Mr Simon Lofthouse KC 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 Simon Lofthouse KC KC
Position
Simon Lofthouse QC is widely-recognised as a leading domestic and international lawyer with particular expertise in construction, energy, natural resources and professional negligence.
His practice covers international and domestic litigation and arbitration acting for governments, corporations and professionals. The range of disputes frequently involves engineering or construction projects, transport, professional negligence, information technology or energy projects.
He is particularly experienced in the presentation and conduct of complex cases, especially those involving delay analysis, contractual interpretation, allegations of professional negligence issues including defective design, expert determinations and final accounts, or disputed technical issues (including fraud).
The range of disputes covered is extensive, examples include large commercial developments both domestically and internationally (new-build and refurbishment), complex infrastructure works, including track installation, repair and upgrading, IT systems and installations, powers station disputes (both as to construction and operation including waste-to-energy plants), waste and water treatment technology, oil and gas platforms, piling operations onshore and offshore, construction of roads and ships, PFI/PPP, pipe laying, tunnels, pumping stations, coastal defences and effluent, and airport terminals.
His experience spans the range of different forums including mediation, adjudication, expert determination, domestic and international arbitration, and commercial court litigation. Much of his work is international in nature and throughout his career he has advised on, and appeared as advocate in, disputes in Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, the Middle East (he is qualified to practice in the DIFC, Dubai), and across Asia. He has been appointed by the ICC and other domestic and international bodies both as arbitrator and as legal and dispute resolution expert.
Simon also accepts appointments either as a sole arbitrator or as part of a panel and is, of course, familiar with the established domestic and international rules.
Career
LLB (Hons) (Lond). Called to Bar of England and Wales in 1988. Recorder 2003, Silk 2006. Authorised to sit in the TCC Division of the High Court 2015. Advocacy teacher for Gray’s Inn. Chair of Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar 2011-2015; Member, Bar Standards Board 2011-2015.
Memberships
COMBAR, TECBAR, registered adjudicator. Qualified to appear in the DIFC, Dubai.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is a witness demolition specialist. He does that because he is more prepared than they are and slowly but surely crucifies them on the details.’
With ‘unrivalled experience in construction and engineering matters’, Atkin Chambers boasts ‘deep bench strength’, and continues to handle major international projects and domestic infrastructure and fire safety matters. In the international arena, Christopher Lewis KC and Manus McMullan KC continue to represent the Panama Canal Authority in disputes arising from the Third Set of Locks project. In addition to the set’s experience in international arbitration, Andrew Fenn is currently acting for the claimant in Carillion plc v KPMG LLP & Anor, a large audit negligence case concerning the collapse of the construction contractor. On the domestic side, Dominique Rawley KC, Simon Lofthouse KC, and Jennifer Jones KC are instructed on a high-value structural defects claim in the healthcare sector, while Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC is leading on Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust v Hadfield Healthcare Partnership Limited, a multimillion PFI dispute relating to fire safety in a hospital. Stephanie Barwise KC and Dalton Hale continued to represent a group of core participants in the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. Camille Slow KC took silk in March 2024.
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Simon Lofthouse KC –Atkin Chambers ‘He is bright and hardworking.’
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2Simon Lofthouse KC –Atkin Chambers ‘There are no weaknesses. He is simply better prepared than all his opponents and he has been up against the very best. He outworks them, and then he’s like the four horsemen of the apocalypse, but more courteous.’
London Bar > Energy
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘His preparation is intense, and he picks forensic lines to take.’
Regional International Arbitration – The Bar > Construction, energy and infrastructure
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 3Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘An outstanding leading counsel who is meticulous on technical and practical aspects, and sharp on his feet.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
(Leading silks)Ranked: Tier 1Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Simon is probably the best construction silk in a generation. His cross examination is very effective. Excellent attention to detail.’
Atkin Chambers has ‘vast experience and remarkable knowledge in international arbitration in construction disputes’ and is seen as the ‘go-to’ set for construction, energy and infrastructure matters across the Middle East. Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC and Simon Lofthouse KC continue to excel in disputes and arbitrations arising out of large construction projects across the Gulf, while Stuart Catchpole KC’s broad practice includes energy and natural resources, insurance and professional negligence disputes. Junior members of the set include Zulfikar Khayum, whose strong arbitration practice includes numerous complex construction disputes in the DIAC and ICC, Rónán Hanna, who has experience in transport and oil pipeline disputes and Samar Abbas Kazmi, who has recently been active on disputes relating to mixed-use commercial developments and luxury resorts. Recently promoted silk Camille Slow KC continues to handle power plant and desalination project disputes.