Christopher undertakes a broad range of commercial work both domestically and internationally, and in both litigation and arbitration. In line with Chambers’ profile, he has a particular expertise in the areas of energy, construction, and engineering. Christopher frequently acts as junior counsel as part of large teams in high-value disputes, which are often factually, legally, and technically complex. In addition, he regularly acts as sole counsel representing and advising a range of clients in these fields, as well as in general commercial and professional liability disputes. Christopher has been a contributing editor to the 13th and 14th editions of Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts and is the editor of the TECBAR Review.
Recent examples of Christopher’s work in arbitration include being led in a circa 1 billion AED dispute, seated in Paris, over the alleged breach of a sub-developer’s obligations in respect of a large mixed-use project in the Middle East; and being led on behalf of a major Korean contractor in a dispute, seated in Seoul, under the ICC rules, concerning defects in the manufacture and supply of components for a large power generation and water desalination plant. Christopher is also presently instructed on a >$1 billion USD ad hoc arbitration concerning a major international airport in the Middle East.
Recent examples of Christopher’s work in litigation include acting (with Jonathan Acton Davis QC of Atkin Chambers and George Hayman QC of Maitland Chambers) for the state-owned defendant in multi-party litigation in the High Court of Trinidad and Tobago concerning four large-scale road construction projects under the FIDIC form of contract. He is also instructed (as sole counsel) in two disputes in the Technology and Construction Court for a major UK contractor in claims against specialist cladding subcontractors for the use of combustible cladding at mixed-use developments, in breach of the Building Regulations 2010.
Christopher also has experience providing advice during the life of large international projects, before parties are in dispute, most recently for the employer of a hydrocracker plant project in the Middle East.