Tom Coulson > The Chambers of Alexander Nissen KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
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Tom Coulson
Position
Tom Coulson has a busy practice in domestic and international construction, engineering, and energy disputes, together with associated professional negligence and insurance matters.
Tom is familiar with a wider range of standard forms. He is a contributor to Keating on JCT Contracts, and also has significant experience of the various FIDIC and NEC forms. Tom is also a contributor to Keating on Construction Contracts, Keating on Offshore Construction and Marine Engineering Contracts, and to the Construction Law Reports.
Recent experience as sole counsel includes:
- The trial of a Part 8 claim in an energy dispute concerning an expert determination (Empyreal Energy Ltd v Daylighting Power Ltd [2020] BLR 555.
- Acting for a major homebuilder in the trial of preliminary issues concerning potential liability in tort for economic loss for building defects (Thomas v Taylor Wimpey [2019] BLR 382).
- An appeal concerning the relationship between the Part 36 regime and the rules governing amendments (Bentley Design Consultants Ltd v Sansom [2018] EWHC 2238 (TCC)).
- Acting for a contractor in a 3-day trial in the TCC.
Recent experience as junior counsel includes:
- A challenge to an international arbitration award arising out a project to extend a port facility in Jordan (Soletanche Bachy France SAS v Aqaba Container Terminal (PVT.) Co. [2019] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 431).
- Junior counsel in a 2-week, $300m arbitration arising out of the construction of a natural gas pipeline.
- Appeals to the Court of Appeal concerned with the scope of an employer’s implied contractual obligations to obtain planning consent (Clin v Walter Lilly [2018] BLR 321) and the requirements of the conservation area regime (Walter Lilly v Clin [2021] 1 WLR 2753).
- Appearing in a 3-week, $120m ICC arbitration in Australia arising out of a marine engineering project.
Career
Called to the Bar 2014, Pupil – Keating Chambers 2014-2015, Tenant – Keating Chambers 2015
Education
BA Modern History (Double First) – St Peter’s College, Oxford 2008-2011, MSt in Modern British and European History – St Peter’s College, Oxford (Distinction) 2011-2012, Graduate Diploma in Law – City University (Distinction) 2012-2013, Bar Professional Training Course – City University (Outstanding, 4th in year) 2013-2014
Leisure
Tom retains a strong interest in history of all types and periods and also enjoys playing Sunday league football.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 3Tom Coulson – Keating Chambers ‘Tom is one of Keating’s best juniors who punches well above his weight. He is unbelievably bright, a great strategist and can turn his hand to anything.’
As an ‘excellent specialist set’ in construction law, Keating Chambers continues to impress with its representation in an array of high-profile cases, both in the UK and abroad. In addition to the set’s global presence in arbitrations, domestic instructions include Martlet Homes v Mulalley, the first post-Grenfell cladding fire safety case to go to trial, where Jonathan Selby KC and Tom Coulson represented the claimants, while Simon Hughes KC and James Frampton acted for the defendants. Other key cases include Cambridgeshire County Council v BAM Nuttall Limited, a long-running case concerning a guided busway in Cambridgeshire, involving Piers Stansfield KC, Sarah Williams, and Harry Smith acting for the claimant. Paul Bury, acting for Resource Recovery Solutions (Derbyshire) Limited, and Lucy Garrett KC, who is representing Derbyshire CC & Derby CC, are instructed to appear on opposite sides of a dispute revolving around the termination of a PFI contract for the Derby waste-to-energy plant. The set has seen the addition of Alexandra Bodnar from 39 Essex Chambers. Paul Buckingham KC and William Webb KC both took silk in March 2023, while Adam Constable KC (as was) is now on the High Court bench.
London Bar > Professional negligence
(Rising stars)Ranked: Tier 1Tom Coulson – Keating Chambers ‘In a team of very talented barristers, Tom stands out as exceptional. His grasp of the facts and the issues is excellent, his written work is excellent and he is a real team player.’