Recognised for its ‘deep knowledge of construction law’, barristers at Atkin Chambers have extensive experience advocating in major international disputes concerning construction and engineering worldwide. Stuart Catchpole KC and Samar Abbas Kazmi have recently acted in substantial construction arbitrations in the Middle East, while Manus McMullan KC continues to act in Grupos Unidos per el Canal v Autoridad del Canal de Panama for the Panama Canal Authority in the dispute concerning the expansion of the Panama Canal and challenges brought to previous awards made. Zulfikar Khayum has an active arbitration practice, recently concerning hospital, airport, transport and energy developments and Edmund Neuberger also has a broad construction arbitration practice and Andrew Fenn KC is experienced in major energy infrastructure disputes and was made silk in March 2025.
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Profile
Position
Zulfikar practices across all areas of the construction, engineering, energy and IT sectors in both the domestic and international context.
His practice combines substantial UK infrastructure projects (with a number under PFI) along with major projects in Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. His recent experiences includes projects relating to major hospitals, airports, city centre transport, oil refineries and energy plants.
He has a particular focus on large, technically complex, international disputes.
He has been instructed in as counsel in a range of dispute resolution procedures including litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. He has experience in advising and drafting pleadings in relation to all aspects of his practice. As part of his role he has been asked to advise on tactical as well as legal issues and is experienced in pre-action matters. He is regularly instructed as both junior and sole counsel, and has appeared in a number of trials in both court and arbitration, as well as at various interim hearings.
In addition to purely legal and tactical issues, he has been involved in cases dealing with a wide range of highly technical issues in the construction and engineering sector. His experience extends to cases requiring the involvement of multiple experts in a number of different disciplines and in particular experts dealing with architectural, engineering, fire safety, delay and quantum issues.
Career
LLB (Hons); BCL (Oxon). Called 2006.
Memberships
Zulfikar is a member of the SCL, TECBAR and COMBAR.
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'David Barnes and Justin Wilson are absolute Rolls Royce clerks. Rick Bulaitis also worth a mention - approachable and commercial.'
- 'David Barnes, Andrew Burrows and Justin Wilson are a wonderful team assisted by junior staff. Sensible, practical and commercially astute with a great sense of humour.'
- 'Excellent. David Barnes is exceptional, and Andrew Burrows is very diligent. They are very good clerks.'
- 'The very best in energy and construction. Period.'
- 'Atkin Chambers is the go-to set for construction and like disputes. The barristers have very deep sector experience and expertise.'
- 'Atkins are in a league of their own. The clerks are super responsive, particularly Rob Bryant. They always find the right person for the job.'
- 'Atkins has a very good reputation for construction barristers with a deep knowledge of construction law.'
- 'Atkin Chambers is a great set; the barristers I have worked with are obviously experts in their fields as well as being approachable, willing to roll up their sleeves, and great team players. The clerks are super; responsive, helpful, commercial.'