Adam Constable was called to the Bar in 1995 and joined Keating Chambers in 2002. He is a former member of the UK Treasury panel of barristers and was awarded the accolade of Construction Junior of the Year in 2008, by the Chambers and Partners Bar Awards, and has been nominated on three separate occasions. Adam specialises in construction, engineering, energy and technology disputes along with professional negligence and insurance claims related to these sectors.
Having extensive advocacy experience in the Courts of the United Kingdom, particularly in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC), Court of Appeal and also arbitration proceedings, Adam also has considerable expertise in adjudication work, from initial advice, drafting submissions and representation in front of adjudicators, to enforcement proceedings at first instance and in the Court of Appeal. In addition, Adam Constable regularly advises clients on all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution and has been appointed as Adjudicator and Expert in a number of disputes.
International arbitration forms a major part of Adam's practice. In recent years he has acted for clients from around the world on high value claims relating to the energy industry including pipeline infrastructure projects, floating production storage and offloading vessels (FPSO) and power stations. These arbitrations have been under the rules of renowned international institutions such as the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the Singapore International Arbitration Court (SIAC) and the London Maritime Arbitrators Association (LMAA).
Recommendations
Construction Junior of the Year 2007-8.
Chambers and Partners Bar Awards
Chambers and Partners Recommended junior in four categories: Construction and Engineering (Star Individual 2009 and 2010), International Arbitration, Energy, and Professional Negligence.
Legal 500 Recommended junior in Construction and Energy.
Examples of recent work
Construction and Engineering
Recommendations from the directories:
“Outstanding”..."definitely justifies his accolades"..."formidable advocate who always goes the extra mile to service his clients."..."he gives the impression he has been around a lot longer than his 1995 call, and in terms of juniors there can't be many that would be better"...“The complete barrister; always formidable”…“a leader at the junior Bar”…"especially high praise amongst peers, clients and solicitors"...“a real standout lawyer”...“hard working and has an outstanding court manner”..."observers are consistently impressed with [his] 'effortless grasp of things'"...“direct, intelligent and robust demeanour is perfectly suited to large disputes”..."incredibly bright, personable and user-friendly"..."impressing all with his assured courtroom performances and exemplary drafting skills"..."thorough" and "hard-working" first choice construction junior...“proactive and user-friendly...solicitors go back to him for the superb support and excellent turnaround time they receive”..."a smooth operator with a good grasp of the detail"..."clever and capable...as good as it gets"... "remarkable ability to absorb huge amounts of information and his enthusiastic commitment to the cause"..."his talent for handling clients is renowned”… “highly intelligent, has fantastic judgment and he gets results".
- Domestic arbitration for breach of warranty arising out of presence of sulphates in the ground across large housing estate.
- TCC relating to bearing failures on a major UK viaduct. Issues of design liability, involving complex technical evidence including metallurgy and fracture mechanics.
- High value litigation arising out of the Chancery Lane derailment.
- Substantial TCC action arising out of strengthening works to a quay wall carried out under ICE 6th edition for contractors design.
- Involved in a number of M&E related disputes, involving concert halls, hospitals and the London Aquarium.
- Advised upon PFI agreements relating to the construction and operation of schools, academies, hospitals, and prisons.
- Instructed in relation to the high profile ‘B of the Bang’ litigation in the TCC.
Recommendations from the directories:
"Simply one of the best juniors you could ask for - he is totally reliable, very focused, extremely hard-working and a great advocate"...“Outstanding”...“Adam effortlessly grasps technical issues and goes two or three steps beyond – he just seems to glide through documents”..."a commercially minded practitioner who never gives up"..."detail-oriented and a good team player"...“very capable, likeable and hard working”.
- Substantial Commercial Court claim arising out of a blow-out at an Oil Well in Uzbekistan, involving numerous technical and legal issues, under Uzbekistan law.
- LCIA arbitration arising out of the construction of an oil gathering plant in Kuwait.
- ICC arbitration relating to a major international gas pipeline project.
- Substantial adjudication and arbitration relating to the design and construction of a UK biofuels plant.
- Significant ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of energy plant in Abu Dhabi.
- Advised and acted in relation to a number of wind farm developments, both onshore and offshore.
- £1.3m SIAC arbitration relating to construction of the HoPing Power Plant in Taiwan.
- Expert determination relating to the design, construction and operation of a combined cycle gas turbine cogeneration facility producing electricity and industrial steam.
Click here for link to energy profile
Professional Negligence
Recommendations from the directories:
Described by leading counsel at the professional negligence Bar as “the perfect junior – very bright and very efficient, and he gets on well with judges and clients”..."stars at junior level"..."a first-rate junior who is bright and very likeable"...is so highly thought of that one leading silk commented: "I would kill to have him in my chambers"...“hugely accomplished.”
- Multi-million pound ICC Singapore arbitration arising out of alleged professional negligence in relation to a major Far East infrastructure project.
- High-profile TCC litigation relating to the renovation and refurbishment of a Park Lane mansion.
- Acted for Defendant in high value TCC litigation against professional team in relation to a hotel construction.
- Acted for Claimant in relation to negligent advice, design and interim valuation and certification by architect and contract administrator in a residential refurbishment.
- Action against professional Project Manager and QS in relation to the construction of student accommodation.
- Substantial adjudication proceedings against civil and structural designers in relation to a major UK bypass scheme.
International Arbitration
Recommendations from the directories:
"a very bright and imaginative lawyer, who is excellent at cutting through complex issues and presenting them in a lucid form."
- Experienced in UNICTRAL, ICC, LCIA, SIAC arbitrations.
Shipbuilding
- $100m LCIA arbitration in relation to the construction in Singapore of a floating production storage vessel for the Norwegian oil fields. Numerous technical process and structural engineering issues as well as interpretation of contract scope.
- Significant TCC litigation relating to the construction of the Ramform Bamff FPSO.
- Disputes relating to the completion and handover of ships constructed in Chinese shipyards.
- LMAA arbitration relating to the ownership of Charterer’s spread installed on a Vessel
IT / Telecommunications
- Substantial TCC litigation arising out of the provision and integration of a computerised management system for a national mobile telecommunications network.
- Dispute arising out of development of traffic management systems.
- Substantial claim arising from extensive fire damage to telecommunications network.
Professional CV
|
MA in Jurisprudence, Balliol College, Oxford
Called to the Bar
Pupillage and Tenant at 2 Temple Gardens, London
Keating Chambers
Appointed as Treasury Counsel
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Lecturer on International Construction and
Arbitration, Queen Mary's College, University of London
Inner Temple Advocacy Training Committee
Public Access Training
Recorder
|
1994
1995
1995
2002
2002
2004
2007
2007
2008
2009 |
Memberships
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Society of Construction Law
Adjudication Society
Society of Computers and Law
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
Other Information
Adam Constable enjoys spending time with his young family, rugby, golf and the odd card trick.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact the Senior Clerk,
Nick Child, in the first instance, on +44(0)20 7544 2600. The teams of Clerks will be pleased to advise you on the member of Keating Chambers appropriate to your requirements.
<< Back to Barristers profiles