Keating Chambers

Described as “excellent on paper and on his feet”, Harry Smith is a leading junior specialising in construction, engineering and professional negligence disputes. He is highly in demand for TCC litigation, tribunal proceedings concerning the Building Safety Act 2022, international and domestic arbitration, and adjudication.

Harry acts for developers, contractors, consultants, insurers and public bodies in high-value and technically demanding cases. His practice covers a broad range of construction and engineering matters, including defects, fire safety and cladding claims, professional negligence disputes, complex delay claims, cases with an insurance angle, and adjudication enforcement litigation.

A significant proportion of Harry’s recent work involves issues arising under the Building Safety Act 2022, including remediation orders, remediation contribution orders, building liability orders and cladding product claims. He is frequently asked to advise on detailed aspects of the BSA’s operation, including Gateway 2. His appellate work includes Peabody Trust v National House Building Council [2025] EWCA Civ 932, on limitation under an NHBC Buildmark policy, and the Herons Court litigation on approved inspectors’ duties.

Called to the Bar in 2014 and a tenant of Keating Chambers since 2015, Harry is widely recognised for his advocacy and analytical rigour, and has been described as "extremely bright" and "tenacious and ferocious", with advocacy that is "a pleasure to watch". Clients praise his analytical skills, responsiveness and clear advice, whilst peers regard him as one of the leading juniors of his generation in the construction and professional negligence fields.

Called to the Bar (2014); Pupil, Keating Chambers (2014 – 2015); Tenant, Keating Chambers (2015).

SCL; TECBAR; Procurement Lawyers’ Association

University of Warwick, Law LLB (First Class); City University, Bar Professional Training Course.

Harry is a keen pianist and has a particular interest in improvisation techniques. When he is not improvising, he enjoys playing everything from Beethoven to Fats Waller. He is currently working on Chopin’s Aeolian Harp étude.