Gatehouse Chambers

Construction & Engineering, Energy, Renewables and natural Resources, Property Damage, Commercial Dispute Resolution

Kort specialises in domestic and international commercial disputes with particular expertise in construction, energy. property damage and related insurance matters. Kort also has experience in general commercial disputes, aviation and shipbuilding.

Having been one of only three barristers ranked for Construction both as “Up and Coming” in Chambers and Partners 2025, and as a “Rising Star” in the Legal 500 2025, Kort is now one of only four barristers of 2017 call or below ranked for construction in Chambers and Partners 2026. Kort is also ranked in the Legal 500 2026 for Construction and is one of the highest ranked barristers of 2017 call or below for Professional Negligence in the Legal 500 2026.

Kort is described as a “definite star for the future." and as "doing things beyond his call very well."

Kort is trusted to handle high value and complex disputes as sole counsel and leading counsel. Recent work includes:

• Acting for a main contractor in a c$250 million international dispute concerning alleged Variations.

• Acting as leading counsel for a multinational organisation in a c$20 million dispute concerning delay to a project in Europe.

• Acting for an EPC/O&M Contractor in a multi-million dispute concerning a biomass power station.

• Successfully representing the Claimant in two adjudication enforcement hearings before the High Court TCC which culminated in in Construction Muzzy Ltd v Davis Construction (South East) Ltd (2025) EWHC 2258.

• Successfully representing the Claimant in High Court TCC enforcement proceedings against counsel ranked band 1 in Chambers and Partners 2026.

• Successfully acting in an adjudication worth c£4.5 million concerning the assessment of compensation events under a form of NEC3 contract.

• Drafting the Defence in an international arbitration concerning a wind farm in the EU.

• Drafting the Defence to a professional negligence claim brought against an architect worth c£700k.

• Successfully defending employers in smash and grab adjudications worth over £2 million, c£2million and over £1.5 million. In the adjudication worth over £1.5 million, Kort appeared at a meeting against counsel significantly beyond his call year.

• Advising a sub-contractor in respect of a dispute worth over £15 million concerning a power plant.

In addition to his work as sole counsel, Kort has acted as junior counsel for leading silks and senior juniors. Recent led work includes:

• Acting as sole junior to Catherine Piercy KC in the Grenfell Tower litigation in which the sum claimed is c£357 million.

• Successfully representing a subcontractor in a multi-million pound delay dispute (led by David Pliener KC).

• Various multi-million pound professional negligence disputes (led by David Pliener KC).

• A coverage dispute worth c£15 million concerning cladding (led by Paul Reed KC).

• A final account dispute involving issues including rectification and the proper interpretation of a number of terms of the NEC3 Subcontract (led by Simon Hughes KC).

• A dispute worth in excess of AED 600 million concerning a hotel in the UAE (led by Paul Reed KC and Helena White).

• An £80 million contractual dispute arising out of the liquidation of public sector contractor Carillion (led by Paul Reed KC).

Kort has extensive experience with the major standard form contracts including the JCT and NEC and brings particular expertise to disputes concerning FIDIC contracts. Kort contributed several chapters to the book Understanding the FIDIC Red and Yellow Books, which contains a clause-by-clause commentary of the updated 2017 FIDIC contracts.

Through his practice at Gatehouse Chambers and his time spent assisting Simon Hughes KC prior to joining Chambers, Kort has worked on disputes in England and Wales, continental Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Called 2017, Gray’s Inn In addition to his work as sole counsel, Kort has acted as junior counsel for leading silks and senior juniors. Recent led work includes:

• Successfully representing a subcontractor in a multi-million pound delay dispute (led by David Pliener KC).

• Various multi-million pound professional negligence disputes (led by David Pliener KC).

• A coverage dispute worth c£15 million concerning cladding (led by Paul Reed KC).

• A final account dispute involving issues including rectification and the proper interpretation of a number of terms of the NEC3 Subcontract (led by Simon Hughes KC).

• A dispute worth in excess of AED 600 million concerning a hotel in the UAE (led by Paul Reed KC and Helena White).

• An £80 million contractual dispute arising out of the liquidation of public sector contractor Carillion (led by Paul Reed KC).

• An adjudication concerning whether a contract was validly terminated (led by Catherine Piercy).

Kort has extensive experience with the major standard form contracts including the JCT and NEC and brings particular expertise to disputes concerning FIDIC contracts. Kort contributed several chapters to the book Understanding the FIDIC Red and Yellow Books, which contains a clause-by-clause commentary of the updated 2017 FIDIC contracts. Through his practice at Gatehouse Chambers and his time spent assisting Simon Hughes KC prior to joining Chambers, Kort has worked on disputes in England and Wales, continental Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Prior to pupillage, Kort acquired commercial experience with the Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets, Google and Cambridge Intelligence, a data-visualisation start-up. He also ranked first in his year in his business management MPhil at the Judge Business School in Cambridge. Kort is able to draw upon his business acumen and experience to provide practical and commercial advice to clients. BPTC, BPP, Prince of Wales Scholar of Gray’s Inn GDL, BPP, Distinction (1st in year overall and in 5 of the 7 core modules) MPhil Management, Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, Distinction (1st in year) Theology and Religious Studies, Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge, Double First

• COMBAR

• TECBAR

• The Society of Construction Law

• Gray’s Inn

• MA Theology and Religious Studies, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge (Double First)

• MPhil Management, Judge Business School, Cambridge (Distinction, 1stin year)

• Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP (Distinction, 1stin year)

• Bar Professional Training Course, BPP (Very Competent)