Adrian Williamson was called to the Bar in 1983 and has been a practising barrister in Keating Chambers since 1989. Adrian specialises in construction, engineering and technology disputes and he is also highly regarded for his expertise in professional negligence and insurance actions within these specialist areas. He took silk in 2002.
Adrian’s practice covers all aspects of law within his specialist fields, including advisory work relating to standard form and bespoke contracts; contractors', sub-contractors' and employers' claims; and professional negligence claims (architects, engineers, surveyors and project managers). This work includes advisory work, drafting and of course advocacy for which he is widely regarded as a formidable opponent. He regularly appears in the Technology and Construction Court in London and on arbitrations in many parts of the UK and abroad. Adrian has also appeared in the Court of Appeal on many occasions and in the Privy Council. He has represented clients in adjudication and mediation and is himself an adjudicator and arbitrator.
Recommendations
Construction
"charming" "utterly relaxed, but totally on the ball." “Perfect for heavyweight cases with lots of facts” "can get straight to the heart of an issue."
Professional Negligence
"awesome at cross-examination."
Chambers and Partners 2012
Construction
"a fantastic advocate"... "Dogged and with a very sharp mind, he wastes no time in getting to the nitty-gritty of a case."
Professional Negligence
"he doesn't mess about. He gets the papers, reads them and gives you the broad picture in no time at all."
Chambers and Partners 2011
Professional Negligence
"leader in the field."
Legal 500, 2011
Construction
"extremely capable and heading for the top"..."both a keen eye for detail and a tenacious style of advocacy."
Professional Negligence
"a silk who never pulls rank even over juniors and is a great leader to work with."
Chambers and Partners 2010
Construction
'fantastic.'
Professional Negligence
'pleasant and extremely able.'
Legal 500, 2009
Construction
"personable and intellectual." A lawyer who is "heading for the top," he has played a leading role in the progression of the Multiplex v Cleveland Bridge case, appearing in the Court of Appeal.
Chambers and Partners 2009
Professional Negligence
"highly regarded."
Construction
"in terms of the way he manages a case, is someone you can do business with."
Chambers and Partners 2008
"He can absorb massive amounts of detail, grasp technical merits and come up with a great answer."
Chambers and Partners 2007
"Great on tricky points of law," Adrian Williamson QC has expanded his construction dispute practice to encompass IT and professional negligence litigation.
Chambers and Partners 2006
Recommended as a leading silk.
Legal 500, 2005
Recent Work
Construction and Engineering
- Acting for Main Contractors in arbitration relating to office development in Central London.
- Representing Steelwork Contractors in High Court proceedings relating to Wembley Project.
- Acting on behalf of Main Contractors in £10 million plus contractual claim arising out of a warehouse development in Scotland in the Technology and Construction Court and Court of Appeal.
- Advising UAE clients regarding a claim for delay and financial loss for the supply of cargo x-ray equipment.
- Appearing on behalf of Franco-Japanese Joint Venture in a US$80 million Hong Kong arbitration concerning the Strategic Sewage Disposal Scheme.
- Appearing for a UK/Japanese Joint Venture in a London arbitration concerning the Tsing Ma Bridge in Hong Kong (claim for HK$480 million).
- Representing structural steelwork contractors in respect of a £10 million claim arising out of a crane collapse at Canary Wharf.
Energy
- Advised on a professional negligence/fraud arbitration in relation to a nuclear power station where the claim was over £100m.
- Advised on a negligence action relating to a coal-fired power station, which is the largest energy-provider of its type in China.
- Advised Contractors on claims regarding the Little Barford CCGT power station.
- Advised Contractors on claims regarding cooling water pipe works at a combined cycle power plant.
- Advisory and drafting work for a Main Contractor in relation to various UK power station projects.
Professional Negligence
- Represented Project Managers in £10 million plus Brompton litigation in the Technology and Construction Court and Court of Appeal. Recently he has been involved in a series of large contractual and professional negligence disputes both in the High Court and in arbitration.
- Numerous professional negligence matters, including appearance at trial of surveyor’s negligence claim in Queen’s Bench Division and acting on behalf of solicitors in relation to professional negligence claim being tried in the Technology and Construction Court.
Insurance
- Appearing for Contractors in relation to High Court proceedings in respect of “Claims made” policy.
- Representing Trade Contractors in respect of dispute over Contract Works insurance policy.
Adjudication
- Various adjudication matters, including advising and preparing documents, appearing at hearings of £2 million professional negligence dispute and accepting appointment as Adjudicator.
Information Technology
- Acted as leading Counsel for the Claimant in arbitration proceedings arising from major disputes relating to the contract for a new computerised ticketing system for the London Public Transport Network.
- Advised UK Global Technology Services and Outsourcing Company on its services agreements relating to a new case records system.
PFI/PPP
- Advising and representing a major UK Contractor in a series of adjudications in connection with a number of issues connected with large disputes (regarding a building contract and payment entitlement) arising out of two major PFI projects connected with the design and construction of two hospitals.
Selected Reported Cases
- Multiplex Construction (UK) Ltd v Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd
[2010] EWCA Civ 139, Court of Appeal
- Seele v Tokio Marine
[2009] EWHC 255 (TCC), [2009] BLR 261
- Kajima v Underwriter Insurance
[2008] 1 All E.R. (Comm) 855, [2008] CILL 2567, [2008] Lloyd's Rep IR 391, 122 Con LR 123 and [2008] EWHC 83 (TCC)
- Multiplex Construction (UK) Ltd v Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd
[2008] All ER (D) 04 (Oct), [2007] All ER (D) 358 CA
- RC Pillar & Son v The Camber (Portsmouth) Ltd
[2008] 115 Con LR 102 TCC and [2007] EWHC 1626 (TCC)
- McGlinn v Waltham Contractors & Others (No. 3)
[2007] 111 Con LR 1, [2007] CILL 2441, [2007] EWHC 149 (TCC) and [2008] Bus LR 233
- McGlinn v Waltham Contractors (No 4)
[2007] BLR 188, 112 Con LR 148, [2007] EWHC 698 (TCC), and [2008] Bus LR 278
- Multiplex Construction (UK) Ltd v Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd
[2007] ALL ER (D) 288, (2007) 111 Con LR 48
- McGlinn v Waltham Contractors
[2006] 108 Con LR 43, [2006] EWHC 294
- Associated British Ports v Hydro Soil Services
[2006] All ER (D) 269 and EWHC 1187 (TCC)
- Kier Regional Ltd v City & General (Holborn)
[2006] BLR 315
- Skanska Construction UK Ltd v Egger (Barony) Ltd
[2005] ALL ER (D) CA, [2002] ALL ER (D) 271 CA
- Mersey Docks Property Holdings v Birse Construction
Ltd
[2005] 99 Con LR 122 TCC
- Mersey Docks Property Holdings v Michael Kilgour Transco
Plc
[2004] BLR 412 TCC
- Galliford Try Construction Ltd v Michael Heal Associates
Ltd
(2003) 99 Con LR 19 TCC
- Hewden Tower Cranes Ltd v Yarm Road Ltd
[2004] Con LJ Vol. 20, No. 3 p.137 CA
- R. Durtnell & Sons Ltd v Kaduna Ltd
[2004] Con LR 36 TCC
- Yarm Road Ltd v Hewden Tower Cranes Ltd
[2003] 85 Con LR 142 TCC
- Royal Brompton NHS Trust v Hammord
[2002] 88 Con LR 1
- Birse Construction Ltd v Haiste Ltd
[1996] 1 WLR 675; [1996] 2 All ER 1
- Barclays Bank v Fairclough Building Ltd
[1995] QB 214; [1994] 3 WLR 1057, [1995] 1 All ER 289 and [1994] EWCA Civ 3
Publications
- Keating on JCT Contracts - General Editor.
- Contributor, Keating on Construction Contracts - Eighth Edition (2006) and Ninth Edition (2012) .
- Editorial team of Keating on Building Contracts, 5th, 6th and 7th edition.
- Joint Editor Halsbury’s Laws of England, Volume 4(3) Building Contracts.
Education and Professional Career
BA in Law, Trinity Hall, Cambridge (1st Class Hons.)
Called to the Bar, Middle Temple
2 Crown Office Row
Keating Chambers
Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)
Queen’s Counsel
Recorder (Civil)
Public Access Training
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Recorder (Crime)
Deputy High Court Judge |
1982
1983
1985-89
1989
1999
2002
2004
2007
2009
2010 |
Membership
Technology & Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
The Society of Construction Law
Other Information
Interests include supporting Arsenal FC, squash, jogging and reading.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact 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.
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