Profiles

+44 20 7544 2600
Name: James Thompson
Call: 2005
Languages: English
Silk:
Email: jthompson@keatingchambers.com
james thompson
James specialises in construction and engineering, professional negligence and related commercial disputes. He has also developed a particular specialism in the law of public procurement. 

James is an experienced advocate and regularly appears in various divisions of the High Court, both in London and the district registries. In addition to litigation he has considerable experience of alternative dispute resolution, having acted in numerous adjudication proceedings and arbitrations of wide-ranging value. He also has significant experience of mediation, having successfully negotiated a number of settlements through this process.

James regularly gives seminars on wide-ranging subjects relating to construction law and professional negligence, as well as EU law relating to public procurement.


Recent Work

Construction
  • Junior counsel representing a contractor in TCC proceedings concerning a high value infrastructure dispute on the NEC2 form.
  • Junior counsel representing a joint venture contractor in a circa $50m arbitration concerning delay and disruption to the construction of a new highway in Qatar.
  • counsel representing a joint venture developer in a multi-million dollar dispute arising out of the construction of a large office complex in Russia.
  • Representing a consultant in multi-party TCC proceedings relating to the construction of commercial premises.
  • Junior counsel representing the developer in a high value dispute concerning the construction of a new office building in the Caribbean.
  • Representing a developer in a dispute arising out of the defective construction of a large residential and retail development in Cornwall. 
  • Instructed by HM Treasury Solicitor as junior counsel in a high value commercial arbitration relating to 25 year PFI infrastructure contracts covering 3,000 sites in England, Wales and Scotland.
  • Instructed by a major supermarket chain in a claim arising out of damage caused to premises by demolition and ground works carried out on a nearby site.
  • Instructed by one of the main sub-contractors in the Wembley Stadium project in defence of a multi-million pound claim.
International Arbitration
  • Junior counsel representing a joint venture contractor in a circa $50m arbitration concerning delay and disruption to the construction of a new highway in Qatar.  (ICC arbitration in Qatar, Qatari law)
  • Junior counsel representing a joint venture developer in a multi-million dollar dispute arising out of the construction of a large office complex in Russia.  (ICC arbitration in London, Russian and English law)
  • Acted for contractor as claimant in a series of high value international arbitrations arising out of four major road construction and maintenance projects in Oman and Yemen.  (Omani law)
  • Junior counsel representing the developer in a high value dispute concerning the construction of a new office building in the Caribbean.
Procurement
  • Acting for claimant in dispute arising out of procurement of a framework agreement. Issues arising regard the methodology adopted in a procurement process, whether the process was sufficiently transparent and equal, and whether requirement of objectivity satisfied.
  • Advising tenderer regarding breaches in a procurement process relating to failures to provide sufficient information and lack of transparency.
  • Advising a local authority on bids submitted on behalf of a consortium and how to proceed if tenderers were dropped because of a breach of tender criteria.
  • Advising regarding challenging tenders for the award of contracts for medical supplies to the NHS.
  • Acting for claimant in multi million pound procurement dispute arising out of a direct contract award.
Non - Contentious Work
  • Drafting of a confidentiality agreement in relation to a high value construction dispute. 

  • Advising on particular issues arising out of the contract terms and conditions for use in a redevelopment of large premises on Oxford Street.
Seminars
  • Professional Negligence and Related Issues Update. 
  • Causation in the Law of Tort: Concurrent Issues. 
  • EU Procurement - Remedies available to aggrieved tenderers at common law.
  • EU Procurement – A Practical Guide to the Procurement Process


Selected Reported Cases



Publications

  • Researcher, Keating on Construction Contracts 8th Edition. 1st Supplement (2008)
  • Controlling the Adjudicator’s Jurisdiction – Construction Law March 2010
  • Contributory Author for the Practical Law Company


Education and Professional Career

Tripos Part 1A prize, Selwyn College, Cambridge 2002
BA (Cantab) Law, Selwyn College, Cambridge2004
Bar Vocational Course (Inns of Court School of Law)2005 
Harmsworth Exhibitioner, Middle Temple 2005 
Astbury Scholar, Middle Temple2005 
Pupillage, Keating Chambers 2005-2006 
Keating Chambers2006

Membership

Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Society of Construction Law
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
Procurement Lawyers Association



Other Information

James enjoys sport and music.

Since 2001, James has been on the Executive Committee of a London based charity which provides holidays for disabled children.


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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