Mr Christopher Lewis KC > Atkin Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

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.

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.