Paul Cowan > 4 New Square Chambers > London, England > Barrister Profile

Paul Cowan

020 7822 2000 p.cowan@4newsquare.com View profile

Position

Senior barrister and market-leading specialist in construction, engineering and technology disputes, as well as other commercial disputes, in relation to national and international projects and transactions. Paul appears as counsel in some of the world’s largest disputes in ICC, UNCITRAL and other international arbitrations and dispute boards, as well as in national litigation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings (e.g. recently establishing new case law on extensions of time under English law in the High Court and Court of Appeal). Paul has deep sector experience in respect of the design and construction of new-build nuclear power plants, as well as in the power sector more generally, oil & gas projects, and other large infrastructure projects. In addition to dispute resolution advice and representation, Paul has extensive experience advising clients on the drafting, negotiation and administration of contracts and appointments in relation to national and international construction projects. Associated with this, Paul has been an active member of the Joint Contracts Tribunal’s Council for approximately 15 years, which is the leading publisher of standard forms of construction contracts in the UK, and is a long-standing member of the Construction Committee of the City of London Law Society (in which Paul co-authored the standard form and guidance note for novation agreements).

Career

Call to the Bar in 1996 (Inner Temple); qualified as a Solicitor in 2004; CMS Cameron Kenna, Linklaters, and White & Case (as partner). Numerous publications for the Construction Law Journal, Building Magazine, Global Arbitration Review. Organized and spoke at ICC International Arbitration Symposia in 2009 and 2013, the IBA Annual Conferences from 2014-2017, as well as many other public seminars for the Society of Construction Law (in London and the Gulf) and other bodies, on the subject of nuclear power projects, civil law / common law issues, and other subjects.

Languages

French, German (conversational).

Memberships

Society of Construction Law; International Bar Association; International Nuclear Law Association; JCT Council; Chairman of JCT’s Construction Dispute Resolution Group; City of London Law Society Construction Committee.

Education

King Edward VI School, Bury St. Edmunds; University College, University of Durham (1995 LLB Hons.); Inns of Court School of Law.

Leisure

History, wine, cars and motor racing, astronomy, archery.