Since joining Keating Chambers in 1985, Paul Darling has established a formidable reputation as an advocate in all types and levels of tribunals all over the world. His expertise is wide ranging across all areas of construction and engineering law. He is well known for his advocacy skills and in particular for cross-examining and arguing Appeals. He has considerable experience of leading a large team in a long and heavy case. He also regularly advises on both non-contentious and contentious aspects of bespoke and standard terms of Building and Engineering Contracts.
Paul Darling places particular emphasis on his commercial instincts and skills (he is still actively involved in his family business). His reputation as an advocate means that he is often instructed in areas of work outside of Chambers’ case work, such as Sale of Goods and Bloodstock.
Over sixty of his cases have been reported.
Recommendations
Construction
"a lawyer who is never short of work and up to any task at the Construction Bar."
"a robust cross-examiner who is never less than 100% committed to a case."
Chambers and Partners 2009
Construction
The "ubiquitous" Paul Darling QC "always performs well in court."
The Legal 500, 2008
Professional Negligence
“fantastic advocate.”
Construction
“a reputation that extends beyond the bounds of the practice area”
“a powerful advocate who will fight his corner to the ‘nth’ degree.”
“If you take Paul Darling at face value, you do so at your peril.”
Chambers and Partners 2008
...“You underestimate his formidable intellect at your peril.”
An unmistakeable figure, “he’ll bash the wall down and get you what you want.”
Chambers and Partners 2007
"The man to have on board when you're on the back foot," the formidable Paul Darling QC recently appeared in last year's complex CIB Properties v Birse Construction case. The Chairman of the Construction and Technology Bar Association is renowned for his intellectual capabilities and dedication to meeting clients' expectations. Special praise is reserved for his advocacy work.
Construction Silk of the Year - Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2006
Solicitors always know that they are in good hands with chairman of TecBar Paul Darling QC. A “larger than life” figure in court proceedings, he employs superlative cross-examination skills and goes in “all guns blazing”. Adherents of his style are enamoured by the “great momentum he achieves in difficult cases”.
Chambers & Partners, A Client’s Guide to the UK Legal Profession, 2006
“One of the best” in the field.
Professional Negligence, Chambers & Partners 2006
Recommended in the top tier of leading construction silks.
The Legal 500, 2005
Nominated for Construction Silk of the Year
Chambers & Partners Bar Awards 2005
Examples of recent work
- Court proceedings about Adjudications.
- Football Stadiums, Racecourses, Velodromes. Playing surfaces.
- Dredging Contracts and construction of ports and off shore facilities.
- Contaminated and reclaimed land.
- Defective foundations.
- Cladding.
- Nuclear reprocessing.
- Electricity generation.
- Nuisance.
- Landslip.
- Airports.
- Telephone systems.
- Asbestos.
- Landslip.
- EU procurement.
- Unforeseen ground conditions.
- Railways.
- Local Authority Maintenance Term Contracts.
- Collateral Warranties.
- Cases in and about projects in Hong Kong Singapore and Brunei.
- Disciplinary and Regulatory proceedings
- Insurance
- Loss and Expense
- FIDIC Contract Issues
| - Court proceedings about Arbitrations.
- Theatres and cinemas.
- Class actions about Housing Developments.
- Buildings on chemical slag.
- Shopping Centres.
- Extensions of Time and Liquidated Damages.
- Wind farms.
- Mining subsidence and other mining cases.
- Roads.
- Telephone masts.
- Damage to adjoining property.
- Guarantees and Bonds.
- Mediation.
- Mechanical and Electrical Claims
- PFI/PPP.
- Professional Negligence of Architects, Surveyors and Engineers.
- Hotels.
- Development Agreements.
- Cases in and about Northern Ireland.
- Privacy of Court Proceedings
- Sale of Goods
- Public Street Works
- Pre Action Protocols
- Variations
- Termination and Forfeiture
- Offshore Platforms
|
Between 1991 and 2003, Paul Darling’s practice was dominated by the McAlpine v Panatown & Unex dispute. He was originally retained in (as a relatively young junior) Arbitrations between the parties. Thereafter, as a more senior junior, he ran a 36 party action against McAlpines and Consultants and Subcontractors.
Having taken silk, he then ran the substantive dispute between McAlpine and UIPL, which culminated in a 14 week High Court hearing in 2002 during which he led a team of 15 people.
A considerable part of Paul Darling’s practice relates to property damage and professional negligence. He successfully argued the Holbeck Hall Hotel case in the Court of Appeal regarding the famous Scarborough Hotel that fell victim to coastal erosion. Mr Darling has fought several cases regarding housing developments that have failed due to defective ground and foundations in which the purchasers launched a group action against the developers, who in turn sought to claim against the Contractors and Consultants. One particular example was the Rossory Quay litigation in Northern Ireland which dealt with the failure of a load transfer platform on a development containing 80 flats. Mr Darling also ran the Hills Road litigation on behalf of Alfred McAlpine which was one of the largest cases of professional negligence in the construction industry in living memory. Paul Darling is Counsel of choice for the Coal Authority and in that capacity he deals with a wide range of cases relating to property damage, mining subsidence, flooding and other claims in nuisance (such as the nuisance caused by burning mining tips).
Publications
- Editorial Team, Keating on Construction Contracts - 8th Edition
- Editorial Team, Keating on Building Contracts, 5th, 6th and 7th editions
- Formerly Joint Editor, Construction Industry Law Letter.
Seminars
Paul Darling lectures regularly to the Society of Construction Law and other audiences on a range of topics. He has also led seminars on various issues for major firms of solicitors.
Environmental Threats to Property - link to video address of seminar given to the DLA conference.
Professional CV
Treasurer, Oxford Union
BA in Jurisprudence, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford
BCL, St. Edmund Hall, Oxford
Called to the Bar (Middle Temple)
Pupillage: 20 Essex Street, 1 Atkin Building, Keating Chambers
President, Middle Temple Students Association
Keating Chambers
Queen’s Counsel
Chairman, Technology and Construction Bar Association
Bencher, Middle Temple
Trustee Bar Free Representation Unit
Called to the Bar of Northern Ireland
Construction Silk of the Year
Non-Executive Member of TOTE Board
Chairman of Bar Council’s Committee on Public Access
Public Access Training
Independent Member of the Horserace Betting Levy Board
Chairman of Football Licensing Authority | 1980
1981
1982
1983
1983-1985
1983
1985
1999
2003-2007
2004
2004
2004
2006
2006-2008
2007
2007
2008
2009 |
Member of the Technology and Construction Bar Association, the Society of Construction Law (Member of Council 1999 to 2001), the London Common Law and the Commercial Bar Association. He is also a member of the Professional Negligence Bar Association, Commercial Bar Association and Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates.
Other Information
Paul Darling is a director of a family-owned pharmaceutical company. His leisure interests are principally in horse-racing (he is an owner) and in professional football (as a passionate supporter of and shareholder in Newcastle United). He was one of the owners of the 2005 Derby winner, Motivator.
Contact UsIf you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact the Senior Clerks,
John Munton and
Nick Child, in the first instance, on +44(0)20 7544 2600. They and their teams of Clerks will be pleased to advise you on the member of Keating Chambers appropriate to your requirements.
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