Mr Manus McMullan KC > Atkin Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile
Atkin Chambers Offices
1, Atkin Building, Gray's Inn
LONDON
WC1R 5AT
England
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Mr Manus McMullan KC
Position
Manus specialises in commercial disputes with an emphasis on energy, natural resources and utilities, construction and engineering, professional indemnity and insurance matters both domestically and internationally. He is often the lead advocate on the largest and most high-profile disputes in these fields. He has represented a wide range of clients including multi-national corporations, government entities, professional advisers, contractors and individuals all over the world.
In the past three years, in cases where Manus has been acting for the Claimant or Plaintiff, his clients have been awarded, and have recovered, over US$ 1bn. In the same time frame, where he has been acting for Defendants or Respondents, he has successfully defended claims for in excess of US$ 5bn.
Career
Called 1994; Middle Temple; QC 2010.
Languages
Manus is fluent in Spanish and has competent professional proficiency in French.
Memberships
COMBAR; TECBAR; SCL; LCLCBA.
He is a member of the disciplinary board of the RIBA and a trustee of the Harold G Fox Scholarship.
Education
Oxford University (Hons Jurisprudence 1st).
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Manus 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.’
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.
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Manus 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.’
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.
London Bar > Energy
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Manus 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.’
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Manus 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.’
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Construction, energy and infrastructure
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Manus McMullan KC – Atkin Chambers ‘His personable manner and elegant cross-examination style are well-received by the tribunal.’