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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Jennie is a well-regarded and experienced specialist in oral and written advocacy in high-value, and complex, construction and energy disputes, resolved by way of arbitration or litigation.
Jennie was recently awarded “Construction Junior of the Year” for 2024 at the Legal 500 MENA Awards.
She is ranked as a leading junior by Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 in Construction, Energy, International Arbitration and the Middle East. She has been described as “a legal wizard”, “a master tactician”, “meticulous and thorough”, “user-friendly and down-to-earth”, being “strategic and thoughtful”, having “an elegant drafting style”, “undaunted by large and complex cases”, “someone you want on your team” and “in reality, already a star”. She is also featured in a text of “40 under 40” rising arbitral practitioners from around the world.
Jennie’s practice is a balance of international arbitration and domestic litigation. Her experience includes four international airports, four power stations (including the world’s largest air-cooled and photovoltaic stations), three major hospitals, roads and tunnels and a national water network. Her arbitral experience includes disputes subject to the ICC, DIAC, ADCCAC, MCCI and UNCITRAL rules concerning projects in the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Australia, South Africa, Slovakia and Mauritius. Her recent domestic instructions include: (i) Building Safety Act 2022 cladding and fire safety matters, (ii) adjudication enforcements; (iii) “live” advice in relation to major London infrastructure/development projects; and (iv) a major PFI termination account dispute.
Jennie contributes to the Construction Law Reports, Keating on Construction Contracts, Keating on JCT, Keating on Offshore Construction and Marine Engineering, PLC and Halsbury’s Laws.
Before coming to the Bar, Jennie worked at the Law Commission on the reform of insurance law, unfair contract terms and fiduciary duties and prior to that, in Australia, at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office and for the Principal Judge of the Victorian Commercial Court.
Career
Australian Wheat Board (2008-2009); Victorian Government Solicitors Office (Melbourne) (2009-2010); associate to the Honourable Justice Hargrave, Supreme Court of Victoria (Melbourne) (2010-2011); The Law Commission (2011-2013); called to the Bar (2013); Inner Temple; pupillage Keating Chambers (2013-2014); tenant 2014 to date.
Languages
English, French (basic).
Memberships
- SCL
- TECBAR
- COMBAR
- LCLCBA
- Young ICCA
- Arbitral Women
Education
University of Nottingham, LLB (Hons) Law with Australian Law (First Class); City University, Bar Professional Training Course (Distinction).
Content supplied by Keating Chambers
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.'