David Thomas KC > The Chambers of Alexander Nissen KC > London, England > Barrister Profile
Keating Chambers Offices
Keating Chambers
15 ESSEX STREET
LONDON
WC2R 3AA
England
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David Thomas KC
Position
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.
A large part of David’s practice arises from GCC countries, Africa and Asia. Recent international arbitrations have concerned a coal-fired power station in South Africa, a major road project in Tanzania, iconic developments and infrastructure in the Middle East, on shore and off shore oil and gas facilities, the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Vietnam, and DIFC cases related to “The World” and “The Palm”. In the UK, he is a regular Court of Appeal advocate and frequently appears before the Technology and Construction Court on high profile matters. He frequently deals with highly technical issues which have ranged from soil mechanics, to the behaviour of powders in hoppers, stresses in steel members, lead contamination of water, the properties of concrete and turbine performance. David has also provided longterm advisory work in relation to landmark developments around the world.
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 NEC3” (First Edition 2012) and writes the commentary on the NEC form in “Keating on Construction Contracts”. He advises regularly on NEC contract disputes and has conducted numerous adjudications and mediations in relation to the engineering and construction contract, the professional services contract, the term services contract and various amended versions thereof. 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 arbitrator and adjudicator both in the UK and internationally.
Career
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
Languages
Basic French.
Memberships
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
Education
Midhurst Grammar School; Wadham College, Oxford (1981 1st Class Hons).
Leisure
Gardening, cricket.
Lawyer Rankings
London Bar > Construction
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Thomas KC – Keating Chambers ‘David is excellent at determining a strategy, getting the team to deliver and persuading the decision makers. All round, he is very successful at winning.’
London Bar > International arbitration: counsel
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Thomas KC –Keating Chambers ‘David is very commercial, extremely detailed and instils confidence of instructing counsel and of the clients. David works well as part of an international team.’
London Bar > Energy
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 2David Thomas KC –Keating Chambers ‘David is very commercial and extremely detailed. He instils confidence works well as part of a team.’
Asia Pacific - The English Bar > Construction, energy and infrastructure
(Leading Silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Thomas KC – Keating Chambers ‘David is prepared to roll his sleeves up and get stuck in as part of a team. He is thoughtful and clear in his approach and advice.’
Middle East: The English Bar > Construction
(Leading silks)Ranked: Tier 1David Thomas KC – Keating Chambers ‘With his wealth of experience, David brings a cool and calm presence to the dispute and is concise and clear with instructing solicitors and clients as to the immediate and overall strategy.’
Experienced in DIAC, ICC, and LCIA arbitration, Keating Chambers is well-informed in heavyweight construction disputes arising from airport, road, and rail development projects. David Thomas KC enjoys a regional footprint and his broad construction experience encompasses Saudi Arabian mixed commercial developments. Simon Hughes KC and Justin Mort KC specialise in disputes arising from energy projects, while Calum Lamont KC is often engaged in international marine construction arbitration. James Thompson is knowledgeable of disputes arising from commercial and educational facility developments, while Paul Buckingham KC and William Webb KC took silk in 2023.