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Atkin Chambers Offices
Atkin Chambers
1, Atkin Building, Gray's Inn
LONDON
WC1R 5AT
England
1, Atkin Building, Gray's Inn
LONDON
WC1R 5AT
England
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Atkin Chambers > The Legal 500 Rankings
London Bar > Construction Tier 1
Retaining its firm standing as a ‘market-leading’ set for construction disputes, Atkin Chambers has continued handling high-stakes matters in the UK and internationally. As one example of the chambers’ prowess in construction-related international arbitrations, the set’s mainstay, the Third Set of Locks Project on the Panama Canal saw Manus McMullan KC and Christopher Lewis KC represent the Panama Canal Authority in a series of high-value claims. Domestically, Dominique Rawley KC and Jennifer Jones defended Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick and Balfour Beatty Group in Northumbria Healthcare NHS v Lendlease Construction, a case concerning alleged structural defects at the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, while Simon Lofthouse KC and Omar Eljadi represented one of Lendlease’s subcontractors in the related Lendlease Construction v MPB Structures counterclaims. In an expansive multi-party dispute, among others Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC and David Streatfeild-James KC acted for Morrisons against Lorien Engineering Solutions regarding alleged defects in the refrigeration systems of its pork abattoir in Colne. Stephanie Barwise KC has been advising on cladding issues and the Building Safety Act, and has made clarification submissions on Grenfell – a number of other members of chambers have been involved in litigation surrounding related issues of cladding and fire safety. Notable internal changes include Stuart Catchpole KC joining from 39 Essex Chambers and Rupert Choat KC taking silk in March 2022.Rising stars
Arthur Graham-Dixon - Atkin Chambers 'Arthur is very user-friendly and easy to work with and was a real value add to the team. He has an incredible ability to get to grips and understand highly scientific and technical material and analyse this from a legal perspective and then distil his thoughts into easy-to-follow written advice.'
Caroline Greenfield – Atkin Chambers ‘Caroline is an excellent junior. She has exceptional attention to detail and her work ethic is second to none. She very quickly grasps key issues and gets into the detail of the matter.’
Laura Hussey – Atkin Chambers ‘Laura is determined to get the job done and is professional and user-friendly.’
Ryan Turner - Atkin Chambers 'Ryan is an excellent advocate who is well-spoken and strategic in his submissions and advice.'
Max Twivy – Atkin Chambers ‘Max is clearly very intelligent and knowledgeable. He has proven to be very effective in his advice. He is a very clear communicator.’
Leading Silks
Stephanie Barwise KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Stephanie knows the sector inside out. Her command of the detail, and ability to weave a narrative to put her clients in the best possible position, is exceptional.’
Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Stuart’s advocacy is particularly impressive. He is incredibly well-prepared and a devastating cross-examiner.’
Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is very thorough and detailed in his preparation. You can be assured that he has read every document and considered every point. He is very good on even the most technical and specialist points. His cross-examination is always effective, no matter the witness.'
Manus McMullan KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Manus is very experienced and knows the facts of a case inside out. He is super smart, quick thinking, with a great sense of humour and excellent communication skills vis-à-vis the client and the co-counsel, making everybody feel at ease. He engages with everybody and makes collaboration very pleasant.’
David Streatfeild-James KC – Atkin Chambers ‘David is an intellectual powerhouse. A very reassuring presence.'
Andrew White KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is a silk at the top of his game. Very detail-driven and really rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck into the detail. Excellent strategist.'
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Chantal brings a huge amount of gravitas and experience in international construction disputes. She is a trusted source of advice - be it in legal and technical issues or matters of strategy. She is able to distil complex problems into key issues and deal with them in a concise manner.'
Stephen Dennison KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Stephen is an outstanding advocate. His ability to dissect the issues in a matter and articulate them is second-to-none. He is excellent with client communication.’
Riaz Hussain KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Riaz is extremely attentive to key strategic issues. His advocacy is sharp and powerful, hitting on the key issues underpinning the case.'
Fiona Parkin KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Fiona insists on being on top of all the detail such that her advocacy can be well-structured, targeted and concise. Fiona is happy to take on board challenges and work as part of a team. She will work extremely hard to try and get the best possible result.’
Dominique Rawley KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Dominique gives clear and practical advice. She is able to assimilate large amounts of information and distil the points which are most relevant and important to the case. She has an excellent understanding of PFI and PPP projects and what makes those projects, and the parties, tick.'
Steven Walker KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Steven is an excellent adviser and advocate. His written advocacy is superb: he presents even the most complex legal issues in a clear and understandable way. His knowledge of PFI and PPP projects is unsurpassed. On top of all that, he is also a joy to work with.'
Martin Bowdery KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Martin provides unbelievably robust advice, which clients love. Not afraid to go into battle for seemingly lost causes, and comes out on top. He is the most imaginative barrister and his advocacy is feisty and mischievous.’
Jonathan Acton Davis KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Jonathan is a very good advocate. He has a calm and understated manner and is able to guide tribunals through complex matters. He is a highly skilled cross-examiner, who can lay subtle traps for both fact witnesses and experts. He has an urbane and charming manner that comes across well with tribunals. He is calm and composed and fills clients with confidence.'
Nicholas Dennys KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas is calm, smooth, and confident. He exudes all that a KC should and more; super knowledgeable but great at client delivery; strong oral arguments; patient and diligent mediator; massive brain; great to have on your side and as a mediator you are immediately confident in his ability to get the matter resolved.'
Andrew Goddard KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is good at analysing complicated legal, technical and factual issues. His advocacy is smooth and well-structured. He is able to explain complicated matters in a logical and easy-to-understand manner. He is also responsive and understands the need of solicitors.'
James Howells KC – Atkin Chambers ‘James is a highly intelligent and hard-working KC who is always a pleasure to deal with. His legal and strategic analysis is excellent, and his advocacy is considered and persuasive.'
Serena Cheng KC – Atkin Chambers 'Serena is amazing. She works incredibly hard and pushes the team to deliver excellent results.'
Christopher Lewis KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Exceptionally clever and brilliant legal analysis skills. He is a lovely man to work with and is very good at handling clients and explaining the issues to them.'
Mark Chennells KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Mark is super bright and has an uncanny ability to make something which seemed hideously complex, straightforward and compelling. His drafting and clarity of thought are refreshingly clear. He is always on top of the detail, which clients appreciate and does it all while retaining his sense of humour and purpose.'
2022 Silks
Rupert Choat KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Rupert is superb. Extremely intelligent and knowledgeable but also excellent at communicating with clients. He's very strategic and responsive to the need to be commercial in approach.'
2024 Silks
Camille Slow KC– Atkin Chambers ‘Camille is outstanding. Her advice is commercial and sensible. Her advocacy is razor-sharp and nuanced. She is adept at dealing with clients as well as judges.'
Leading Juniors
Nicholas Collings – Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas’ strength is his ability to clearly and concisely explain technical points of law to lay clients. Further, his written advocacy is extremely well-drafted, persuasive and effective.’
Andrew Fenn – Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is very commercially savvy, approachable and user-friendly.'
Patrick Clarke – Atkin Chambers ‘Patrick can get to grips with complex issues quickly and offer pragmatic and useful advice at short notice.'
Robert Clay – Atkin Chambers ‘Robert is exceptionally bright and has the ability to quickly drill down into the key issues. He has the ability to understand detailed engineering issues and calculations and explain them in clear and simple language. Robert is very approachable and clients like the safe pair of hands.'
Lucie Briggs – Atkin Chambers ‘Incredibly efficient, clear advice, and manages to cut through difficult cases.'
Shourav Lahiri – Atkin Chambers ‘A very detail-oriented barrister who is extremely strong for fact-heavy cases.’
Mathias Cheung –Atkin Chambers ‘Mathias is a real star for his level of call. He is extremely hardworking and he is able to turn around complex work in a short period of time. His drafting is forceful when it needs to be and very effective.'
Zulfikar Khayum – Atkin Chambers ‘Zulf is very focused and gets to grips with the details quickly. He presents well and wins the confidence of the tribunal effectively. He has an impressive range – he can be robust when needed but can also be subtle and draw a witness out in cross-examination when that is the best approach.’
Marc Lixenberg – Atkin Chambers ‘Marc is a silk in the wings. His advocacy and ability to tackle difficult situations on his feet is second-to-none. Marc’s drafting is on point. He is excellent with clients.’
Katie Powell – Atkin Chambers ‘Katie is excellent. She has an incredible grasp of the technical areas of construction defects claims and produces high-quality product at incredible speed.'
Rónán Hanna – Atkin Chambers ‘A supremely able technician who never makes a badly formulated submission to the court. Able to see a problem from all directions, instilling confidence in both the court and client alike.’
Omar Eljadi –Atkin Chambers ‘Omar demonstrates excellent drafting skills and an astute understanding and assimilation of complex technical information. Highly recommended.’
David Johnson – Atkin Chambers ‘David is very responsive, detail-orientated, a team player and provides practical and timely advice. He is good with clients and understands their requirements.'
Jennifer Jones – Atkin Chambers ‘Jennifer is a superb construction barrister. She is a true leader in her field. Her advocacy stills are among the very best and she is able to manage very large cases with ease.’
Samar Abbas Kazmi – Atkin Chambers ‘Samar has great judgment, excellent legal analysis and a huge capacity for hard work.'
Simon Crawshaw – Atkin Chambers ‘Thoughtful, hard-working and determined. Plainly very clever.'
Felicity Dynes – Atkin Chambers ‘Razor-sharp, super bright and very thorough. Felicity is a model of excellence on her feet, in written work and in conferences. A ferocious advocate against the opposition, but a delight to have on your own team. A first-choice junior.’
Edmund Neuberger – Atkin Chambers ‘Very good attention to detail, excellent advocacy skills, user friendly and a real team player.'
Lauren Adams – Atkin Chambers ‘Even in the company of silks and city partners, Lauren will be the brightest person in the room. The speed with which she grasps the key issues of a matter is startling. Lauren’s written advocacy is lucid, persuasive and concise. She is confident on her feet and handles witnesses masterfully.’
Nicholas Maciolek – Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas is extremely bright and personable. His knowledge is well beyond his years. Excellent drafting, advice and handling of clients.'
Christopher Reid – Atkin Chambers ‘Christopher is excellent. A very intelligent, hard-working and commercially savvy junior. He is calm, measured and astute. He is also very personable and a pleasure to work with.'
Dalton Hale – Atkin Chambers ‘Dalton is very bright, responsive and with strong drafting skills. His ability to think on his feet in a court room and present a focused and persuasive case to a judge is impressive.’
Mischa Balen – Atkin Chambers ‘Mischa is an outstanding advocate and a formidable opponent. His written work is devastating.'
Testimonials
‘David Barnes and Justin Wilson are extremely good clerks.’
‘The Atkin Chambers clerking team is very good: they are responsive and take steps to understand the instruction. Justin Wilson is great to work with and goes the extra mile to ensure that he finds suitable counsel.’
‘The clerks – in particular David Barnes and Justin Wilson – are friendly and helpful.’
‘Atkin Chambers is our number one go-to chambers for construction barristers. Their barristers are experienced with in-depth construction legal knowledge.’
‘Atkin Chambers is one of my first ports of call when looking for construction and arbitration barristers.’
‘Atkin Chambers is market-leading in construction. They have a good range of counsel at all levels of seniority and they are experienced in appearing before the full range of Courts and tribunals applying to construction disputes.’
‘Atkin Chambers is one of the top sets for Construction and Engineering work. They have a number of top-quality barristers (both at junior and KC level) who are dedicated to providing excellent client service.’
‘Atkin Chambers is the leading construction set; the quality of its silks and juniors is unparalleled.’
London Bar > Energy Tier 2
Atkin Chambers is widely regarded as one of the leading energy construction sets, it is ‘very well known for its high-quality service’ in high-value matters spanning upstream and downstream oil and gas projects, conventional power stations, and newer technologies that are enabling energy transition. Its members frequently act for many of the world’s energy majors as well as national and local governments. Stephen Dennison KC is involved in a high-profile £133m claim by EWH arising from the termination of MW High Tech Projects UK Ltd in the construction of a waste to energy power plant in Hull. Increasingly prominent junior Shourav Lahiri frequently acts as an advocate in international construction and energy disputes in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Beijing and London for clients in East Asia, South Asia and the Gulf.
Rising stars
Mathias Cheung –Atkin Chambers ‘Mathias has an incredible grasp of detail and is exceptionally hardworking.’
Leading Silks
Stephen Dennison KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Stephen is far the most effective and useful KC in the offshore construction and energy sector. He works relentlessly hard and efficiently, and is always on top of his brief.’
David Streatfeild-James KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A great advocate with a fantastic mind, David is strategically astute and has good industry knowledge.’
Andrew White KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew has no weakness. He is a strong advocate and for a person of his seniority he makes an impressive effort to get into the detail.’
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Clear, organised and persuasive, Chantal understands the energy world and is a top-quality construction and heavy infrastructure practitioner.’
James Howells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘James is very thorough and methodical on large technical disputes, and he explores the evidence in depth before cross-examining witnesses.’
Stuart Catchpole KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Stuart is a devastating cross-examiner. He is incredibly well prepared and has an extremely impressive and persuasive advocacy style.’
Nicholas Dennys KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Nick has always had an enviable reputation for his skill as a lawyer, and he demonstrates a great ability to master the most complex matters.’
Simon Lofthouse KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is absolutely world-class in hearings, and his cross-examination, which is the result of very hard work, is really effective.’
Manus McMullan KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Manus is a fierce cross-examiner and a highly articulate advocate who is very good at reading a tribunal and addressing its concerns.’
Dominique Rawley KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Dominique is an absolute powerhouse of a barrister - analytical, strategic and produces the most beautiful pleadings.’
Steven Walker KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Stephen is a persuasive, determined and tenacious advocate with the cross-examination techniques of a skilled surgeon.’
Mark Chennells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Mark has a very good sense of strategy and an excellent grasp of the detail, making him deadly in cross-examination.’
Serena Cheng KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Serena assimilates complex, technical issues with ease and then presents the same with clarity.’
Christopher Lewis KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Christopher delivers exceptionally clever and brilliant legal analysis. He is very good at explaining issues to clients.’
Fiona Parkin KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Fiona's skill in communicating complex legal concepts is truly impressive. She has the ability to dive deeply into the details of a case.'
2022 Silks
Rupert Choat KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is helpful and patient, accommodating urgent requests for help, and he is quick to explain aspects of complex supporting evidence.’
Rupert Choat KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Very commercial and client-focused, Rupert grasps the client’s strategic objectives and finds a way through even the most complicated cases.’
Leading Juniors
Simon Crawshaw –Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is hardworking, thorough and very bright.’
Samar Abbas Kazmi –Atkin Chambers ‘Samar has great judgement, performs excellent legal analysis and has a huge capacity for hard work.’
Patrick Clarke –Atkin Chambers ‘Patrick grasps complex issues quickly and offers pragmatic and useful advice at short notice.’
Shourav Lahiri –Atkin Chambers ‘Shourav is meticulous and willing to go the extra mile to understand the technical issues that generally accompany construction arbitration.’
Mischa Balen –Atkin Chambers ‘Mischa is an excellent advocate – easy to work with and very smart indeed.’
Nicholas Collings –Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas is a great advocate, cool under pressure, very well spoken and unflappable.’
Lauren Adams – Atkin Chambers ‘Even in the company of silks Lauren will be the brightest person in the room. The speed with which she grasps the key issues of a matter is startling.’
Testimonials
‘The clerks room is very good – Justin Wilson heads a great team, very efficient and good service.’
‘The clerks service is generally excellent. I especially refer to David Barnes, who always pays attention to the client and the instructing solicitors.’
‘The clerks service has been sound and prompt.’
‘Justin Wilson was outstanding, knowledgeable, responsive and exceptionally commercial showing just how important good clerking is to the overall relationship – not something we have the pleasure of seeing every day.’
‘Senior practice manager Andy Burrows is responsive and helpful.’
‘Great strength-in-depth. You always know you will get great quality.’
‘One of the biggest construction and energy sets, with a well-deserved reputation for being very good at work in those fields.’
‘The chambers is very well known for its high-quality service and I am satisfied with its performance.’
Work highlights
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel Tier 2
Atkin Chambers boasts a well-respected ‘strong bench at various levels of counsel’, adept at resolving international arbitrations arising out of complex construction, energy, technology and infrastructure disputes across multiple jurisdictions. Instructions are frequently received in high-profile arbitrations in the Middle East, recent examples include Riaz Hussain KC, leading Marc Lixenberg, acting in a dispute regarding high rise commercial and residential towers in the UAE and experienced Camille Slow KCacting for a key Dubai developer. Slow also acted for the claimant in an interim application concerning the construction of a major road project in eastern Europe. Nicholas Collings is instructed on an ICC arbitration on behalf of the claimant design and build contractor for various claims relating to works to a highway in South America. The Panama Canal multi-billion-dollar dispute continues with Manus McMullan KC, Christopher Lewis KC and Peter Land.Leading Silks
David Streatfeild-James KC –Atkin Chambers ‘David has a profound ability to pick up a substantial, complex construction case and present it forcefully and convincingly at a hearing. He is innovative in is thinking, always bringing a new angle to the issues and the manner in which a case should be put – a formidable cross-examiner, knows exactly how to read a tribunal and drafts with clarity and persuasively.’
Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Stuart is a very powerful gifted advocate and a devastating cross-examiner.'
Manus McMullan KC –Atkin Chambers ‘No doubt Manus is top-notch and one of the very best in the field of oral advocacy and cross-examination, especially in complex high value disputes in the field of construction and engineering. His cross-examination is simply first-rate, excellent and truly outstanding – he has the special ability to explain complex technical aspects in a straightforward and understandable way.’
Andrew White KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is a silk at the top of his game. Very details driven and really rolls his sleeves up and gets stuck into the detail. Excellent strategist.’
Riaz Hussain KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Riaz stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best senior silks of the construction Bar: He is a marvellous trial advocate and has a firm grasp of construction law and indeed a good knowledge of the technical aspects. He is a fantastic advocate and his strength is cross-examination of both lay and expert witnesses. He rolls his sleeves up, works with the team, and gets the job done.’
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers 'Clear, organised and persuasive.'
Stephen Dennison KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Stephen is very effective, decisive and responsive. He is a delight to work with.'
Andrew Goddard KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Andrew is a leading construction silk. He is a skilled advocate with extensive construction experience. His advice is practical and thorough.’
James Howells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A go-to silk – a brain the size of a planet, always knows the detail and the documents better than anyone else in the room, incisive cross-examination of expert witnesses, whether factual or technical, and a pleasure to work with to boot. James is extremely user-friendly, attentive, responsive and accessible.’
Simon Lofthouse KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is a devastating cross-examiner and has a formidable work ethic. He outperforms the other side in hearings and has the ear of the tribunal.’
Serena Cheng KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Serena has an excellent understanding of the application and nuances of UAE procedure and practice. Her calm and clear communication with clients provides them with assurance at all stages of the matter. Serena assimilates complex, technical issues with ease and then presents the same with clarity.’
Mark Chennells KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Mark has an uncanny ability to make something which seemed hideously complex, straightforward and compelling. His drafting and clarity of thought is refreshingly clear. He is always on top of the detail, which clients appreciate and does it all while retaining his sense of humour and purpose.’
Fiona Parkin KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Fiona’s advocacy and attention to detail are second-to-none. She is an exceptional member of any team, and brings a high level of intelligence and attention to detail to the case. Her skill in communicating complex legal concepts and arguments is truly impressive.’
2022 Silks
Rupert Choat KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Rupert is a refined strategist in construction law and a brilliant cross examiner.’
Rupert Choat KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Rupert Choat is a refined strategist in construction law and a brilliant cross examiner.’
2024 Silks
Camille Slow KC– Atkin Chambers ‘Camille gets into and understands the details of the case, in particular when it comes to complex matters. She is thus able to advocate from a position of understanding the details well and that shows and is impressive in her advocacy.’
Leading Juniors
Samar Abbas Kazmi –Atkin Chambers ‘Very responsive and clear in his advice. He produces strong written submissions, capable of finding a way even for the most difficult of cases.’
Zulfikar Khayum –Atkin Chambers ‘Zulf is very focussed and gets to grips with the details quickly. He presents well and wins the confidence of the tribunal effectively. He has an impressive range – he can be robust when needed but can also be subtle and draw a witness out in cross-examination when that is the best approach.’
Shourav Lahiri – Atkin Chambers ‘Very quick to get up to speed with the matter, good strategist, an excellent advocate - clear, concise, confident and to the point. An effective cross-examiner with very good tribunal etiquette.’
Simon Crawshaw –Atkin Chambers ‘Simon has shown a remarkable intelligence and capability to grasp a very complex technical multidisciplinary project, understand the project organization and multifaceted contractual relationships, and drafts comprehensively. His communication is clear and concise, to the point, which is easy for the client to understand and make decisions accordingly. His cross-examination style is calm and factual, his attention to details and ability to find cross references within evidence made him one of a kind and an irreplaceable team member.’
Testimonials
‘The clerks – in particular David Barnes and Justin Wilson – are friendly and helpful. They are flexible and attentive to the needs of Hong Kong clients, especially when it comes to practical considerations such as time difference.’
‘Very effective clerks room – efficient and good to work with.’
‘The whole clerking room is fantastic.’
‘Atkin has great strength in depth in the field of international arbitration.’
‘Atkin Chambers is the stand out construction set.’
‘Atkin Chambers is our number one goes to chambers for construction barrister. Their barristers are experienced with in-depth arbitration legal knowledge.’
‘Atkin are a strong set of Chambers in construction law and international construction arbitration. It has a number of very strong KCs in this field including Nick Dennys, Andrew White, Stephen Dennison and Stuart Catchpole. They also have a strong set of junior barristers in this field including Camille Slow.’
Work highlights
London Bar > IT and telecoms (infrastructure and contracts) Tier 2
Building on its status as one of the pre-eminent construction sets, the members of Atkin Chambers are well-placed to act in disputes related to the systems underpinning large-scale facilities including airports, train networks, power stations and hospitals. David Streatfeild-James KC is acting for a supplier of renewable source electricity and energy solutions in a £40m termination dispute pertaining to the allegedly negligent design of a new billing and data management system raising issues of breach of contract, limitation of liability and possible fraudulent misrepresentation – a four-week trial is set for 2024. Patrick Clarke acts for the defendant in TCC proceedings concerned with a claim for £1m in connection with the engineering of an automated manufacturing process for fighter jet countermeasures. Peter Land, as a former engineer, is experienced in transport systems disputes, James Howells KC has an international practice in this space.Leading Silks
James Howells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Very bright, strategically astute and provides clear advice. A brilliant tech sector barrister who is user-friendly and top of his game.’
Testimonials
‘The Atkins clerk are second to none. They are consistently available, helpful and commercially sensible.’
‘We use Atkin almost daily. A great set.’
‘First port of call for technology work.’
Work highlights
London Bar > Professional negligence Tier 2
Atkin Chambers is a ‘market-leading’ construction set, with this expertise being relayed into a professional negligence practice concerning the built environment. Members of the set are regularly involved in the TCC and arbitration in disputes arising out of loss suffered as a result of negligent advice from a wide range of construction professionals. David Streatfeild-James KC recently acted for a contractor in a £115m dispute concerning alleged design defects in the Cambridgeshire Guided Busway, a high-profile infrastructure project in Cambridgeshire - proceedings included negligence claims against the structural and geotechnical engineering subcontractor that designed the works.Leading Silks
Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Stuart has an excellent command of professional negligence. He is a ferocious cross -examiner and very hard working.’
David Streatfeild-James KC –Atkin Chambers 'Exceptionally clever and considered - extremely good advocate, persuasive and clear and very commercial and strategic whilst being the ultimate team player.'
Dominique Rawley KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Dominique is a very accomplished advocate and a very safe pair of hands. She has a good sense of what to include and not to include.’
Andrew White KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Excellent attention to detail, capable of managing large volumes of information, very bright indeed.’
Stephanie Barwise KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Outstanding - Stephanie provides game-changing advice.’
Serena Cheng KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Very bright and hardworking, Serena turns instructions round quickly, gives first rates legal advice and is commercial and easy to deal with. She is also an excellent advocate.’
James Howells KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A strategist who provides clear, focussed advice.’
Manus McMullan KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Manus has many strengths. He is a fierce cross-examiner and a highly articulate advocate. He excels at complex cross-examination of expert witnesses.’
Fiona Parkin KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Fiona is a very tenacious litigator and persuasive advocate.’
Riaz Hussain KC –Atkin Chambers ‘A strong advocate who very persuasive and doesn’t give up.’
Nicholas Dennys KC –Atkin Chambers 'Able to quickly grasp issues and provice pragmatic, helpful advice.'
Martin Bowdery KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Excellent advocacy and tactician in developing a strategy that best fits the clients' interests and the nature of the case. He has a good way with clients who tend to have confidence in his approach and his advice.'
Steven Walker KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Very thorough and reliable, and always delivers clear, and succinct, advice. Very smart and a pleasure to deal with - a fantastic advocate.'
2022 Silks
Rupert Choat KC –Atkin Chambers ‘Sharp and extermely attentive to details.'
2024 Silks
Camille Slow KC –Atkin Chambers 'Constructive approach and clear advice.'
Leading Juniors
Omar Eljadi –Atkin Chambers 'Constructive approach and clear advice.'
Jennifer Jones –Atkin Chambers 'Good attention to deal, very hard working, gets on well with clients and with instructing solicitors. Advocacy is calm and effective.'
Rónán Hanna – Atkin Chambers ‘Rónán provides excellent service and advice. He always makes himself available and cuts through complicated issues swiftly and clearly. His submissions are well-structured and very persuasive. He is highly regarded by lay clients and colleagues.’
Katie Powell –Atkin Chambers ‘Katie is very sharp. She is also friendly and responsive.’
Nicholas Collings –Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas’ strength is his ability to clearly and concisely explain technical points of law to lay clients. Further, his written advocacy is extremely well drafted, persuasive and effective.’
Marc Lixenberg –Atkin Chambers ‘Calm, organised and excels at planning strategy. Understands procedural aspects that can be a headache for solicitors and is happy to help.’
Edmund Neuberger –Atkin Chambers ‘Very good attention to details, excellent advocacy skills, and a team player.'
Mischa Balen –Atkin Chambers ‘Mischa is an outstanding advocate and a formidable opponent. His written work devastates the other side.’
Lucie Briggs –Atkin Chambers 'Good attention to deal, very hard working, gets on well with clients and with instructing solicitors. Advocacy is calm and effective.'
Patrick Clarke –Atkin Chambers ‘Patrick provides comprehensive and thoughtful advice.’
David Johnson – Atkin Chambers ‘David is very responsive, detail orientated, a team player and provides practical and timely advice.’
Testimonials
‘I generally find their clerks are helpful and responsive. I have known Justin Wilson for many years and he is always available to assist and great at finding the right barrister.’
‘The set has a deservedly high reputation for the quality of its counsel. The clerks are particularly good at understanding whether particular individuals might be better suited to a given matter.’
‘Excellent range of counsel, clerking always been very good.’
‘Service from the clerks is always good.’
‘The clerks are really responsive and very good at understanding the strengths of particular counsel and suitability for a matter.’
‘Atkin Chambers is market-leading in construction. They have a good range of counsel at all levels of seniority and they are experienced in appearing before the full range of courts and tribunals concerning construction disputes.’
‘Strong on professional negligence work in the construction sector.’
‘Very good chambers, our go-to set for construction counsel.’
Work highlights
London Bar > International arbitration: arbitrators Tier 3
Atkin Chambers is ‘first-class, a superb construction set’, many of whose members receive frequent arbitration appointments for their expertise in disputes concerning major energy projects across exploration and extraction, power plant construction and infrastructure as well as mining and major commercial and leisure developments, IT and transport infrastructure. Full-time arbitrators include Sir Robert Akenhead and Doug Jones
. In addition to his counsel practice, Martin Bowdery KC is also a Deputy High Court Judge and was appointed to the ADGM Arbitration Centre’s Panel of Arbitrators. Janet Walker has over 20 years’ experience as sole, presiding and co-arbitrator in commercial and treaty investment arbitrations. In 2022, Stuart Catchpole KC was appointed to the panel of arbitrators of the BVI International Arbitration Centre. Leading arbitrators
Doug Jones
–Atkin Chambers ‘Doug is one of the pre-eminent construction arbitrators currently in practice. He is in constant demand, and rightly so, his experience of international construction projects is second-to-none, his appetite for work is extraordinary. As presiding arbitrator he is very hands-on and is keen to engage the parties and experts at an early stage and to keep the proceedings moving, he chairs proceedings with a rare combination of steel and good humour.'
–Atkin Chambers ‘Doug is one of the pre-eminent construction arbitrators currently in practice. He is in constant demand, and rightly so, his experience of international construction projects is second-to-none, his appetite for work is extraordinary. As presiding arbitrator he is very hands-on and is keen to engage the parties and experts at an early stage and to keep the proceedings moving, he chairs proceedings with a rare combination of steel and good humour.'Her Honour Frances Kirkham – Atkin Chambers ‘Frances brings a wealth of experience to the challenges of international construction disputes. She maintains excellent procedural discipline and prevails upon the parties with her calm, understated authority. Her judgement is thorough, well-reasoned and sound.'
Sir Robert Akenhead –Atkin Chambers ‘Sir Robert has a professional lifetime's experience of construction dispute resolution from a variety of perspectives. He brings this experience to bear on the particular demands of international construction arbitration devising procedures for speedy and effective resolution, he is very hard working and known for producing lengthy awards in record time. He is the go-to tribunal for super-complex, big-dollar, mega-disputes.'
–Atkin Chambers ‘Sir Robert has a professional lifetime's experience of construction dispute resolution from a variety of perspectives. He brings this experience to bear on the particular demands of international construction arbitration devising procedures for speedy and effective resolution, he is very hard working and known for producing lengthy awards in record time. He is the go-to tribunal for super-complex, big-dollar, mega-disputes.'Leading counsel as arbitrators
Andrew White KC –Atkin Chambers ‘As an arbitrator he has an enviable reputation. He is in the absolute top echelon of arbitrators.'
Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers 'One of the finest construction silks of his generation. Very hard working and a feared cross -examiner, his ability to get to the core of a case and command the technical details is legendary.'
Testimonials
‘David Barnes is the gold standard.’
‘Extremely efficient and responsive, led by the finest CEO at the bar, David Barnes.’
‘David Barnes is commercial, clever and diplomatically savvy; Justin Wilson is responsive and sharp; Andrew Burrows and Rob Bryant are both responsive and capable.’
‘An exceptional set of construction practitioners.’
‘Excellent chambers with strength in depth, led by an excellent team.’
‘Top specialist set.’
‘One of the top sets in construction with a wide bench. ‘
Work highlights
Dispute resolution > Mediators Tier 4
Michael Shane – Atkin Chambers
A full-time mediator for approximately 25 years, Michael Shane at Atkin Chambers has mediated over 1,500 major disputes in the UK, US, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and Africa. Shane maintains a broad commercial disputes practice, his track record including successfully mediating disputes involving hospitals, luxury hotels, and large infrastructure projects.Sir Robert Akenhead – Atkin Chambers
Since retiring as a judge, Sir Robert Akenhead at Atkin Chambers acts as mediator, arbitrator, adjudicator, expert and conciliator in disputes throughout the world. Construction law expert Akenhead is routinely appointed to mediate conflicts that are either factually complex or have several parties involved (including insurers and local authorities).
Work highlights
London Bar > Insurance and reinsurance
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Construction, energy and infrastructure Tier 1
‘A go-to set for any construction dispute‘, Atkin Chambers maintains a strong presence across multiple Asia Pacific jurisdictions, including Singapore, Vietnam, India, the Philippines and Greater China. Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC is noted for her excellent track record in handling disputes arising from LNG and oil field projects, and Andrew White KC garners praise as ‘one of the top barristers in the field of construction and engineering disputes‘. Arbitration expert Stuart Catchpole KC is highly regarded for his ‘very extensive specialist construction expertise‘. Samar Abbas Kazmi continues to act in complex international construction and energy arbitrations, and ‘rising star‘ Mathias Cheung is ‘extraordinarily detailed and can assess critical issues quickly‘.Leading Silks
Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers 'A relentless cross-examiner and a very persuasive advocate.'
Andrew White KC – Atkin Chambers 'He has an excellent mind, and his advocacy is sharp and eloquent.'
Andrew Goddard KC – Atkin Chambers 'A proactive silk, Andrew's submissions are succinct and effective, and he presents complicated issues in a straightforward manner.'
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers 'She is very persuasive when addressing the difficult and challenging issues in a case. She holds the tribunal's attention with her clarity of thought.'
David Streatfeild-James KC – Atkin Chambers 'A serene silk who always gets to the root of the key points.'
Nicholas Dennys KC – Atkin Chambers 'He is highly experienced in handling all kinds of construction disputes.'
James Howells KC – Atkin Chambers 'James is extremely user-friendly and his advice is practical and clear.'
Serena Cheng KC – Atkin Chambers 'Serena is an effective and impressive cross-examiner.'
Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers 'Simon is sharp and precise on his feet with his excellent advocacy and analytical skills.'
Mark Chennells KC - Atkin Chambers 'He is meticulous, diligent and very intelligent.'
Manus McMullan KC – Atkin Chambers ‘His personable manner and elegant cross-examination style are well-received by the tribunal.’
2022 Silks
Leading Juniors
Samar Abbas Kazmi – Atkin Chambers 'Samar is quick on his feet, pragmatic, and creative. A superb advocate.'
Mathias Cheung – Atkin Chambers 'He is always prepared to go the extra mile for his clients. He never shies away from a fight but is sensible in his assessment of a case.'
Testimonials
‘David Barnes is a class of his own at the Bar.’
‘David Barnes has strong acumen on how to develop the practice, knows well the client’s needs and is always able to recommend a suitable barrister. He runs a tight and solid operation.’
‘David Barnes is the gold standard.’
‘Atkin Chambers has a good reputation as a leading construction/engineering set.’
‘Super construction law set.’
‘A great set.’
‘The clerks are a pleasure to deal with.’
‘The clerks are very responsive and understanding of solicitors’ needs.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction Tier 1
Atkin Chambers is renowned for its proficiency in construction, energy, and infrastructure disputes, notably mixed-use, transportation, and power developments. Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC often handles disputes arising from the development of sizeable infrastructure and industrial facility projects. Andrew White KC, Fiona Parkin KC, and Simon Lofthouse KC act as counsel in arbitrations across the Gulf while David Streatfeild-James KC is experienced in renewable energy and mixed-use construction projects. James Howells KC specialises in contentious power mandates, and Riaz Hussain KC is often instructed by sizeable contractors and developers. Zulfikar Khayum is principally focused on international arbitration, and Samar Abbas’ recent caseload includes transport and water infrastructure projects. Christopher Reid is also a key member of the set.Leading silks
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Chantal is very intelligent and is quick to understand complex factual and legal circumstances. She is calm under pressure, approachable, and great to work with.’
Riaz Hussain KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Riaz is thorough, client friendly, and has brilliant advocacy skills.’
Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is an excellent barrister with extraordinary ability, and he is constantly asking the right questions. His attention to detail is mind blowing.’
David Streatfeild-James KC – Atkin Chambers ‘One of the brightest silks in the world and an incredible work ethic. ’
Andrew White KC – Atkin Chambers ‘His ability to grasp complex technical issues and present them in a simple and understandable way, makes him standout. He is a very passionate and dedicated lawyer and communicates very well.’
James Howells KC – Atkin Chambers ‘James is an excellent lawyer who is very bright and strategically astute.’
Serena Cheng KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Serena's key strengths lie in her attention to detail, communication, and ability to simplify complicated legal arguments for all. She is excellent, and is always well-prepared.’
Fiona Parkin KC – Atkin Chambers ‘She is extremely hard working and manages large volumes of detail well. She is good to work with and is supremely well-prepared in advocacy.’
2022 Silks
Leading juniors
Andrew Fenn – Atkin Chambers ‘He is an absolute star. He is brilliant on documents, has a very keen eye, and can always take a fresh approach or see a new angle in order to drive a case home successfully.’
Rónán Hanna – Atkin Chambers ‘Ronan is a pleasure to deal with and makes himself available to solicitors and clients alike. He builds an encyclopaedic knowledge of tens of thousands of pages of arbitration record and is diligent in developing a case strategy.’
Shourav Lahiri – Atkin Chambers ‘Shourav demonstrates a high level of expertise in the field of construction law. His in-depth knowledge and experience are evident in his advice.’
Camille Slow – Atkin Chambers ‘Responsiveness and attention to detail. Her advocacy work has been first rate.’
Samar Abbas Kazmi – Atkin Chambers ‘Calm, commercial, and an excellent team player. His quality of drafting is superb.'
Simon Crawshaw – Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is an excellent barrister, and is constantly asking the right questions. In years to come, Simon will for sure become a great KC.’
Nicholas Collings – Atkin Chambers ‘Nicholas’ advocacy is excellent. He presents the case powerfully, professionally and respectfully.’
Omar Eljadi – Atkin Chambers ‘A superb junior in the construction field. He is deeply knowledgeable with a calm, effective advocacy style that suggests a maturity beyond his years and a great future.’
David Johnson – Atkin Chambers 'David Johnson is very down to the detail in terms of his work. He is very persuasive in terms of his opening and closing submissions and also excellent in cross examining the experts.'
Christopher Reid – Atkin Chambers 'Christopher is extremely intelligent and has a particular skill for forensic examination of expert evidence. His advocacy is clear and he has a good manner with tribunals.'
Testimonials
‘David Barnes is very proactive and a good first point of contact.’
‘Atkin Chambers is superbly run by the charismatic David Barnes and the friendly Justin Wilson.’
‘The clerks were outstanding, the chambers is home to top professionals.’
‘The clerk’s room is responsive and sensible; they are an enjoyable set to work with.’
‘Strength in construction and engineering. The barristers and clerks are very proactive.’
The Atkin Chambers clerks are great to work with. They will always provide a variety of options suitable for a matter.’
‘Their number one reputation is well-deserved. A first class set with huge strength in depth.’
‘We work a lot with Atkin Chambers and appreciate the service. They are always available and happy to assist.’
Work highlights
Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitrators
Leading arbitrators
Doug Jones – Atkin Chambers ‘Doug is one of the world’s leading arbitrators in construction, energy, and infrastructure. He is particularly strong at managing difficult and complex expert evidence. He is extremely efficient and as chair he ensures that procedural decisions and merits awards are turned round within a very impressive timescale.’
– Atkin Chambers ‘Doug is one of the world’s leading arbitrators in construction, energy, and infrastructure. He is particularly strong at managing difficult and complex expert evidence. He is extremely efficient and as chair he ensures that procedural decisions and merits awards are turned round within a very impressive timescale.’Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Arbitration counsel
Barrister Profiles
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Mr Jonathan Acton Davis | Jonathan specialises in domestic and international litigation and arbitration in the construction,… | View Profile |
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Miss Lauren Adams | Lauren’s domestic practice involves advising on private residential work and large commercial… | View Profile |
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Sir Robert Akenhead | In continuous practice from 1973 to 2007 as a specialist construction law… | View Profile |
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Mr Mischa Balen | Mischa specialises primarily in international commercial disputes with an emphasis on construction… | View Profile |
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Miss Stephanie Barwise | Widely regarded as a leader in her field, Stephanie’s expertise lies in… | View Profile |
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Miss Stephanie Barwise | Widely regarded as a leader in her field, Stephanie’s expertise lies in… | View Profile |
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Mr John Blackburn | From 1984 until 2006, John was in full-time practice as leading counsel… | View Profile |
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Mr Martin Bowdery | “Inventive intellectually and tactically superb” Martin Bowdery QC practises as an advocate, arbitrator,… | View Profile |
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Miss Lucie Briggs | Lucie specialises in construction and engineering, energy, information technology, and professional negligence… | View Profile |
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Mr Stuart Catchpole KC | Stuart Catchpole QC is recognised as one of the leading advocates at… | View Profile |
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Miss Serena Cheng | Serena Cheng QC is a commercial litigation and arbitration specialist whose practice… | View Profile |
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Mr Mark Chennells | Mark Chennells QC was appointed silk in 2021. He has broad experience… | View Profile |
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Mr Mathias Cheung | Mathias’ domestic and international commercial practice covers all areas of Chambers’ work,… | View Profile |
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Mr Rupert Choat KC | Rupert has specialised since 1997 in construction, engineering, PFI/PPP, energy and similar… | View Profile |
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Mr Patrick Clarke | Patrick’s specialist practice principally concerns fighting claims that involve complex technical or… | View Profile |
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Mr Robert Clay | Robert specialises in litigation and arbitration, domestic and international, in the construction,… | View Profile |
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Mr Nicholas Collings | Nicholas specialises in commercial litigation and arbitration with a particular emphasis on… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Crawshaw | Simon specialises in the construction and engineering and energy sectors representing contractors,… | View Profile |
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Mr Stephen Dennison | Stephen is a leading specialist in the construction and civil engineering, energy… | View Profile |
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Mr Nicholas Dennys | Nicholas is a leading specialist in construction, civil engineering, international arbitration, professional… | View Profile |
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Mr Nicholas Dennys | Nicholas is a leading specialist in construction, civil engineering, international arbitration, professional… | View Profile |
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Miss Chantal-Aimée Doerries | Chantal-Aimée Doerries QC is the current Head of Atkin Chambers and a… | View Profile |
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Miss Felicity Dynes | Felicity specialises in all aspects of Chambers’ work including in the areas… | View Profile |
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Mr Omar Eljadi | Omar Eljadi specialises in contractual and professional negligence disputes within the construction,… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Fenn | Andrew has acted as junior counsel on large litigations, international and domestic… | View Profile |
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Sir Thayne Forbes | Sir Thayne Forbes is an arbitrator, adjudicator and mediator and chair… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew Goddard | Andrew Goddard QC specialises in the law of commercial obligations, professional negligence… | View Profile |
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Mr Arthur Graham-Dixon | Arthur has a broad practice in all areas of Chambers’ work and… | View Profile |
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Ms Caroline Greenfield | Caroline joined Atkin Chambers as a tenant in September 2019, following the… | View Profile |
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Mr Dalton Hale | Dalton has been described by clients as “knowledgeable, thorough, proactive and original… | View Profile |
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Mr Rónán Hanna | Rónán has broad experience in a wide range of construction and engineering… | View Profile |
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Mr James Howells | James specialises in infrastructure, construction, energy and IT disputes both domestic and… | View Profile |
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Mr Riaz Hussain | Riaz acts as leading counsel in high value, complex disputes and advises… | View Profile |
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Ms Laura Hussey | Laura has a domestic and international practice in all specialist areas of… | View Profile |
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Mr David Johnson | David practises in the fields of domestic and international construction, engineering, energy,… | View Profile |
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Miss Jennifer Jones | Jennifer practices both domestically and internationally, with a particular expertise in multi-party… | View Profile |
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Prof Doug Jones | Doug Jones AO is a leading independent international commercial and investor-state arbitrator… | View Profile |
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Mr Samar Abbas Kazmi | Samar Abbas Kazmi specialises in commercial, construction and technology disputes. Samar has… | View Profile |
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Mr Zulfikar Khayum | Zulfikar practices across all areas of the construction, engineering, energy and IT… | View Profile |
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Her Honour Frances Kirkham CBE | Her Honour Frances Kirkham CBE acts as arbitrator in high-value construction and… | View Profile |
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His Honour Humphrey LLoyd | His Honour Humphrey LLoyd QC is an arbitrator and mediator. From 1963… | View Profile |
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Mr Shourav Lahiri | Shourav is a specialist construction and international arbitration lawyer with over 20… | View Profile |
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Mr Peter Land | Peter practices across all areas of construction, engineering, infrastructure, information technology and… | View Profile |
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Mr Christopher Lewis | Christopher practises principally in the fields of construction and engineering; energy and… | View Profile |
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Mr Marc Lixenberg | Confirming his status as a “respected junior”, Marc is a leading junior construction… | View Profile |
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Mr Simon Lofthouse | Simon Lofthouse QC is widely-recognised as a leading domestic and international lawyer… | View Profile |
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Dr Nicholas Maciolek | Nicholas’ practice includes disputes relating to construction, engineering and infrastructure, energy and… | View Profile |
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Mr Manus McMullan | Manus specialises in commercial disputes with an emphasis on energy, natural resources… | View Profile |
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Mr Edmund Neuberger | Edmund specialises in all aspects of Chambers’ work for a broad range… | View Profile |
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Miss Fiona Parkin | Recognised for her particular skill in getting to the heart of complex… | View Profile |
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Mr Sebastian Pigott | Sebastian Pigott is described as “an intelligent and considered thinker” who is “very user-friendly and… | View Profile |
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Miss Katie Powell | Katie Powell specialises in commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on construction,… | View Profile |
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Caspar Ramsay | Caspar joined Atkin Chambers as a tenant in September 2022, following successful… | View Profile |
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Miss Dominique Rawley | Dominique Rawley QC specialises in high value disputes in the field of… | View Profile |
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Mr Christopher Reid | Christopher undertakes a broad range of commercial work both domestically and internationally,… | View Profile |
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Mr Darryl Royce | Darryl Royce advises upon, and acts for parties involved in, construction projects,… | View Profile |
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Ella Rutter | Ella joined Chambers as a tenant in September 2022, following the successful… | View Profile |
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Mr Michael Shane | Michael Shane is a highly-regarded international mediator and arbitrator. His career has… | View Profile |
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Miss Camille Slow | Camille’s practice covers a broad range of commercial matters with a particular… | View Profile |
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Mr David Streatfeild-James | David Streatfeild-James acts as an advocate, adviser and arbitrator in high-value commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Ryan Turner | Ryan Turner has significant experience in a wide range of construction and… | View Profile |
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Mr Max Twivy | Max joined Atkin Chambers as a tenant in 2019. He has gained… | View Profile |
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Prof Janet Walker | Professor Janet Walker is a leading international commercial arbitrator based in London,… | View Profile |
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Mr Steven Walker | Steven Walker QC specialises in advising and representing parties to complex commercial… | View Profile |
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Mr Andrew White | Andrew enjoys an international reputation as a commercial silk. He regularly appears… | View Profile |
Diversity
Equality and diversity
Chambers is committed to respecting and understanding the cultural needs of its diverse and global client base, and is committed to equality and diversity in both recruitment and the provision of services.
Chambers operates under an equality and diversity policy in accordance with the Bar Standard Board’s Equality and Diversity Code.
Recruitment and equality and diversity
All applications (be it for staff, tenants, pupils or mini-pupils) are considered on merit alone. All selection procedures are operated without discrimination, that is to say without regard to considerations such as age, sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnership, religion or belief, or age. Chambers aims to follow best practice with regards to disability and reasonable adjustments.
Chambers also recognises the importance of increasing social mobility at the Bar and looks equally at applications for pupillage and mini-pupillage from graduates of all universities and from all backgrounds and all sectors of the community with the ability and determination to succeed as a barrister.
Partly in recognition of the monetary barriers to entering the Bar, Atkin Chambers offers one of the highest pupillage awards at the Bar and the opportunity to “drawdown” in advance funding towards the costs of the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). Chambers reimburses all reasonable travel expenses for pupillage interviewees and successful applicants to the mini-pupillage scheme can claim reasonable travel expenses and ask us to arrange overnight accommodation.
Equality and diversity at the Bar
Chambers welcomes the opportunity to work with other groups to foster equality and diversity at the Bar. Atkin Chambers supports FreeBar, a forum focused on LGBT+ people and their allies working at and for the Bar. A number of members of Atkin Chambers are founding members of The TECBAR BAME Network.
Chambers is pleased to support The 10,000 Black Interns Programme for 2021/22 which aims to transform the horizons and prospects of young black people in the UK by offering paid work experience across a wide range of industries, as well as world-class training and development. it is also pleased to be a silver partner of Bridging the Bar and to be participating in its mini pupillage programme for 2022.
Atkin Chambers is a signatory to the Equal Representation in Arbitration Pledge and the Equal Representation for Expert Witnesses Pledge.
Pro Bono
In 2022 Atkin Chambers agreed to support Support Through Court as a “Changemaker Guardian” for an initial three years. In addition, Atkin Chambers has been a supporter of the work of Advocate (the Bar Pro Bono Unit) as a Pro Bono Patron since 2019.
- Construction
Top Tier Set Rankings
- Energy
- International arbitration: counsel
- IT and telecoms (infrastructure and contracts)
- Professional negligence