Keating Chambers boasts substantial expertise in construction and technology professional negligence cases, crossing over with the set’s leading position in contractual construction disputes. Members of the set routinely advise on construction-related insurance coverage issues as well as cases surrounding defective design, cladding and fire safety. Simon Hargreaves KC and David Sheard are instructed in BDW Trading v AECOM & Environment UK Ltd, URS Corporation LTD and Cameron Taylor Consulting Ltd, a prominent construction case centring on defective structural engineering across several residential developments which went to the Supreme Court in 2024. Jonathan Selby KC led Alice Sims in Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd v Prater Ltd and others, a case which explored issues surrounding building liability orders and how and when they should be heard. Richard Coplin KC took silk in 2025.
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Profile
Position
Jonathan Selby KC was called to the Bar in 1999 and was made Queen’s Counsel in 2018. He specialises in Construction and Engineering, Energy and Professional Negligence claims (architects, engineers and surveyors).
He was recently described as “a real fighter who puts his heart into things and gets results” who “gets to the issues straight away, and is very pragmatic and a good tactician.” Jonathan frequently appears in high value litigation in the Technology and Construction Court and has a long list of reported cases from that Court and the Court of Appeal. He is particularly well known for his work on cases concerning apartment blocks, hotels, fire safety and building warranty claims.
Jonathan is often instructed to act for clients in arbitration, adjudication and mediations and is a practising accredited Adjudicator.
Career
Queen’s Counsel, 2018
Lay Member of the RIBA Professional Conduct Panel, 2017-to date
Public Access Training, 2008 & 2015
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator, 2007
Keating Chambers, 2001
Pupillage, Keating Chambers, 2000-2001
Called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn), 1999
Languages
French, German.
Memberships
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Society of Construction Law
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association.
Education
Liverpool College; St Catharine’s College, Cambridge (MA Law 1st).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ' The clerks room at Keating is headed by Will Shrubsall and James Luxmoore. They are both very professional and oversee a quality clerking service.'
- 'They are very well known and respected in the construction space.'
- 'Excellent and responsive clerks' room.'
- 'Keating Chambers are an absolute pleasure to deal with, nothing is too much trouble and they are incredibly accommodating of us and our clients.'
- 'Keating Chambers is the 'go to' set for construction law - they literally write the book on it.'
- 'Keating has excellent expertise across the board for both silks and junior counsel for construction-related disputes and can offer a variety of suitable candidates to assist clients on any dispute.'
- 'The clerks are very responsive and always on hand to assist with queries or to provide updates.'
- 'Keating Chambers has an excellent team at KC and junior level.'