Energy & Natural Resources | UK Bar

Brick Court Chambers is renowned as simply "one of the best chambers in the UK in terms of quality and quantity" with a strong bench of experienced silks and juniors collectively offering an impressive level of expertise in the energy sector. Members are particularly respected for their prowess in commercial cases, in addition to competition, public law and insurance disputes. Clients include multinational oil and gas companies, energy regulators and financial services giants. A notable recent instruction for the set is Spottiswoode v Nexans (Power Cables CPO), an application for CPO on behalf of purchasers of electricity in the UK.

One Essex Court is a market-leading set for energy and natural resources work with an unparalleled membership of heavy-hitting advocates. The expertise of the barristers spans the full range of energy disputes, including those relating to oil and gas, renewable energy sources, water, nuclear and conventional power and mining. Members maintain an outstanding reputation for success in the Commercial Court and in arbitrations, and are frequently seconded to regulators such as Ofgem and Ofwat. Recent cases include major commercial proceedings relating to North Sea oil & gas exploration, such as TAQA Bratani Ltd v Fujairah Oil and Gas UK. An interviewee comments that the set "provides exceptional service". Another says: "The set has significant breadth and depth of experience in the energy and natural resources industry and across jurisdictions."

4 Pump Court is an esteemed commercial construction set with a plethora of experience in energy sector construction, engineering, shipping and technology disputes. Its international client roster includes shipyards, contractors, insurers and reinsurers, in addition to leading energy companies. Although offering a breadth of experience across various energy sectors, 4 Pump Court garners particular acclaim for its standout work in relation to oil and gas projects, including onshore and offshore oil fields, pipelines and LNG plants. Recently, members of the set have represented the Government of Pakistan in an ICC dispute versus India concerning India’s plans to build over 50 hydroelectric plants in the Indus basin.

Atkin Chambers is home to an outstanding group of energy barristers with significant construction and engineering experience. Members stand out for their representation of upstream and downstream oil and gas clients in high-profile disputes, and also have an increasing presence in renewable energy cases. Barristers at Atkin Chambers regularly appear in disputes relating to large projects across the world, as well as in cases regarding UK-based developments such as RRS (in liquidation) v Derbyshire County Council & Derby City Council heard in the TCC. An interviewee comments that members of the chambers "bring amazing experience of the sector to bear in their work".

Essex Court Chambers is a heavyweight set which draws upon particular strengths in international arbitration and commercial disputes to represent clients in a range of energy matters. Members are renowned for their strong international practices and are adept at handling cases relating to oil and gas pricing, climate change, insurance matters and construction problems. In the English Commercial court, recent eye-catching cases include Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd v Sunlink Energies and Resources Ltd.

Joe Ferrigno is the senior clerk.

Keating Chambers is a highly regarded set with leading dual expertise in energy and construction disputes. Interviewees note Keatings' depth of offering to be "extraordinary across all levels of experience." Members are instructed by high-profile energy companies, the owners and operators of oil, gas, nuclear and renewable energy facilities, corporate investors and contractors in a plethora of high-value disputes. Barristers regularly appear in the LCIA, ICC, TCC and Court of Appeal in high-profile matters. MW High Tech Projects v Outotec is a recent example of members leading work in the TCC.

Clients in the energy sector benefit from 3 Verulam Buildings recognised strength within investor treaty and commercial international arbitration matters. Members are instructed on an impressive broad spectrum of energy disputes arsing from upstream and downstream oil & gas, mining, renewables, nuclear and conventional power. Viaduct d.o.o. Portoroz and others v Bosnia & Hercegovina is a noteworthy recent example of the sort of high level investor state arbitration in which the set's barristers routinely appear.

Stephen Penson and Stuart Pullum lead the clerking team.

39 Essex Chambers is a respected set offering a breadth of experience across energy mandates, including construction, engineering, environmental and planning disputes, as well as regulatory work and the representation of public bodies. Tenants are additionally qualified to handle international arbitration for energy sector clients and others. Cases undertaken by barristers at the set range from those arising in the oil industry to disputes relating to nuclear power stations. Within nuclear power matters in particular commentators note the set's capability to be "unsurpassed". To illustrate, members can point to recent instructions relating to the planning of Sizewell C and Hinkley Point C.

Andrew Poyser is the director of clerking.

7 King's Bench Walk is an esteemed group of barristers with significant experience in energy and natural resources disputes. The set handles environmental, shipping, insurance and contractual claims, to name a few. Members offer deep expertise in the field of oil and gas exploration and production. The set is also known for its success in complex international arbitrations, with barristers regularly appearing in the LCIA. One sources states that the set has a "very good depth and breadth of expertise". Recent examples of members' impressive commercial court cases include Premier Oil v Shell International Trading. Cases such as Victoria Oil & Gas & Gaz Du Cameroun v Chanas Assurances draw on the set's pre-eminence in insurance disputes.

Quadrant Chambers is a leading shipping set with a strong energy offering. Barristers at Quadrant are routinely engaged by upstream and downstream oil and gas clients in significant disputes. Unparalleled experience in marine, rig and transport engineering also informs the set's growing energy practice. One interviewee comments: "Quadrant Chambers is very good at what it does and knows the sphere of work well." Another adds: "The barristers at Quadrant are all very knowledgeable." An example of the set's strong capability in oil & gas disputes includes Tullow Ghana Limited v Vallourec Oil and Gas France S.A.S. Members can also boast experience in carbon credit trading litigation with cases such as Pact Capital AG v The Hut.com Ltd and Pact Capital AG v Allcot AG.

Twenty Essex has a group of highly esteemed litigators and arbitrators with a notable energy focus. Members are equipped to handle the full range of oil and gas and mining-related matters, including upstream, midstream and downstream work, construction disputes and corporate issues. The barristers here are frequently active in high-profile international disputes, including those in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. An interviewee states: "Twenty Essex is diligent, thorough and its quality of work was outstanding." Members can claim to hold expertise in the intersection of shipping law and LNG, illustrated by recent cases like ENGIE Energy Marketing v BW LNG II Pte Ltd alongside broad climate change related capability with roles such as advising the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.