Lawyers

Chris Bates

Work Department

Construction and infrastructure; Insurance and reinsurance

Position

Chris is a partner in the construction advisory and dispute resolution team in London, specialising in construction and related insurance disputes. He focuses on handling high value and technically complex disputes, such as those in relation to post completion defects, professional negligence, payment claims, delay and prolongation, and termination issues.

He is experienced in disputes arising from large-scale civil infrastructure schemes across all major sectors, as well as commercial building projects. He also regularly advises on construction insurance coverage matters, including undertaking complicated coverage investigations and disputes.

Chris also specialises in building safety issues, acting for developers, owners, contractors, professionals, and insurers on a range of cladding and other fire safety related disputes. He has been consulted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over the practical impact of the changes introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022.

He is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution used in the construction industry, including multi-party TCC litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. He also regularly advises clients in the background on live projects to mitigate or avoid escalation into formal disputes.

Career

Trained BLM 2008-2010; qualified 2010; joined Penningtons Manches Cooper 2020; made partner 2023.

Languages

English

Memberships

Adjudication Society

Education

St Edward’s School, Oxford University of Wales, Swansea – BA Hons 1st (2004) BPP Law School – GDL, Commendation (2005), LPC, Distinction (2007)

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