4 Pump Court features expertise across a wide variety of professional negligence cases, in particular those within the construction and technology sectors, as well as international cases. Several members of the set are involved in the Grenfell Tower litigation, including Aidan Christie KC and Lynne McCafferty KC, who are instructed in relation to cladding issues. Sean Brannigan KC represents a fire consultant on the case, while Luke Wygas leads on the delay element of one of the claims and Matthew Thorne acts as specialist construction counsel to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Simon Davenport KC has been instructed on behalf of the claimant in Shahraab Ahmad v Ouajjou, a case which raises questions on the professional duties of investment advisers overseas. Simon Hale KC took silk in 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Profile
Position
Simon is an experienced commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on construction, commercial and professional indemnity disputes. He was nominated for Construction and Energy Junior of the Year in 2020 by Legal 500. His practice is split between court work, adjudication, and domestic and international arbitration. Examples of his recent work include: internationally, Leonardo SpA v Doha Bank Assurance Co LLC [2020] QIC (A) 1, on appeal from [2019] QIC (F) 6, a leading decision on the enforcement of demand bonds. Domestically, Blackpool Borough Council v Volkerfitzpatrick Ltd, Caunton Engineering Limited and ors; main judgment, [2020] EWHC 1523 (TCC); costs judgment [2020] 2128 EWHC (TCC); a 4-week trial of complex corrosion defects in a state-of-the-art electric tram depot.
Career
Called 2006.
Memberships
Gray’s Inn; TECBAR; SCL; COMBAR; PNBA; LCIA
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Paul Bloxham is proactive attentive personable and commercial.'
- '4 Pump Court is one of the best sets in London. Excellent commercial work and a great clerking team.'
- 'A solid professional negligence set with construction expertise.'
- 'Increasingly pre-eminent in the field of construction law. Some really big hitters and they are all approachable and down to earth, which is critical in this industry.'
- '4 Pump Court are the leading professional negligence set, the clerks are great and very responsive on costs.'
- '4 Pump Court are rightly recognised as one of the leading commercial sets, with a galaxy of stars across all areas of practice. Aided by a great team of clerks, you can be assured that you will get an expert and tailored service.'
- 'Clerk support is good and efficient.'
- 'Well known for construction and engineering work, technology and an increasing presence in shipping and commercial work.'