Keating Chambers

Tom is described as “a rising star at the Construction Bar” and as having “significant experience as junior or sole counsel in TCC proceedings” (Chambers and Partners 2021). He is described as offering “great analytical skills” and as “extremely helpful and proactive not just in terms of legal advice but also strategically”.

Tom is familiar with a wider range of standard forms. He is a contributor to Keating on JCT Contracts, and also has significant experience of the various FIDIC and NEC forms. Tom is also a contributor to Keating on Construction Contracts, Keating on Offshore Construction and Marine Engineering Contracts, and to the Construction Law Reports.

Recent experience as sole counsel includes:

• The trial of a Part 8 claim in an energy dispute concerning an expert determination (Empyreal Energy Ltd v Daylighting Power Ltd [2020] BLR 555.
• Acting for a major homebuilder in the trial of preliminary issues concerning potential liability in tort for economic loss for building defects (Thomas v Taylor Wimpey [2019] BLR 382).
• An appeal concerning the relationship between the Part 36 regime and the rules governing amendments (Bentley Design Consultants Ltd v Sansom [2018] EWHC 2238 (TCC)).
• Acting for a contractor in a 3-day trial in the TCC.

Recent experience as junior counsel includes:

• A challenge to an international arbitration award arising out a project to extend a port facility in Jordan (Soletanche Bachy France SAS v Aqaba Container Terminal (PVT.) Co. [2019] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 431).
• Junior counsel in a 2-week, $300m arbitration arising out of the construction of a natural gas pipeline.
• Appeals to the Court of Appeal concerned with the scope of an employer’s implied contractual obligations to obtain planning consent (Clin v Walter Lilly [2018] BLR 321) and the requirements of the conservation area regime (Walter Lilly v Clin [2021] 1 WLR 2753).
• Appearing in a 3-week, $120m ICC arbitration in Australia arising out of a marine engineering project.