Construction: Professional Negligence | UK Bar

4 Pump Court blends legal prowess with huge technical expertise, and boasts an excellent standing at the crossover of professional negligence and construction law. Its barristers handle a range of complex and high-value TCC disputes, representing and opposing architects, engineers and surveyors as well as building contractors. The set offers additional expertise in ICC arbitrations concerning major energy projects, notably in African countries and the Middle East. 4 Pump Court is also a leading chambers for disputes concerning IT infrastructure. Barristers from the set have acted in Shepherd Construction Limited v Drytech Façades & others, a £70 million dispute related to alleged design and construction defects in different cladding systems on five residential blocks. An interviewee praises the set's "excellent strength and depth of specialists."

Carl Wall and Stewart Gibbs are the senior clerks.

Atkin Chambers possesses an outstanding reputation in the construction industry, and barristers at the set have broad experience representing both claimants and defendants in related professional negligence claims. They regularly participate in high-profile and complex disputes involving engineers, architects, consultants, construction managers and other key professionals. The barristers have been instructed in matters relating to a range of construction matters, including fire safety issues associated with cladding, such as in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. Other notable work includes One Hyde Park Limited v Laing O’Rourke Construction (South) Limited. One source concludes: “Its construction experience is really excellent and difficult to match elsewhere."

David Barnes is the director of clerking.

Keating Chambers is noted for "the breadth of market-leading counsel available" within the set. Its leading reputation in the construction and engineering sector extends to related professional negligence claims. The chambers has notable strength in matters involving project managers, architects and engineers. The set can offer strong expertise in claims stemming from high-value, complex and sensitive construction projects. Barristers from the set have appeared in BDW Trading v AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK, URS Corporation, Cameron Taylor Consulting, a claim arising out of defective structural engineering.

Will Shrubsall and James Luxmoore are joint directors of clerking.

4 New Square fields a wide array of professional negligence expertise to both claimants and defendants in claims stemming from the construction industry. Its members are much in demand for matters concerning architects and engineers, but also other technical professions such as designers of software or IT infrastructure. The set frequently acts in relation to high-value, complex and sensitive matters, including a number of post-Grenfell cladding-related claims. Recently, members have appeared in Avantage and others v GB Buildings and others. A source notes it has an "excellent choice of first-rate barristers with a broad range of experience in claims against construction professionals."

Lizzy Stewart is the senior clerk.

Crown Office Chambers benefits from a number of high-profile silks and junior barristers who have a wealth of experience acting in negligence claims for and against architects, engineers and surveyors. They have been heavily involved in high-profile matters including the Grenfell Tower civil litigation and One Hyde Park v Laing O’Rourke. An interviewee comments: "It is a strong set for construction professional indemnity work." Another adds that its barristers "have a good sense of commerciality as well as pure law, and communicate well with lay clients."

Steve Purse is the senior team clerk.

Gatehouse Chambers is home to barristers possessing deep expertise covering professional negligence claims brought against architects, engineers and others, typically in the context of major construction defects litigation. The barristers have acted in Irwell Riverside on behalf of Arcadis, and Project Pegasus, a claim relating to works to Inner Temple. An interviewee praises its barristers' "willingness to immerse themselves in the detail of a case," while another adds: "It is a go-to set, with excellent counsel."

Elliot Langdorf is practice director.