

James Howells QC - Atkin Chambers ‘James has excellent analytical skills and is a compelling advocate. We would have no hesitation in recommending him for any complex construction cases.’

Riaz Hussain QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Very down to earth. Hard working. An absolute joy to work with. He becomes your friend more than your professional advisor, which is a worthy accolade when you are in the trenches fighting.’

Nigel Jones QC - Hardwicke ‘A delight to work with; nothing is ever too much trouble.’

John Marrin QC - Keating Chambers ‘Heavyweight advocate with decades of experience.’

Justin Mort QC - Keating Chambers ‘Justin has a powerful intellect, works incredibly hard and is a forceful and persuasive in oral argument. He can get to grips with complex claims very quickly.’

Benjamin Pilling QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Calm, lucid, user-friendly, knowledgeable and good court performer.’

Ben Quiney QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is always fully read in, prepared and very organised. There is no better man in a crisis.’

Dominique Rawley QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Fantastic ability to get on top of the detail and very client friendly.’

Hefin Rees QC - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Great to work with and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is very client friendly and commercially minded in his approach.’

Adam Robb QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Adam is superb. He very quickly gets to grips with details and is able to explain in simple terms to clients very legally complex matters.’

Marc Rowlands QC - Keating Chambers ‘Marc is a bright lawyer who combines intellect with a real appetite for understanding the technical aspects a of case.’

Nicholas Vineall QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Engaging and persuasive advocacy style. Good relationships with opposing counsel. Good understanding of scientific and engineering principles.’

Sean Wilken QC - Keating Chambers ‘Fiercely intelligent, has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the law and is a great strategic thinker.’

Veronique Buehrlen QC - Keating Chambers ‘She has significant strength in energy related arbitration, often with technical elements involved.’

Serena Cheng QC - Atkin Chambers ‘A stellar advocate. Very user friendly. Gets into the detail of complex matters with impressive speed and leaves no stone unturned.’

James Cross QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Excellent advocate, communicates advice in a commercial, sensible and down to earth, which clients love. A great team player.’

Lucy Garrett QC - Keating Chambers ‘Lucy is hands-on, approachable and very bright. Excellent legal analysis and a real expert in construction disputes.’

Kate Grange QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Kate is brilliant and has a strong silk practice.’

Alexander Hickey QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Alexander has an excellent grasp of detail both from a legal and technical sense.’

Christopher Lewis QC - Atkin Chambers ‘Immaculate on his feet, extremely well thought of.’

Lynne McCafferty QC - 4 Pump Court ‘Lynne is rigorous, unpretentious, approachable and tenacious.’

Fionnuala McCredie QC - Keating Chambers ‘Conscientious, combining strong analytical skills and sound judgement.’

Tom Montagu-Smith QC - XXIV Old Buildings ‘Tom has extensive experience in the UAE and understands UAE law better than most barristers.’

Vincent Moran QC - Keating Chambers ‘Absolutely brilliant. His advocacy is superb, and he's very popular.’

Lindy Patterson QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Excellent public speaker. Very approachable and a joy to work with.’

Jonathan Selby QC - Keating Chambers ‘Great legal brain. A formidable opponent who gives clear, punchy advice. Adored by clients.’

Marion Smith QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Marion is amazing. She is a first-class lawyer. She takes immense pride in her work and is truly driven to deliver the best possible outcome for the client.’

2019 Silks

Isabel Hitching QC - Crown Office Chambers ‘A standout barrister at the construction Bar.’

James Leabeater QC - 4 Pump Court ‘James is very bright and extremely user friendly with both lawyers and clients alike. He is equally good on paper and on his feet.’

Siân Mirchandani QC - 4 New Square ‘Great analytical skills – excellent drafting and advocacy skills.’

Jessica Stephens QC - 4 Pump Court ‘An outstanding barrister well able to see the wood from the trees. An excellent cross-examiner.’

2020 Silks

Krista Lee QC - Keating Chambers ‘Excellent grasp of detail. Quickly spots the best and worst points of a case. Very approachable and easy to work with.’

Richard Liddell QC - 4 New Square ‘He is very able, extremely thorough with great attention to detail, and a pleasure to deal with.’

Leading Juniors

James Bowling - 4 Pump Court ‘Super bright. He is knocking on the door of silk.’

Mark Chennells - Atkin Chambers ‘Very astute, thorough, incisive and experienced junior. His preparation is impeccable and he zeroes in on the key issues.’

Patrick Clarke - Atkin Chambers ‘Friendly, adaptable and he gives clear and practical advice that is readily understood by the client.’

Richard Coplin - Keating Chambers ‘Richard is a very talented advocate. His ability to quickly get to grips with complicated and highly technical issues leads to well-constructed and thought-out arguments.’

Simon Henderson - 4 Pump Court ‘An outstanding construction junior.’

Calum Lamont - Keating Chambers ‘Calum's intellect, ability to find solutions to seemingly impossible problems and work-rate are unparalleled at the Bar.’

Tom Owen - Keating Chambers ‘He is irrepressible, incredibly well prepared and absorbs enormous amounts of information in very short time-frames. He is very commercial, very client-friendly and always has the correct facts at his fingertips. On his feet, he is quick, pragmatic and always ready with the right answer or question.’

David Pliener - Hardwicke ‘One of the best juniors and a silk in waiting. Very commercial and user-friendly.’

Paul Buckingham - Keating Chambers ‘Calm and considered. Always appears completely in control. Incredibly likeable.’

Rupert Choat - Atkin Chambers ‘Rupert is highly astute and has an extremely thorough knowledge of all aspects of construction law.’

Robert Clay - Atkin Chambers ‘Robert has the ability to quickly evaluate the key issues from all the facts and set these out in a clear and logical form.’

Nicholas Collings - Atkin Chambers ‘Pragmatic, easy to work with, convincing and compelling advocate.’

Anna Laney - Crown Office Chambers ‘Anna always gives clear and authoritative advice on case strategy. She has a calm and friendly demeanour.’

Kate Livesey - 4 Pump Court ‘Thorough, very clever, receptive to ideas, the first junior I would always turn to.’

Catherine Piercy - Hardwicke ‘She is incredibly intelligent and able to get to the heart of a claim quickly.’

Samuel Townend - Keating Chambers ‘Thinks through issues and is helpful with strategies and has useful analytical skills.’

William Webb - Keating Chambers ‘William develops an exceptional grasp of the factual and technical detail. He is approachable and commercial which makes him popular with clients.’

Michael Wheater - Hardwicke ‘Incredibly hardworking, his written work is second to none and he gets a complete grip on even the most complex of cases.’

Luke Wygas - 4 Pump Court ‘Good communicator, robust at making his case, and has a commercial outlook.’

Samar Abbas - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Samar is a superb advocate, commercially minded and prodigiously hard-working. He brings commercial insight to any case and is a pleasure to work with.’

Jess Connors - 39 Essex Chambers ‘She is a fantastic barrister to work with, her commercial manner makes her a favourite with clients.’

Paul Cowan - 4 New Square ‘By far the best in his class and our absolute go-to. I cannot speak highly enough of Paul.’

Thomas Crangle - 4 Pump Court ‘A good barrister with a solid construction practice.’

Omar Eljadi - Atkin Chambers ‘Omar has great expertise and depth of knowledge regarding construction disputes. His work is organised, clear and concise.’

Jane Davies Evans - 3 Verulam Buildings ‘Has vast knowledge and experience in the international construction industry, including all its aspects – legal, technical and accounting. She is a master of the detail of construction cases.’

Andrew Fenn - Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew integrates into and leads a large team in complex disputes superbly; his written work is detailed but focused; and has a sharp strategic instinct to advise on tactics.’

Karen Gough - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Her advice is incisive, to the point and with an ability to solve complex problems with ease.’

Simon Hale - 4 Pump Court ‘Simon is very engaging and dedicated. He has good judgement and technical knowledge.’

David Johnson - Atkin Chambers ‘He is tenacious, highly intelligent, and drafts with fine style. He is culturally adept, grasps concepts quickly, gets across vast swathes of material with skill, speed, and stamina.’

Jonathan Lewis - 4 Pump Court ‘Born to litigate, he has an impressive and enviable ability to dismember every single one of his opponents' arguments point-by-point.’

Sarah McCann - Hardwicke ‘Sarah is extremely knowledgeable about all areas of construction law and is able to analyse the issues from the views of all parties.’

James Medd - Crown Office Chambers ‘Remarkably thorough and well-considered. If he runs with an argument, I know he has confidence in it.’

Rachael O'Hagan - Keating Chambers ‘Highly intelligent and brilliant with clients. She has a strong domestic and international practice.’

Claire Packman - 4 Pump Court ‘Strong knowledge of the law; advocacy skills are first rate; ability to manage the client and solicitor.’

Sebastian Pigott - Atkin Chambers ‘Sebastian is an intelligent and considered thinker. I have found him to be very user-friendly and pro-active. Hard-working, sensible, common sense but with good and bright ideas - also sticks to his guns in all respects.’

Matthew Thorne - 4 Pump Court ‘He is very bright and a future star of the construction Bar.’

Jennie Wild - Keating Chambers ‘She gives excellent, clear, commercial advice. She is a master tactician and someone you want on your team.’

Crispin Winser - Crown Office Chambers ‘Hard-working, great team player. Excellent cross-examination skills. Best junior barrister I have come across.’

Ebony Alleyne - Hardwicke ‘Extremely capable and professional barrister who is able to quickly identify the key issues in complex claims.’

Mischa Balen - Atkin Chambers ‘Understands the finer points beautifully. He is invaluable. Very resilient.’

Alexandra Bodnar - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Alex is incredibly bright and an accomplished advocate.’

Lucie Briggs - Atkin Chambers ‘I would characterise her as a smart, charming assassin. No nonsense. Superb preparation. Excellent advocate.’

Peter Brogden - Keating Chambers ‘A terrific junior, great with clients, strong background with software work.’

Paul Bury - Keating Chambers ‘Great with clients and very good written skills and advocacy. He will certainly go far in his career as he has an ability that is beyond his years.’

Gaynor Chambers - Keating Chambers ‘Impressive senior junior, particularly in respect of complex technical and engineering-related litigation.’

Timothy Chelmick - 4 New Square ‘Highly commercial, responsive, understands immediately what clients need and delivers.’

Cyril Chern - 4 New Square ‘Impressive both in his approach to complex construction matters but also with his astute commercial advice.’

Lucy Colter - 4 New Square ‘She is exceptional at what she does. She is highly organised, tough, determined and yet highly accessible.’

Simon Crawshaw - Atkin Chambers ‘Extremely responsive, practical and precise, with a considered professionalism.’

Laura Crowley - 4 Pump Court ‘A first-class junior, bringing all the skills and dedication to the team that anyone could want.’

Rebecca Drake - 39 Essex Chambers ‘Excellent ability to understand clients needs, superb choice of junior.’

Felicity Dynes - Atkin Chambers ‘She is quietly assertive and doesn't take any nonsense - from the lay client or the other side. She has excellent attention to detail and is prepared to plead difficult arguments.’

Anthony Edwards - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Anthony is knowledgeable and experienced in the field of international disputes with the ability to master and distil complex issues, aided by a solid legal and engineering background.’

Robert Evans - Keating Chambers ‘Robert is quick to grasp the issues in a dispute and handles clients well.’

Matthew Finn - Keating Chambers ‘Matthew is astute, quick to respond and able to deal with the fundamental issues directly, concisely and persuasively.’

Paul Fisher - 4 New Square ‘Paul was incredibly diligent and easy to work with – a keen sense of detail coupled with a firm technical and legal understanding.’

Arshad Ghaffar - XXIV Old Buildings ‘He is logical, incisive, committed and hard-working.’

Michele de Gregorio - Crown Office Chambers ‘He is calm and has a fine strategic mind. He is a very impressive and powerful advocate.’

Ronan Hanna - Atkin Chambers ‘An able junior, technically very strong.’

Patrick Hennessey - 39 Essex Chambers ‘He maintains the highest standards when giving advice and when advocating. Always a top choice.’

Gideon Scott Holland - Keating Chambers ‘Provides clear, succinct advice and gets on top of technical issues very quickly. Approachable, user-friendly and very responsive.’

Abdul Jinadu - Keating Chambers ‘Reliable, determined and charming with the Bench.’

Ed Jones - 4 Pump Court ‘Sound technical ability and excellent strategic instincts. Hard-working, intelligent and quick-thinking.’

Jennifer Jones - Atkin Chambers ‘Commercially minded with the legal ability to deliver. Strong and clear written and verbal advice. Also a very able advocate on her feet in court.’

Zulfikar Khayum - Atkin Chambers ‘Zulf is an excellent junior. He is hardworking, and has a keen eye for detail. His submissions and cross-examination is first rate.’

Thomas Lazur - Keating Chambers ‘Has excellent attention to detail and very calm.’

Katie Lee - Hardwicke ‘Professional and knowledgeable with a keen grasp of the legal issues, and able to build a natural rapport with clients.’

Marc Lixenberg - Atkin Chambers ‘Very intelligent. Works well as part of team. Friendly, hard-working and accessible. Good experience in domestic and international construction disputes.’

Caroline McColgan - Crown Office Chambers ‘Caroline is superb – she is extremely bright, exceptionally hardworking, very commercially-minded and pragmatic.’

George McDonald - 4 New Square ‘George is a stunningly intelligent and incredibly personable guy.’

Edmund Neuberger - Atkin Chambers ‘Edmund is a quality option. He works hard and is very responsive, and he is always on hand to talk through difficult issues. He effortlessly works with a broader team and gets on with the job. He is a strong choice.’

Thomas Ogden - 4 New Square ‘Calm, intelligent, analytical and with an approachable manner.’

Richard Osborne - 4 Pump Court ‘Richard is a hard-working and responsive junior, who is a great asset to have on your team. He picks things up phenomenally quickly and is always reassuring with clients.’

Sanjay Patel - 4 Pump Court ‘Incredibly sharp – has an unbelievable work ethic, masters detail incredibly quickly and is very good on technical issues.’

Charles Pimlott - Crown Office Chambers ‘Calm and logical approach to issues which is reassuring to clients, great attention to detail, clear and concise yet thorough.’

Katie Powell - Atkin Chambers ‘A very sharp barrister and great to work with. Adapts perfectly to challenging circumstances.’

Richard Sage - Crown Office Chambers ‘Richard's technical expertise is first rate, but his true strength is his ability to communicate complex technical legal issues in a manner which is readily understandable by the lay clients.’

Ben Sareen - Keating Chambers ‘Very hard-working, diligent, grasps issues quickly, excellent understanding of the law relating to construction and has a magnificent ability to write.’

Hugh Saunders - 4 New Square ‘A straight-talking barrister who provides clear and decisive advice. Brilliant on his feet in the courtroom.’

Gideon Shirazi - 4 Pump Court ‘Incredibly dedicated and hard-working; nothing is ever too much for him.’

Camille Slow - Atkin Chambers ‘Camille is intelligent, thoughtful and analytical. Her ability to dissect a problem and analyse the possible outcomes is invaluable.’

Carlo Taczalski - Crown Office Chambers ‘Carlo is incredibly forensic in his approach to work, he deals with large quantities of information in a methodical manner and is an excellent communicator.’

Charlie Thompson - Keating Chambers ‘Clearly a highly regarded construction junior, with an excellent grasp of technical information and regulations.’

James Thompson - Keating Chambers ‘Ability to engage in the issues at all levels from the procedural to the complex factual issues extant in the particular case in question.’

Helena White - Hardwicke ‘Helena is an astute advocate and perceptive of client needs.’

Sarah Williams - Keating Chambers ‘Provides both excellent legal representation and commercial advice. She is always one step ahead of the game.’

Dermot Woolgar - Crown Office Chambers ‘Dermot is one of the most methodical barristers I have ever come across. He is positive in his advice and has an excellent calming manner which is very reassuring to clients.’

Rising Stars

Lauren Adams - Atkin Chambers ‘Lauren is the best junior I have ever worked with. She combines the insight of a wise head on young shoulders with incredible productivity.’

Mathias Cheung - Atkin Chambers ‘A real star. Head and shoulders one of the best juniors at the Bar. Cerebral, clients love his work ethic.’

James Frampton - Keating Chambers ‘He is a star junior, absolutely incredible, consistently providing a brilliant level of service.’

Emma Healiss - Keating Chambers ‘Emma is a formidable advocate. She has an incisive advocacy style, particularly in conducting cross-examination.’

Dr Nicholas Maciolek - Atkin Chambers ‘A very bright junior, he has a very good manner when being challenged - listens and reflects, but also has firm resolve.’

Christopher Reid - Atkin Chambers ‘Definitely a junior to watch at the construction Bar.’

Harry Smith - Keating Chambers ‘His written advice is stellar, matched by his skills in court. Would not hesitate to put Harry's intellect against any other more senior member of the Bar.’

Louis Zvesper - Hardwicke ‘For his year of call, he punches way above his weight. He will be a QC one day and is going to be a real star.’

Tier 1 firms

Atkin Chambers

Specialist construction set Atkin Chambers is 'one of the leading chambers for construction disputes.' Its long-standing expertise serves both UK and international clients. Manus McMullan QC acted as lead counsel, working alongside Christopher Lewis QC, on the Panama Canal case on its Third Set of Locks Project dispute. A series of arbitrations are ongoing with further cases continuing until 2021. On the fire safety and cladding side, Nicholas Baatz QC is leading Marc Lixenberg in Stonewater Ltd v BAM Construction Ltd & Ors a cladding dispute, wherein the scope of a builder’s responsibility for compliance with Building Regulations has been in question. At the junior end, the set's rising stars are Mathias Cheung, Lauren Adams, Dr Nicholas Maciolek, and Christopher Reid.

Keating Chambers

'Pre-eminent' set Keating Chambers continues to work on the largest and most complex construction and engineering cases both in the UK and internationally. Piers Stansfield QC and Marcus Taverner QC acted on behalf of the claimant in Essex County Council v UBB, a £100m dispute regarding a PFI waste recycling project. Jonathan Selby QC has acted for the claimant in Zagora & Others v Zurich, a £13m claim in the TCC and Court of Appeal concerning a defective block of 104 flats, prompting the Fire Officer to order an evacuation of the building. In November 2019, Rachael O’Hagan arrived from 39 Essex Chambers, further strengthening her new chambers at the junior end, while Krista Lee took silk in early 2020. The future of chambers looks bright with Harry Smith, Emma Healiss, and James Frampton seen as rising stars in the market.

Tier 2 firms

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers' 'considerable depth' of expertise in construction and engineering is displayed by its leading members acting in major disputes, including a growing arbitration practice in the Middle East and Asia. On the domestic front, Paul Darling QC has acted for Interserve in Swansea Stadium v Interserve, in a claim against the contractor for defects in paintwork, which ended in a dismissal of the claim. The 'clever and strategic' Karim Ghaly QC is currently representing an NHS Trust in a £25m TCC claim arising from the construction of a hospital. The dispute concerns the topical issue of the adequacy of the fire stopping construction at the hospital.

4 Pump Court

The 'outstanding' and 'excellent' barristers at 4 Pump Court undertake construction disputes in the UK and abroad, especially the Middle East. The set's members continue to be instructed on landmark buildings, large-scale energy projects and PFI/PPP projects. The 'thorough and persuasive' Fiona Sinclair QC is representing the respondent in Bresco Electrical Services Ltd (in liquidation) v Michael J Lonsdale (Electrical) Ltd, a case addressing the interplay between the statutory construction adjudication process and the statutory insolvency regime. Rachel Ansell QC is acting for Westfield Europe Ltd and White City Acquisitions Ltd in Westfield Europe Ltd; (2) White City Acquisitions Ltd v O’Keefe Construction (Greenwich) Ltd, in a claim for damages arising from the breach of the structural slab above the Central Line.

Tier 3 firms

4 New Square

The 'very efficient' 4 New Square is instructed by major contractors and top tier law firms on a range of construction disputes. Paul Cowan acted for Sharpfibre Limited in Bouygues (UK) Ltd v Sharpfibre Ltd, a notable claim in respect of alleged defective cladding on a hotel, which has especially significant in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower Fire and the subsequent Public Inquiry. Ben Patten QC is acting for the contractor, Lindum Group, in Volvo Group UK Ltd v Paul Robinson Partnership UK Ltd, Lindum Group Ltd, a claim concerning alleged defective pavement design and construction at a Volvo depot. Richard Liddell strengthened the set after taking silk in early 2020.

Crown Office Chambers

Crown Office Chambers are equipped to handle instructions from employers, contractors and sub-contractors, and construction professionals across a wide range of sectors including engineering, power, infrastructure, and telecommunications. David Sears QC, who lauded as being able to 'identify key issues' in disputes acted for the contractor in CIMC MBS Ltd v Bennett (Construction) Limited, a crucial case concerned with the role of ‘effective payment mechanisms’ within the Construction Act 1996. The 'ferociously hard-working' Andrew Rigney QC and 'methodical' Dermot Woolgar acted for the respondent in Mears v Costplan Services et al (2019), considering the meaning of practical completion and the impact that patent defects have on the certification of practical completion.

Hardwicke Chambers Limited

Hardwicke possesses 'exceptional performers' who are instructed by the top tier construction firms. The 'brilliant' Paul Reed QC is leading the David Pliener and the Ebony Alleyne in Green Oasis International Company Limited & Others v Northacre Plc & Others (2018), a £20m claim arising from defective redevelopment works to ‘The Lancasters’, a landmark development in central London overlooking Hyde Park. Acting in the TCC has been Nigel Jones QC, leading Catherine Piercy in Lessors & Management Company of Herons Court v HeronsLea Limited, NHBC and others, defending a defects claim brought in effect by 20 owners of a block of flats built/developed by Heronslea.

The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - The Bar > London Bar > Construction

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