The ‘top quality’ set at Atkin Chambers is formed of barristers with capabilities handling business-critical system-related disputes and contractual disputes. James Howells KC is representing the claimant in Capita Life and Pensions Regulated Services Limited v Pearl Group Management Services in a dispute regarding claims of payment for insurance administration support IT services and related contract termination issues. Patrick Clarke is led by Howells in the aforementioned, as well as in his representation of Capita in Capita Life and Pensions Regulated Services Limited v Phoenix Group Management Services Limited, a case involving a £50m dispute concerning the transfer of IT services, awaiting trial.
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Profile
Position
Patrick’s specialist practice principally concerns fighting claims that involve complex technical or factual subject matter, in particular concerning construction, engineering of all kinds and IT or computing and communications disputes. He is regarded as one of the top trial lawyers in his field, recommended by the legal directories as a leading junior in construction and IT disputes, noted to be an outstanding advocate and expert cross-examiner.
He has broad experience of all methods of dispute resolution with expertise in the High Court in England as well as international arbitration, mediation and adjudication. The last few years have been marked by acting on, and appearing in, a series of large high-value arbitrations involving computer-related, oil and gas and infrastructure projects. Patrick’s international practice has recently been focused on the Gulf and Central Asia and he has acted in arbitrations in the Far East and the Americas.
Praised as being down to earth and a good communicator, Patrick’s client base is drawn from all sectors including contractors, specialist consultants, private individuals, national and local government departments, and commercial employers. The subject matter of his work ranges from private dwellings and local authority highways disputes to stadiums, drilling rigs and specialist shipbuilding and from disputes concerned with moving a single website based business to a different provider to disputes concerned with nationwide roll-out of hardware and software for a national government department.
Career
Qualified 1997; Grays Inn.
Memberships
Patrick is a member of TECBAR, COMBAR and the SCL.
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