The English Bar: Construction

Leading Silks

Sean Brannigan KC – 4 Pump Court 'Sean commands respect before arbitral tribunals of the highest calibre. His cross-examination of witnesses and experts is formidable, founded on his excellent case preparation. Sean combines hard work reviewing complex evidence with an innate ability to get to the nub of an issue, which wins him the respect of tribunals. He is also an excellent team player, working effectively with junior counsel and solicitor teams.'

Stuart Catchpole KC – Atkin Chambers 'One of the finest leading counsel of his generation in construction. Deep knowledge of the legal and technical issues. A ferocious cross -examiner.'

Serena Cheng KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Serena’s attention to detail is unrivalled. She is also robust and a strategic genius.’

Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC – Atkin Chambers 'Chantal is a class act as a barrister. She always prepares her cases thoroughly and can see the wood from the trees. She gives strong and very clear opinions and robust, commercial advice. She is truly excellent on her feet, really knowing how to influence a tribunal.'

Karim Ghaly KC – Atkin Chambers ‘Karim has an excellent command of the room when he speaks. The way he can take the case and paint a vivid picture for a tribunal is unrivalled. He builds rapport quickly with witnesses, tribunals, and experts alike.’

Richard Harding KC – Keating Chambers ‘He is extremely experienced and a skilled manager of heavy, complex cases. He is also collegiate, hard-working and imaginative.’

Alexander Hickey KC – 4 Pump Court 'Alex is especially strong on cross-examination, he's very good at telling a story through his cross-examination and taking an arbitrator along with him.'

James Howells KC – Atkin Chambers 'James has outstanding forensic attention to detail. His advocacy is extremely effective, because he has done the work: he knows exactly where and what the evidence is, and his planning and case strategy is of the very highest order. His work rate and availability - day and night - is outstanding. He is a brilliant member of any team. His drafting is also lucid, focused and highly effective.'

Simon Hughes KC – Keating Chambers 'Simon is an exceptionally effective advocate. His cross-examination is incisive and penetrating, consistently getting under the skin of the key issues without lapsing into unnecessary aggression. He has an outstanding ability to distil complex factual and technical material into sharp, persuasive points that resonate with tribunals.'

Riaz Hussain KC – Atkin Chambers 'He is a real team player, who is willing to get into the detail and get his hands dirty. His manner with witnesses and tribunals is calm and sincere, and he is able to demonstrate a strong command of the key facts and issues.'

Simon Lofthouse KC – Atkin Chambers 'Driven with an unmatched work ethic even at the bar, superb cross examiner, attention to detail on another level, gains the trust of the Tribunal and never loses it, a total delight to work with. A superb silk whom clients can count as being prepared for any eventuality and is totally unflappable in the heat of battle. Simon appreciates the trust that clients place in him and literally leaves it all out on the field in every hearing. You always want him in your corner.'

Lynne McCafferty KC – 4 Pump Court ‘Detail orientated, diligent and above all, approachable. An excellent advocate. Lynne gets the point across without being aggressive or “showy”. She lets the facts speak for themselves.’

Andrew Rigney KC – Crown Office Chambers

Marc Rowlands KC – Keating Chambers 'Devastatingly good at cross-examination - razor-sharp mind with a wit to match.'

Roger Stewart KC – 4 New Square Chambers 'Roger is highly authoritative and knowledgeable, with an excellent understanding of the commercial dynamics which underpin the dispute.'

David Streatfeild-James KC – Atkin Chambers 'David is one of the most experienced barristers in the sector and delivers advice which pulls no punches. He is a great advocate and leads litigation teams.'

David Thomas KC – Keating Chambers 'Combines intellectual range with unrelenting forensic preparation.'

Andrew White KC – Atkin Chambers 'Andrew is an exceptionally skilled advocate whose depth of legal knowledge and strategic insight are matched by his clarity in communication and persuasive advocacy. He brings authority, precision, and calmness to complex proceedings, ensuring that every argument is presented with maximum impact. His professionalism and commitment inspire confidence, making him an outstanding leader in any dispute team.'

Crispin Winser KC – Crown Office Chambers

Rupert Choat KC – Atkin Chambers 'He is immensely clever and has an encyclopedic knowledge of construction law. On his feet he is clear, succinct and forceful. There are no airs or graces, just to-the-point and effective.'

Nicholas Fletcher KC – 4 New Square Chambers ‘Nicholas is clever, thoughtful, sees the key issues, and is commercial, collegiate and user friendly.’

Neil Hext KC – 4 New Square Chambers 'Good analytical mind and careful advocate. Very effective.'

Adrian Hughes KC – 39 Essex Chambers 'Adrian is a great all round barrister and is also a highly sought after arbitrator. As a barrister Adrian always immerses himself in the detail and gets to grips with complex issues. He gives very sound commercial advice and his opinions are crystal clear. He is strong and confident on his feet.'

Calum Lamont KC – Keating Chambers 'Fearsome cross-examiner for expert evidence, Calum is more expert that the expert.'

James Leabeater KC – 4 Pump Court

Krista Lee KC – Keating Chambers

Justin Mort KC – Keating Chambers 'Justin has a ferocious intellect and an eye for detail unmatched by any of his peers. He deals with final account disputes with considerable flair and makes the dullest cases of great interest to the tribunal.'

Claire Packman KC – 4 Pump Court 'She has the ability to get up to speed on detailed technical matters quickly and is user friendly.'

Fiona Parkin KC – Atkin Chambers

Benjamin Pilling KC - 4 Pump Court

Marion Smith KC – 39 Essex Chambers 'As an arbitrator, she is hard-working, practical, sensible and a good manager of the procedure and particularly of the lawyers.'

Marcus Taverner KC – Keating Chambers 'Vast knowledge and experience, good analysis of the key issues, without getting tangled up in the irrelevant, and an excellent 'feel' for any given situation. Marcus is responsive, and a joy to work with.'

Adam Robb KC 'Adam is an exceptionally able advocate whose strengths lie in his meticulous preparation, measured style, and excellent analytical skill. His oral advocacy is clear, structured and strategically focused. His cross-examinations are purposeful, reflecting his thorough grasp of the evidence of the case.'

2024 Silks

Anna Laney KC – Crown Office Chambers 'Anna is a very compelling advocate. She in engaging on her feet and ability to quickly digest a large amount of information effortlessly and deliver this in a simple and straightforward manner is second-to-none. She is an absolute go-to for complex construction arbitration.'

Camille Slow KC – Atkin Chambers 'Camille gets to grips very quickly with complex details and commercial strategy. She is a wonderful team player and is excellent with clients. She quickly establishes a good rapport with the arbitral tribunal and her oral advocacy is excellent - concise, interesting, engaging. Her cross examination of difficult witnesses is particularly good. She is an incredibly hard worker who is always very well prepared.'

2025 Silks

Andrew Fenn KC – Atkin Chambers 'Andrew has a first-class legal brain, but allies this with sound commercial knowledge. He works hard and has a keen focus on the points that really matter.’

Leading Juniors

Alexander Burrell – 39 Essex Chambers 'He possesses an extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with disputes related to construction issues particularly in the Middle East. He is a quick thinker and a very capable strategist and barrister who easily understands the issues no matter how complicated or convoluted. His approach is thorough, logical and methodical.'

Tim Chelmick – 4 New Square Chambers 'Tim has a wonderful mind which he applies to both legal and technical aspects of his case. He is an incredibly hard worker, one the best grafters in the business.'

Thomas Crangle – 4 Pump Court 'Thomas' oral advocacy is excellent. His ability to simplify complex construction and engineering issues and put incisive and joined up lines of questioning to witnesses is particularly impressive. This involves strategic thinking and understanding of the evidence in play. Thomas has a polite but effective style which, in my view, is relatively unique. Thomas is able to engender the trust of witnesses he is examining before taking them into deeper water.'

Simon Crawshaw – Atkin Chambers 'A highly accomplished barrister whose calm authority, deep legal knowledge, and sharp analytical skills set him apart. He has demonstrated an impressive ability to break down complex disputes into clear, persuasive arguments, while maintaining a pragmatic and client-focused approach.'

Arshad Ghaffar – XXIV Old Buildings ‘An excellent advocate and very proactive.’

Samar Abbas Kazmi – Atkin Chambers 'Samar shows his excellent expertise in complex construction cases. He is always very well prepared and is an added value to the team. He is talented and he demonstrates attention to details with strong analytical and drafting skills.'

Zulfikar Khayum – Atkin Chambers ‘Zulfikar is fantastic to work with. He has an amazing ability to quickly digest and navigate vast amounts of factual and technical data. His advocacy and cross examination is sharp and effective.’

Shourav Lahiri – Atkin Chambers ‘Incredible work ethic - Shourav really gets into the detail and is a compelling advocate.’

Laurence Page – 4 Pump Court

Luke Wygas – 4 Pump Court 'Luke's energy is infectious - he is a brilliant team member, whom you feel always wants to jump into the trench with you and start fighting. His work-rate and focus are fantastic, and he is first and foremost someone who you actively enjoy having in your team, because he is such a strong ally, and someone who will put in the hard yards with you.'

Paul Bury – Keating Chambers 'On top of his game. Responsive, calm under pressure with a good eye for the details that make a difference.'

Daniel Churcher – 4 Pump Court ‘Dan is an exceptional barrister. He offers incisive insights into strategy, delivers crisp drafting, is very client-friendly, and offers a steady hand at the tiller.’

Nicholas Collings – Atkin Chambers

Stephen Doherty – Outer Temple Chambers

James Frampton – Keating Chambers 'James is conscientious, hard-working and reliable. His advocacy is precise and persuasive. An excellent barrister and someone I would work with time and time again.'

Simon Hale – 4 Pump Court

Rónán Hanna – Atkin Chambers

David Johnson – Atkin Chambers 'Very sharp, client focused, commercially savvy and always on top of his game.'

Ed Jones – 4 Pump Court

Edmund Neuberger – Atkin Chambers

Christopher Reid – Atkin Chambers 'Calm, easy to work with, excellent at drafting, very pleasant individual, works very hard.'

Richard Sage – Crown Office Chambers

David Sheard – Keating Chambers 'David is fantastic, very clever and commercial.'

James Thompson – Keating Chambers 'James' cross-examination of experts is precise, calculated, and highly effective. He masters the details and is always a step ahead.'

Jennie Wild – Keating Chambers 'She is diligent, careful, sensible, mature, easy to work with, and gets on well with professional and lay clients.'

Thomas Williams - Kings Chambers

Rising Stars

Caspar Ramsay - Atkin Chambers 'Caspar is an immensely skilled draftsman, cutting straight to the vital points of the matter and communicating them in a way that is easy to digest.'

The English Bar: Construction in Middle East: The English Bar

Tier 1 sets

4 Pump Court

Praised for its ‘good strength and depth in construction and infrastructure’, 4 Pump Court boasts experience in major construction disputes before courts and arbitral tribunals across the Middle East. At the silk level, Sean Brannigan KC represents governmental entities in cross-jurisdictional construction and energy disputes, Lynne McCafferty KC acts for EPC contractors in arbitrations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and Alexander Hickey KC leads in major infrastructure and hospitality arbitration proceedings. Laurence Page led for the claimant in China State Construction v Everise Construction, a DIFC arbitration enforcement case against an Abu Dhabi-based property developer in which a freezing injunction was granted, and other prominent juniors include Daniel Churcher, Luke Wygas, and Thomas Crangle.

Referenzen

‚Stewart Gibbs and Carl Wall are some of the best in the business.‘

‚The clerks are absolutely outstanding – Stewart and Carl are two of the most effective senior clerks at the Bar. They are dedicated to building relationships with their instructing solicitors, and they are focused on always finding solutions that are pragmatic and that ensure the best outcome for the client, even where clients are delayed in making payments.‘

‚The clerks are personable and approachable, Sam Penny is very organised.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Atkin Chambers

Atkin Chambers remains ‘in the very highest echelon of the construction bar’ across the Middle East, and the set’s individuals have acted on the most prominent construction, infrastructure, energy and project disputes in the region. With considerable strength in depth at silk and junior level, James Howells KC is active on construction and infrastructure arbitrations for clients across the UAE, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, while Riaz Hussain KC focuses his practice on major infrastructural and power projects, and Serena Cheng KC acts for EPC contractors. ‘Totally reliable and unflappable‘, Samar Abbas Kazmi has been involved in disputes over landmark projects across the region, and Simon Crawshaw is notably active on cross-border infrastructure and transport arbitrations. Praised as ‘hardworking, attention to detail, and strategic’, Karim Ghaly KC joined the Chambers in September 2025.

Referenzen

‚The clerks‘ room is outstanding – David Barnes is a true legend of the construction bar; Justin Wilson is brilliant; and Chambers is bringing on the next group, with the likes of Andy Burrows and Rick Bulaitis. They remain focused on developing relationships, and they are very user-friendly and pragmatic.‘

‚David Barnes is a real leader and excellent CEO, who keeps in close touch with the law firms who instruct Atkin Chambers. Justin Wilson and Andy Burrows run a very effective clerking service at the set.‘

‚David Barnes is one of the best clerks at the bar. He is able to meet and deal with clients at the top level.‘

Highlight-Mandate

Keating Chambers

A ‘powerhouse of high-quality barristers experienced in large construction disputes’, the members of Keating Chambers remain active in arbitration work in jurisdictions spanning the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan and under institutions including the DIAC, LCIA, and ICC. With a broad range of expertise across the set, Richard Harding KC specialises in infrastructure arbitrations relating to the UAE, Simon Hughes KC is prominent in airport and project construction cases, and Calum Lamont KC leads in large oil and gas disputes. Leading juniors in the set include James Thompson, who has acted unled in DIAC proceedings concerning construction joint venture disputes, and Jennie Wild and David Sheard are also active on an array of disputes.

Referenzen

‚Clerks are good – James Luxmoore is excellent.‘

‚Amazing clerks – particularly James Luxmoore and Jade Clark. Really responsive and helpful and seriously knowledgeable.‘

‚The clerk room is very good with James Luxmore standing out.‘

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Tier 2 sets

39 Essex Chambers

39 Essex Chambers has ‘a well-deserved reputation for excellence in construction arbitration’, and the set’s members lead on cross-jurisdictional disputes across a variety of international fora. Marion Smith KC has experience acting in the DIFC on construction arbitrations as both counsel and as part of tribunals. Adam Robb KC leads on major contractual disputes, including one recent case relating to megaprojects in the GCC. ‘Very thorough and analytical‘, Alexander Burrell led for the defendants in Al Amaara Constructions LLC v TownX Real Estate Development, an unlawful termination claim resolved after ADR adjudication proceedings that developed DIFC procedural law.

Referenzen

‚Lewis Walker is well known and well-liked by clients and peers.‘

’39 Essex Chambers always provides a very effective clerking service.‘

‚I know several of their clerks, who are always efficient and helpful.‘

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4 New Square Chambers

4 New Square Chambers has received praise for its ‘depth in numbers’ on construction disputes. Roger Stewart KC is praised for his ‘exceptional intellect and command of the law’ and is highly experienced in construction arbitration as both lead counsel and an arbitrator across a range of arbitral rules and forums, and Nicholas Fletcher KC and Neil Hext KC also act as arbitrators and counsel on hospitality and projects disputes; Hext also led on Lals Holding Limited v. Emirates Insurance Company, the first Covid business interruption insurance case under DIFC law. ‘Pragmatic and commercial’, Tim Chelmick has acted on joint venture and shareholder disputes in construction and energy.

Referenzen

‚Dennis Peck and Jack Boggans are standouts. Always on the ball.‘

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Crown Office Chambers

Crown Office Chambers is a ‘well-rounded set’ with ‘a wide range of barristers who have a vast amount of experience in the Middle East’ on construction disputes. Andrew Rigney KC has acted on arbitrations arising out of the construction of metro systems, power plants, and oil pipelines, Crispin Winser KC is active in infrastructure and projects disputes across Qatar, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and the ‘approachable, commercially minded, and calm under pressure’ Anna Laney KC is particularly notable for her work in arbitration in the real estate and hospitality sectors. Richard Sage specialises in construction insurance disputes.

Referenzen

‚The service provided by the clerks’ room is first-class. Communication is swift and clear, and their approach to fees is realistic, flexible, and well-adapted to different market expectations, which makes them particularly easy to work with. The clerks are proactive in suggesting suitable counsel and anticipating client needs. Overall, the clerks are approachable, professional, and solution-driven, which makes working with Crown Office seamless.‘

‚Their clerks are personable and down to earth. Robert Frankish in particular has been great to work with.‘

‚The clerking team is one of the most responsive in the business, and really try hard to make things work.‘

Ranking nach PraxisbereichMiddle East: The English Bar

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