Paul J Cowan

Practice Areas

Paul is a specialist in national and international construction disputes with over two decades of experience. Appointed to the Attorney General’s A Panel of civil counsel to the Crown, Paul advises the UK Government on major construction, defence, and infrastructure projects, and appears as its counsel in the civil litigation arising from the Grenfell Tower tragedy. Paul has long experience in civil law jurisdictions, and has uniquely detailed experience in the design and construction of new-build nuclear power plants, and associated disputes. Paul is also active as counsel in major national construction disputes, appearing regularly in the TCC, as well as in arbitrations and adjudications. Examples include: lead counsel in Carilion v EMCOR (2016 & 2017) (High Court and Court of Appeal) establishing new case law on extensions of time; the innovative use of Part 8 proceedings in relation to adjudication proceedings (Willow v MTD Contractors 2019), and securing stays of proceedings and security for costs following non-compliance with adjudicators’ decisions (Donald Insall v Kew Holding Ltd 2019 and 2020). Paul has also been active in successfully defending clients in post-Grenfell claims in respect of allegedly defective cladding, securing the dismissal of a variety of substantial claims against contractors.