John Uff KC CBE > The Chambers of Alexander Nissen KC > London, England > Barrister Profile

John Uff KC CBE

020 7544 2600 juff@keatingchambers.com

Position

John Uff originally trained as a civil engineer, becoming a specialist in geotechnics, but after five years practice he transferred to the Bar and became Donald Keating’s last pupil.

While developing an extensive practice in all areas of engineering and construction, he has maintained close interests in writing, lecturing and academia. In 1987 he became the founding Director of the Centre of Construction Law and Dispute Resolution at King’s College, London, and was appointed to the Nash Chair of Engineering Law at the University of London in 1992. Since 2003 he is Emeritus Professor of Engineering Law at King’s College. John Uff’s national and international reputation has led to many appointments as arbitrator in substantial disputes in most parts of the world as well as being appointed to chair Public Inquiries in the UK and abroad.

He has maintained close contact with the engineering world through the ICE and the Royal Academy of Engineering. John has been closely involved in many developments in the construction industry over the past two decades, through committees and publications and has most recently spearheaded the engineering profession’s drive to establish new code of ethics in the engineering profession. In 1996 he served as Chairman of a Public Inquiry into Yorkshire water. In 1998-2001 chaired two Public Inquiries into rail accidents: first the Southall inquiry and secondly, sitting jointly with Lord Cullen, into rail safety systems, following the Paddington crash. Most recently he was invited to a chair panel of Commissioners inquiring into the activities of the public construction industry in Trinidad and Tobago. His report, which received wide publicity throughout the Caribbean, was delivered to the President in March 2010. His professional activities have included serving on the Court and appointment as a Vice President of the London Court of International Arbitration and serving as President of the Society of Construction Arbitrators and Master of the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.

Career

Qualified 1970; Gray’s Inn; bencher 1994; Treasurer 2011:  worked as a design engineer 1966-70; barrister 1970; arbitrator in various disputes since 1977; recorder and deputy judge TCC 1998; professor of engineering law, King’s College, London 1991; emeritus professor 2003;  FICE; FCI Arb; Fellow Royal Academy of Engineering; Fellow Kings College, London; publications of note: ‘Construction law’ (12 ed 2017); Construction Industry Model Arbitration Rules; 100-day model arbitration procedure; contributor to ‘Keating on Building Contracts’, and to ‘Chitty on Contracts’ 29th edition; ICE gold medal 2003; President Society of Construction Arbitrators 2004; vice-president London Court of International Arbitration.

Education

King’s College, London (BSc Engineering; PhD); College of Law.

Leisure

Music, walking.