‘Well known for its specialisation in the area of construction law’, Atkin Chambers remains engaged in significant construction disputes, covering issues from fire safety claims to delays and defects in international megaprojects. On the domestic front, Fiona Parkin KC appeared in the Supreme Court in the highly consequential case URS Corporation Ltd Ltd v BDW Trading Ltd, which clarified professional negligence questions under the Building Safety Act. Katie Powell led Max Twivy in the landmark cladding dispute, Shepherd Construction v Kingspan and Others, deciding the extent of professional liability for defective cladding. Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC is acting in a major PFI dispute concerning defect fire safety systems in a hospital, while Mark Chennells KC is instructed in Providence Building Services v Hexagon Housing Association, examining the interpretation of termination provisions. Dominique Rawley KC is instructed in a high profile plumbing and electrical defects dispute in relation to One Hyde Park. Internationally, Manus McMullan KC, Christopher Lewis KC, and Peter Land continue to act for the Panama Canal Authority in multi-billion pound arbitrations, one of many examples of the set's bread and butter work in heavyweight international construction arbitrations.
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Profile
Position
Christopher practises principally in the fields of construction and engineering; energy and utilities; information technology; and related matters. He is an experienced trial advocate and is usually also involved at earlier stages of a case. His experience includes, therefore: advisory work; settling pleadings, submissions and notices; pre-trial advocacy (including advocacy in mediations); and trial advocacy. That experience spans a range of different forums, including mediation, adjudication, expert determination, arbitration (domestic and international), the High Court (principally the TCC and the Commercial Court) and appellate courts.
He has represented clients from, and advised on disputes relating to, a number of different jurisdictions throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. A number of those disputes have been subject to arbitration, under differing arbitration rules. He has a particular interest in disputes which have a conflict of laws element (whether as to jurisdiction, or choice of law, or otherwise).
Very often his cases will involve complicated issues of law, fact and/or expert evidence; and those issues have arisen in a range of different types of project across a range of different disciplines.
Career
Called 1998; Middle Temple. Queen's Counsel 2017.
Languages
Christopher speaks conversational Italian.
Memberships
Christopher is a member of TECBAR, COMBAR, LCLCBA, SCL and the Society for Computers and Law.
Education
MA; BCL (Oxon).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Atkin Chambers clearly have strength in depth and an impressive array of top quality barristers in their set when it comes to construction. David Barnes, CEO and Director of Clerking is excellent at identifying a barrister who is an ideal fit.'
- 'Atkin are in a league of their own. The clerks are super responsive, particularly Rob Bryant. They always find the right person for the job.'