Department profile
Crown Office Chambers

Construction

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)


Crown Office Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Construction - London (Bar)

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

Crown Office Chambers is a highly regarded set with notable construction silks and a strong group of barristers at the junior end. The set is noted for its "deep sector expertise, strategic insight and exceptional advocacy in construction and infrastructure disputes." The barristers act for the full breadth of construction industry clients, including developers, contractors, and design and engineering professionals. The set offers excellent additional capabilities in construction insurance and professional negligence cases. The barristers are highly experienced in construction disputes arising in the social and transport infrastructure area and the energy sectors. Recent notable instructions include its involvement in Grenfell Tower litigation, and in One Hyde Park v Laing O’Rourke. Barristers at Crown Office Chambers also regularly feature in cases concerning major commercial developments.

Rob Frankish is the senior team clerk.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerks are really good, very commercial, responsive and adaptable.

    Construction respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are great; the communication is always excellent.

    Construction respondentUK Bar
  • The clerks are consistently professional, responsive and solution-oriented. They are proactive in understanding client needs and always approachable.

    Construction respondentUK Bar
  • The set has very good clerks. They are very commercial and receptive to any issues that come up, and are efficient and good at diary management.

    Construction respondentUK Bar
  • The clerking team seems to be very good, responsive, sensible, helpful and I am very happy to work with them.

    Construction respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Star IndividualsAndrew Rigney
    Star IndividualsAndrew Rigney

    Andrew Rigney

    Andrew Rigney KC is an eminent silk who regularly acts in high-value litigation and arbitration in the UK and internationally. His diverse practice covers a range of disputes, relating to such matters as infrastructure projects, oil and gas plants, and large real estate developments. He is especially proficient in insurance disputes arising in the construction sector.

    • He is capable of grasping the most difficult legal conundrums.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • He is phenomenal. Andrew works incredibly hard and is always on top of every detail and legal argument in the case. He is one of the best legal minds I've worked with.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • He is not only exceptionally personable but also one of the most outstanding practitioners I have had the privilege to work with.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Andrew Rigney is an experienced senior statesman in construction.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 1Charles Pimlott
    Band 1Charles Pimlott

    Charles Pimlott

    Charles Pimlott is a talented junior who acts in arbitration, adjudications and adjudication enforcements in the TCC. He is au fait with the full range of standard form contracts, and also handles disputes arising from bespoke contract arrangements. His experience includes disputes arising out of infrastructure projects as well as high-value residential developments.

  • Band 2Crispin Winser
    Band 2Crispin Winser

    Crispin Winser

    Crispin Winser KC is a well-respected barrister whose construction practice extends from domestic residential development work and PFI disputes to large-scale international arbitration. He has acted in professional negligence claims as well as adjudication enforcement proceedings. He has tackled a raft of disputes originating in the Middle East. He is frequently sought out as sole counsel in complex construction cases.

    • Crispin Winser is calm, does well in court, is a good advocate and is definitely someone I will be using in the future.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Isabel Hitching
    Band 2Isabel Hitching

    Isabel Hitching

    Isabel Hitching KC boasts a tally of appearances in important and high-value construction cases, including a Supreme Court case of significance to the status of adjudication decisions. She acts for both private and public sector clients in a wide range of matters, including PFI disputes and defective construction claims.

    • Isabel is excellent. Her attention to detail is spot-on and clients really like her as she is practical and commercial.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Isabel Hitching is really excellent, has a strong practice and is a well-regarded advocate.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • She is clearly exceptionally bright and all over the detail. She helps with overall strategy and is good with clients, too.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 2Michele De Gregorio
    Band 2Michele De Gregorio

    Michele De Gregorio

    Michele De Gregorio has experience in a wide range of construction litigation, arbitration and adjudication, including matters related to fire safety and design defects. He is regularly instructed as sole counsel in domestic and international disputes.

    • He is great, hard-working, no-nonsense and I feel he will really go over the top of the trench for you when you need to fight. He is a courageous and fierce advocate and excellent on paper as well.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • He is an excellent barrister.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • He has shown very good client service, patience and impressive levels of knowledge and skill, with very solid advocacy.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Dermot Woolgar
    Band 3Dermot Woolgar

    Dermot Woolgar

    Dermot Woolgar is a well-regarded junior with vast expertise in property-related construction disputes. He regularly works on adjudication enforcement proceedings, disputes heard in the TCC and arbitrations. He has experience of acting both domestically and internationally.

    • His experience means he can draw upon different subject matters, which is very valuable for quirky elements.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Dermot provided detailed and considered advice, providing valuable assistance.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Dermot is thorough, engaging and clients love him. He is very capable.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • His preparation is meticulous and he is absolutely excellent on the detail. He also has a very good manner in court.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 3Patrick Maxwell
    Band 3Patrick Maxwell

    Patrick Maxwell

    Patrick Maxwell is regularly instructed on high-profile TCC claims as well as arbitrations and adjudications. He has experience of acting in matters related to transport and residential developments, among many others, and he is often sought out to act as sole counsel.

    • He's a very good combination of being user-friendly and normal but extremely bright as well. He explains complex things very clearly.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Patrick Maxwell is extremely bright, has good paperwork, is responsive and great with clients.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • He is excellent. He is someone I rate highly, based on his quality.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Anna Laney
    Band 4Anna Laney

    Anna Laney

    Anna Laney KC is an impressive barrister who is regularly instructed in large and technically complex construction litigation and arbitration. She is frequently sought out to act for major contractors in highly technical disputes arising out of construction projects. Her practice extends into procurement and insurance-related cases.

    • Anna rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck in. She is also very good at dealing with clients.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • She comes up with some of the most brilliant ideas to bring things forward. She is brilliant in her written work and cutting in her cross-examination.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Anna Laney is excellent.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Anna Laney is very impressive. She is down to earth and personable.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Ben Quiney
    Band 4Ben Quiney

    Ben Quiney

    Ben Quiney KC is a well-reputed silk with a multifaceted construction practice. He appears in the TCC and handles adjudications and arbitrations, both domestic and international. Quiney also brings his significant expertise in insurance matters to bear.

    • He's hugely competent and very multifaceted. He is brilliant at cross-examination and good with clients.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is very calm and measured and has a good eye for detail. He's excellent on his feet and very adaptable.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
    • Ben is an outstanding KC. He gets clients' needs and speaks to them, not at them. He is very commercial and a calming influence.

      Construction respondentUK Bar
  • Band 4Richard Sage
    Band 4Richard Sage

    Richard Sage

    Richard Sage has a strong reputation among instructing solicitors, and significant experience of acting for clients in litigation in the TCC and Court of Appeal. He has additional expertise in domestic and international arbitration proceedings.

    • Richard Sage is a sound and reliable advocate.

      Construction respondentUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Crown Office Chambers (10)

London (Bar)

Crown Office Chambers has rankings in the following guides

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