Keating Chambers

Marcus Taverner KC has practiced from Keating Chambers for over 40 years specialising in construction, engineering and energy related disputes. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2000 and awarded "Construction Silk of the Year" in 2009 and 2015 by Chambers & Partners. He was appointed Head of Keating Chambers in 2015 and served until 2020. He was recommended as "the leading construction silk at the bar today" (Who’s Who Legal 2016). The Legal 500 UK 2018 reported him as "Incredibly hardworking, consistently energetic, and rightly regarded as a doyen of the construction sector". He was recently identified by Chambers & Partners UK 2020 as "A commanding advocate who is, in our view, second to none in the construction field."

Marcus Taverner KC became a fulltime arbitrator and adjudicator in October 2021. He was described by Legal 500 (2020) as "One of the leading new generation construction arbitrators – he has a good incisive brain; listens to arguments carefully but makes his mind up and is decisive." He has since been described by Chambers & Partners (2025) as "super popular and a great asset to any tribunal", "has boundless enthusiasm for the dispute, whatever it is, however it is" and "he’s top flight."

Having sat first as an arbitrator over 25 years ago, he has sat on numerous Tribunals governed by ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC, HKIAC, VIAC and other institutional rules, as well as on Dispute Adjudication Boards in the UK and worldwide. His experience as an arbitrator, adjudicator and counsel, includes high value engineering, construction and energy related disputes in the UK and in jurisdictions around the world including: Europe; the Middle East (Qatar, Dubai, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia); South Africa and other African nations (including Nigeria and Uganda); the USA; India; Vietnam; Hong Kong; and Australia. He has vast experience of an array of standard forms in mechanical, electrical and civil engineering.

He is particularly well known for his understanding of the commercial aspects of litigation and his mastering of the technical detail of complex and high value cases. The combination of "unparalleled advocacy skills" and "sound judgment" made him a popular choice for international and domestic clients. Clients have included UK governmental bodies, foreign governments and many of the world’s largest construction, engineering and oil companies, developers, related professionals and their insurers. His experience includes disputes subject to civil, common, Islamic and international jurisdictions and law.

In the last 5 to 10 years, as counsel and arbitrator, Marcus Taverner KC has been involved in an array of large disputes relating to waste to energy plants; on-shore and off-shore oil and gas extraction projects; power stations; LNG facilities and pipelines; mining; various types of complex process plants; and, in the UK in particular, disputes relating to the fire protection of buildings.

Called to the Bar (Gray's Inn) 1981, Keating Chambers 1985 to date, Queen's Counsel 2000, Bencher of Gray's Inn 2007, Head of Keating Chambers 2015 to 2020.

TECBAR, SCL, COMBAR

Bachelor of Laws - University of Leicester 1979, Master of Laws - King's College London 1980

His interests include acting, guitar, walking, theatre, all types of music and opera. He is a Director of Stevenage FC.