Alice Sims

Alice Sims specialises in construction and engineering disputes along with professional negligence, regulatory and insurance claims related to these sectors.

She has particular expertise in energy-related disputes (both onshore and offshore) and has acted for clients in a wide range of litigation concerning ships, renewables, nuclear, oil and gas projects. She also regularly acts in cases relating to the sale and supply of chemicals and the construction of chemical processing plants. She is familiar with all of the major standard forms and standard terms of appointment including NEC, JCT, RIBA, LOGIC, RICS, FIDIC, ICC, ICE and IChemE.

Alice has a wealth of experience in residential and commercial cladding cases, arising out of concerns following the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. She is currently instructed in numerous multi-million-pound cladding disputes for parties at all levels of the contractual chain including insurers. She is familiar with all of the technical issues concerning fire safety arising out of the Building Regulations, ADB and the Building Safety Act.

She appears in domestic and international arbitrations (conducted under various different rules including ICC, LCIA, SIAC, UNCITRAL), the High Court and Court of Appeal and also undertakes all aspects of alternative dispute resolution including representations to adjudicators and enforcement proceedings.

Alice is a CEDR trained and incredibly popular mediator. She has an outstanding success rate of settling cases which clients attribute to her calm but commercial focus.

Alice has held judicial appointments for many years and currently sits at as Recorder in the Crown Court and as a Deputy Tribunal Judge in the Upper Administrative Appeal Tribunal. She brings a wealth of judicial experience to her work as a barrister and mediator.

Alice’s is incredibly bright and her popularity with clients and solicitors, whether she is working as part of a team or as sole counsel, stems from her hard working and hands-on approach. She balances an air of authority with a down-to-earth approach. Alice gets stuck into the technical detail of a case and is a fearless cross-examiner. Clients praise her for being accessible, practical and commercial.