Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Construction - UK
What the Team is Known For
39 Essex Chambers continues to provide an impressive construction law practice with notable strength at both silk and junior levels. Sources note its "wide range of expertise" and "high-quality advocacy and detailed technical input." The barristers are sought out by clients in the construction industry across the length and breadth of the UK, and also undertake a huge amount of international work. The set draws instructions from those on both the contractor and developer sides, including government bodies. Members of the set handle notable work in relation to high-profile residential and commercial developments, as well as cases concerning heavy engineering and infrastructure projects. The set's practice area expertise extends into PFI and PPP contract disputes, and the barristers have experience in complex cladding and fire safety issues, illustrated by the members' roles in advising the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Lewis Walker is the director of clerking.
Strengths
Clerks at this set go the extra mile to ensure that client requests are met and indeed exceeded. They offer a prompt and excellent service.
Assistant practice manager Lucy Sked is a fantastic and responsive clerk, who goes above and beyond in assisting when faced with short deadlines.
Their clerks are the best I've ever worked with. They can't do enough for you and really understand the brief and how things work for solicitors.
The clerking team is excellent and always responds promptly and comprehensively.
There is excellent clerking and client care.
Notable practitioners
Jess Connors maintains a wide-ranging practice that covers domestic disputes alongside international arbitration. She has acted for prominent employers and contractors in disputes across the world. Her practice relates to a variety of areas, including energy, infrastructure and residential developments. Her experience includes litigation involving allegedly defective cladding.
Jess did a superb job in controlling technical evidence, and she was superb on the technical management of the case.
Jess is and remains my first choice for counsel in any complex construction dispute. Jess cuts through huge volumes of material like a white-hot knife through butter.
Kate Grange KC has a diverse construction practice that often incorporates issues of public law. She is frequently instructed in sophisticated pieces of litigation and arbitration arising out of the insurance and professional negligence elements of construction. She is best known for her role as one of the leading counsel to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
She has an impressive mix of stamina, attention to detail and agility of thought.
Marion Smith KC is a high-quality silk who is recognised for her prowess in adjudications, TCC proceedings and international arbitration. She is sought after to advise on a variety of matters, including PFI, energy and engineering disputes. She is noted for her ability to establish excellent working relationships with clients. She has significant experience in representing clients in domestic ADR proceedings.
She's outstanding and brought confidence to the client.
Marion was very good at advising the client and helping all parties involved understand what they needed to do to prepare.
Marion is very approachable and does a very good job of seeing the broader picture tactically.
Clients really like her. Marion is good at looking at things commercially and at understanding strategic objectives.
Adam Robb KC is a well-regarded practitioner who is regularly sought after by household-name law firms to assist with high-value disputes. He works in construction matters arising from a range of industry sectors, including transport, energy and healthcare. He is especially proficient in litigation involving aspects of professional negligence.
Adam is easy to deal with and knowledgeable.
David Hopkins is a strong barrister praised for his technical expertise in complex construction matters. He regularly appears before the TCC and has experience of public inquiries, having worked on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
He is extremely intelligent.
David is very good, versatile and can turn his hands to all sorts of disputes.
I found David to be an excellent communicator who was able to explain complex legal issues to our client in an understandable way.
His advice has been spot-on. His arguments were extremely well structured and persuasive.
David Sawtell is very highly regarded for his excellent understanding of the Building Safety Act. He regularly appears in the TCC and in adjudication proceedings. In addition, he is active on international arbitration matters.
He is a master of his subject areas and has a very thorough and deliberate advocacy style.
David is into the issues and the submissions he produced were really strong. He is very good on paper and very intelligent.
He has a nice manner with the client and a really big brain.
David showed an exceptional level of expertise and was a fantastic help throughout.
David Sawtell is really good to work with, technically very able and excellent on his feet in difficult situations. He provides focused and practical advice.
Hannah McCarthy has a strong domestic construction practice. She has particular expertise and experience in disputes concerning PFI and local government contracts, as well as cases arising from housing developments.
Hannah is great to deal with and extremely supportive.
Hannah is very responsive and turns work around quickly. She is great with clients and an overall pleasure to work with.
Hannah McCarthy is very easy to work with, unflappable and user-friendly.
She displayed a great awareness of the wider commercial position.
Melissa Shipley undertakes a wide range of construction-related disputes, including litigation, adjudication and various other forms of ADR. She already has notable experience in disputes arising from energy and infrastructure projects both in the UK and abroad.
Melissa Shipley is massively underrated.
Rebecca Drake has significant experience in construction litigation and international and domestic arbitration. She has acted in transport, PFI contract and housing disputes, among a vast array of other issues. She is frequently sought as a sole counsel on matters.
She is my first point of call for adjudications. She gets to grips with technical issues quickly and is extremely responsive.