JUNIOR PROFILE
James Frampton

James Frampton

UK Bar 2026

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Ranked in 3 practice areas

About

Provided by Keating Chambers

UK Bar

Practice Areas

James Frampton specialises in construction, engineering, energy and procurement disputes. He is ranked by Chambers & Partners (Construction, Professional Negligence, Public Procurement) and Legal 500 (Construction, Professional Negligence, and International Arbitration): “Very bright, focuses on the key issues, always prepares comprehensively, very good advocate, great manner. He is a star junior.”

James has specialist expertise in the Building Safety Act 2022 and cladding-related disputes. He acted as Junior Counsel for Mulalley in the first fire-safety cladding case tried in the TCC since Grenfell: Martlet Homes Ltd v Mulalley & Co Ltd [2022] EWHC 1813 (TCC). He is currently instructed in TCC claims involving Building Liability Orders, liability under section 149, and in First-tier Tribunal claims for Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution Orders. He is an editor of Keating Chambers' BSA Update.

His wider practice includes professional negligence, as well as bringing and resisting adjudication enforcement claims in the TCC. He appeared unled in the Court of Appeal in A&V Building Solutions v J&B Hopkins [2023] EWCA Civ 54, the leading case on Part 8 responses to adjudicator decisions.

James has been appointed to the London B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown (from September 2025), following a prior appointment to the C Panel. He is currently Junior Counsel for the Cabinet Office in Module 5 (Procurement) of the Covid Inquiry.

He is also regularly instructed as Junior Counsel in major international disputes across jurisdictions including South Africa, Australia UAE, and Qatar.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

UK Bar

Construction - London (Bar)

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

James Frampton has a rapidly growing reputation and has notable expertise in contractual disputes and defect claims. He has additional experience in construction adjudications and adjudication enforcement hearings.

Construction: Professional Negligence - All Circuits

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

James Frampton is a highly praised junior barrister with a strong practice in negligence claims relating to construction professionals, including architects, project managers and engineers. He has particular knowledge of cases involving fire safety defects.

Public Procurement - London (Bar)

Band 3
Band 3

Individual Editorial

James Frampton is an up-and-coming junior who is developing an impressive public procurement practice. He regularly acts, led or on his own, for both buyers and bidders in High Court challenges.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • James is a client favourite and has an exceptional talent for digesting and understanding the heart of the issue in dispute.

    ConstructionUK Bar
  • James Frampton is a very strong barrister who provides clear and succinct advice on often complex areas of construction law.

    ConstructionUK Bar
  • James is one of the best barristers I have witnessed in terms of client relations; he understands not just his clients' needs but also them as people.

    ConstructionUK Bar
  • His written submissions have been excellent.

    ConstructionUK Bar
  • He is well regarded by clients and his strategic and commercial advice is pragmatic.

    ConstructionUK Bar
  • James Frampton is helpful, flexible and understands the technical detail.

    Construction: Professional NegligenceUK Bar

Ranked Barristers at Keating Chambers (112)

All Circuits

London (Bar)

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