Keating Chambers

David Thomas KC is a hugely experienced advocate.
“Cross-examination skills second to none”
“Extremely hard-working, calm, bright, excellent with clients.”
“He can master complex briefs and articulate arguments speedily and efficiently”
“The doyen of the arbitration world”
“A very modern silk”
are a few of the quotes in Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal where David has been consistently recommended as a leader in his fields. David was awarded Construction Silk of the Year at the 2021 Chambers UK Bar Awards, having also been shortlisted for the award in the UK in 2013 and 2017 and the Middle East in 2024.

David is known for his forceful advocacy, incisive cross-examination skills, commercial awareness, and the clarity and practicality of his advice. He has been instructed in some of the biggest and highest profile cases in the world including the Shard, Wembley Stadium, the Olympic Stadium and the Burj Khalifa as well as numerous substantial oil and gas projects which have been a major part of his practice in recent years.

A large part of David’s practice arises from GCC countries, Africa and Asia. Recent international arbitrations have concerned a an offshore LNG terminal, an oil and gas fractionation and storage facility, and an export facility and tank farm, all in the Middle East, a coal-fired power station in South Africa, energy from waste projects in the UK, solar power projects in the Middle East, a major road project in Tanzania, railways in India, a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia and the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Vietnam. In the UK, he is a regular Court of Appeal advocate and frequently appears before the Technology and Construction Court on high profile matters. In 2024 he was successful in the UK Supreme Court on an appeal from Trinidad and Togabo. David has also provided long-term advisory work in relation to landmark developments around the world including in recent years in relation to a super-giant Asian oil field.

David has experience of all major standard form contracts including the FIDIC (Red, Yellow, Silver and Gold books) EPC contracts, NEC, JCT, ICE forms, GC/Works/1, CCC/Works/1, ICHEME, MF/1 and SAJ. He also has great experience of amended standard forms. He is the Editor of “Keating on NEC” (2018) and writes the commentary on the NEC form in “Keating on Construction Contracts”. He has lectured on the NEC and FIDIC forms in the UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Oman and South Africa.

In addition, David sits as an international arbitrator under ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC and other institutional rules as well as ad hoc arbitrations.

Approved Mediator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015 Approved Arbitrator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015 Trained in Dispute Adjudication Board Hearings and Procedure, 2005 CEDR Accredited Mediator, 2003 Queen’s Counsel, 2002 Called to the Bar of Gibraltar, 1996 MA Oxon, 1984 Called to the Bar (Middle Temple), 1982

Basic French

Panel of Arbitrators at the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”) Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR) UK Energy Law Group Professional Negligence Bar Association The Society of Construction Law ICC United Kingdom Dispute Resolution Board Foundation

Midhurst Grammar School; Wadham College, Oxford (1981 1st Class Hons).

David is a keen gardener with a particular interest in fruit growing and topiary. He also enjoys cricket and is a member of the MCC.