Keating Chambers is ‘a go-to set for construction resource and support’. Among them is Veronique Buehrlen KC acts for the defendant in Tullow Ghana Ltd v Vallourec Oil & Gas France, a $400m claim for allegedly defective piping installed in water injection wells in the Jubilee field off the coast of Ghana. David Thomas KC is another senior silk with a longstanding reputation in energy disputes, including a recent UK case concerning biomass plants, and international disputes over solar power components. Paul Buckingham KC continues to make a name for himself as a new silk, his work for Valero in bringing claims arising from damage to a petroleum pipeline supplying two major UK terminals illustrating his presence in domestic matters. Promising junior Jennie Wild has a broad practice that includes international disputes concerning power station construction, as well as domestic matters, and Paul Bury’s work in a £132m TCC claim concerning a waste-to-energy power plant gives a glimpse into his broad energy practice.
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Profile
Position
After spending eight years with BP as a chemical engineer in the oil and gas industries, Paul Buckingham was called to the Bar in 1995 and has since specialised in major construction, engineering and energy disputes. His particular area of interest and expertise lies in international arbitration work.
He has worked on a wide range of contentious matters involving international construction and engineering projects. He has extensive experience of numerous arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules. He has also acted on disputes involving most standard form contracts and their derivatives, including the JCT, ICE, IChemE and FIDIC Forms.
He regularly acts for clients in court, domestic and international arbitration, adjudication and mediation hearings. Paul also has experience at all levels of alternative dispute resolution including dispute review boards, project appeal panels and direct settlement negotiations. His international work includes matters in Europe, the Far East, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean.
In addition, Paul has been appointed as arbitrator, adjudicator, dispute board member and neutral evaluator on a range of disputes involving construction and engineering projects.
Career
Approved Arbitrator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015
Fellow of the IChemE (FIChemE), 2007
IChemE Accredited Arbitrator and Adjudicator, 2006
Called to the Bar (Middle Temple), 1995
Chartered Engineer (CEng), 1990
British Petroleum (Design and Construction), 1985-1993
BSc Chemical Engineering (First Class), Birmingham, 1985
Memberships
Chairman, IChemE Dispute Resolution Committee
IChemE Contract Committee
Society of Construction Law
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Top for construction, generally good around with some absolute stars of the construction bar. Good proactive clerking.'
'Keating has a deep bench of barristers at all levels with strong arbitration and wider disputes experience in construction across multiple sectors. The clerks have recommended excellent barristers in this space over the years and work hard to accommodate demands on availability.'
'Keating has the strongest bench when it comes to pure construction and engineering disputes, there are so many Silks and juniors who are at the top of their game.'
'Keating is our go-to chambers for construction and engineering disputes. I have worked with counsel from Keating for many years and have never been disappointed. They have an exceptional level of strength in depth.'
'Keating are a very strong set and highly respected. They are top-quality and have an incredible international reputation; they have a lot of counsel and all the ones in know are amazing. I don’t think you are at Keating unless you are highly talented and razor-sharp.'