The barristers at 4 New Square Chambers are praised for being ‘knowledgeable and experienced’ in all aspects of construction related disputes, including domestic and international litigation, arbitration, and adjudications. Domestically, the set has been active across disputes arising out of the Grenfell tragedy and subsequent Building Safety Act 2022, with Roger Stewart KC leading George McDonald in defending cladding manufacturer Arconic in the Grenfell Tower civil litigation and Ben Patten KC acting for the cladding consultant in the major fire-safety claim in Shepherd Construction Limited v Kingspan and Others. Cyril Chern handled a steady stream of International Arbitrations on large-scale infrastructure projects across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. Hugh Saunders appeared in the High Court of Trinidad over a disputed contract termination in relation to a high-value highway project.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Mentions
Insurance and reinsurance
Leading SilksInternational arbitration: arbitrators
Leading arbitratorsInternational arbitration: counsel
IT and telecoms: projects and services
Leading SilksProfessional disciplinary and regulatory law
Leading SilksProfessional negligence
Leading SilksThe English Bar: Construction
Profile
Position
Practice areas
International and offshore litigation
International arbitration
Construction, engineering and energy
Professional liability
Commercial dispute resolution
Information technology
Professional discipline
Insurance & reinsurance
Art & cultural property
Career summary
Roger is a leading commercial silk with almost 40 years’ experience working as an advocate and arbitrator on high value, complex disputes around the world.
“The go to person for big disputes and superb on his feet,” Roger specialises in construction, insurance, IT, professional negligence and professional discipline. He is known as a major player in international arbitration circles both as arbitrator and as counsel for commercial and construction arbitration work. A very large part of his practice relates to international/offshore disputes.
Roger is known for his ability to lead large teams of lawyers and experts as well as appear as Co-Counsel.
Roger is a Recorder and appointed to sit in the Technology and Construction Court. He is also a part-time judge in the Court of Appeal in the DIFC. A former head of chambers, he is also one of the three general editors of Jackson & Powell on Professional Liability.
Career
Qualified 1986; Inner Temple; Bencher 2002; Junior Bench Auditor; publications: general editor of 5 to 7th editions in succession to Sir Rupert Jackson of ‘Jackson and Powell on Professional Negligence’; Silk 2001; Bencher 2002.
Memberships
COMBAR; PNBA; LCLCBA; TECBAR.
Education
Oundle School; Jesus College, Cambridge (1985 LLM, 1986 MA).
Content supplied by 4 New Square
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Roger has fantastic strategic instincts; he is always calm, convincing with clients, and carries the confidence of the bench. He understands the nuance of insurance but never gets lost or loses sight of the case, and the same goes for anything construction-related.’