Philip Boulding QC was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1979 and has been a member of Keating Chambers since 1980. He specialises in the fields of construction, engineering, technology law and related professional negligence work.
Philip’s practice comprises of both domestic and international work and his clients include local authorities, government departments, major national and international construction and engineering companies, energy and utility companies and developers.
Recent cases have included arbitrations in Hong Kong relating to major housing and mixed hotel/office/housing projects in Kowloon, advising the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation in relation to the new bullet train line between Taipei and Kaohsiung (Tsoying), advising contractors working on the Nino Aquino International Airport in the Philippines and acting for a Hong Kong Government Department in arbitration proceedings relating to a dispute arising out of enabling works for the construction of a well known theme and leisure park. He has also advised Australian contractors involved in a dispute over the construction of a cigarette factory in the Philippines, Korean contractors in relation to a large engineering project in Singapore and an International JV involved in a dispute arising out of the construction of a railway in Scandinavia. Current instructions involve: advising and acting for a Singaporean shipbuilding company working out of China in relation to two separate and unrelated sets of arbitration proceedings arising out of the construction of vessels to be used, amongst other things for use in the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas structures; advising a Macanese company in relation to the suspension of a project in Macau comprising the construction of a casino resort and hotel complex due to financial problems experienced by the USA owners due to the ‘credit crunch’; advising and acting for Irish contractors involved in disputes on contracts with West Indian government departments relating to the construction of roads and associated infrastructure works in the Caribbean; advising and acting in arbitration proceedings arising out of a dispute concerning the construction of an 80km length of highway in the Philippines, with the dispute being subject to Philippine Law.
Philip has also worked domestically on a substantial number of adjudication proceedings (both as advocate and the adjudicator), and the subsequent High Court enforcement of the Decision, as well as on a substantial number of arbitration proceedings and mediations, including proceedings arising from disputes over a new computerised ticketing system for the London Underground. In 2006 Philip spent a substantial part of his time appearing in the High Court as Lead Counsel for an American Corporation in a case involving a North Sea oil and gas platform which was alleged to be suffering from potentially dangerous gas escapes. More recently, for a substantial part of 2008 Philip represented property developers developing a substantial inner city site in Sheffield into a residential, leisure and retail complex in a claim against their contractors, with the proceedings being heard in the TCC and has most recently acted for a leading architect’s practice which was being sued in the TCC (together with the contractors) for alleged design/workmanship defects in substantial improvement works carried out to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious tennis stadiums, with a successful resolution of the dispute being achieved by way of mediation in which Philip acted as lead advocate.
Recommendations
Construction
“commended for his intellectual prowess”..."very robust both in his advice and in the courtroom."
International Arbitration
"particularly popular with clients involved in international disputes due to his open and friendly approach."
Chambers and Partners 2010
Construction
The intellectual abilities of Philip Boulding QC came in for high commendation. "Boulding flexes his intellectual muscle on a regular basis in a wide array of complex international arbitrations."
Chambers and Partners 2009
Construction
“a user-friendly and excellent barrister.”
International Arbitration
A major heavyweight of the arbitral Construction Bar...“thorough, hard-working and fully prepared to roll up his sleeves.”
Chambers & Partners 2008
“excellent and user-friendly.”
Chambers & Partners Asia 2008
Lawyers instructing Philip Boulding QC should expect "no flimflammery" from this commercial and to-the-point silk. At the same time, clients avow that he "passes the triple-A test: approachable, affable and affordable."
Chambers & Partners 2007
Philip Boulding QC has a tremendous following in Hong Kong where he spends much of his time appearing in building and civil engineering disputes. Recent ‘high profile’ instructions involved acting for the Hong Kong Airport Authority in a series of disputes arising from the design and construction of the roof of the Chek Lap Kok airport and for a Hong Kong Government Department in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of a renowned international theme and leisure park. Representation of an American Corporation in an arbitration relating to the construction of an automated fare collection system for the London Rail Network and for American contractors involved a dispute arising out of work carried out to a North Sea oil and gas rig provide a couple of examples of his equally superb domestic practice.
Chambers & Partners
Recommended in the top 20 Construction Silks.
'strong in intellect.'
The Legal 500
Examples of recent work
Construction and Engineering
- Acted for the Hong Kong Government on disputes with an International JV relating to a sewage disposal project in Hong Kong.
- Advising and acting for Singaporean ship building company in arbitration proceedings against a Cayman Islands based company (with Norwegian Parent Company which was a global provider of oil and gas production support services, including the decommissioning of offshore structures at or nearing the end of their operational service lives) arising out of the construction in China of a single lift vessel (claim value in excess of US$25m).
- Advising and acting for a Singaporean ship building company in arbitration proceedings concerning a dispute arising out of the cancellation of a purchase order for a vessel and an unjustified call on a performance bond.
- Acting for a Hong Kong company in an arbitration arising out of the construction of 80km of roadway in the Philippines (amounts in dispute exceed £10m).
- Acting for a Hong Kong Government Department in a dispute arising out of the construction of an internationally renowned leisure and theme park in Hong Kong.
- Advising Macanese company in relation to the suspension of a project in Macau comprising the construction of a casino resort and hotel complex, due to financial problems experienced by the USA owners due to the global ‘credit crunch’ (contract sum MOP844,185,524).
- Advising architects in relation to fee recovery proceedings relating to a substantial retail development in central Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Advising International JV on disputes relating to claims for additional time and money arising out of the construction of the Ngong Ping Sewage Treatment Plant Trunk Sewers and Effluent Export Pipeline, Ngong Ping, Lantau, HKSAR (contract value HK$232,999,999.13).
- Advising and acting for contractors involved in disputes with West Indian Government Departments arising out of road building/improvement works in the Caribbean.
- Advising contractors designing and constructing a motorway in Ireland in relation to a claim for unforeseen archaeological conditions against employing a Government Department. Claim value £40m.
- Acted for the Hong Kong Airport Authority on various substantial actions arising out of the construction of the Chek Lap Kok International Airport in Hong Kong, as well as the associated MTR station.
- Advised and acted in arbitration proceedings for a major international airline on disputes over a new hangar for jumbo jets.
- Acting for a major supermarket chain in a TCC action regarding the construction of a multi deck car park.
- Advised and acted for civil engineers in TCC proceedings regarding a fire at a cold storage unit.
- Acted for a subsidiary of a major international corporation on arbitration proceedings relating to the development of a landfill site in the Midlands and the escape of toxic substances therefrom.
- Advising property developers in relation to loss and expense claims regarding a substantial residential development in the North West of England.
- Acted for a multi national JV in arbitration proceedings relating to the construction of the Tsing Ma Bridge suspension bridge in Hong Kong.
- Advising and acting in arbitration proceedings for International JV in a dispute with the designers of the Kap Shui Mun Bridge, Hong Kong.
- Advising the Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation in relation to the construction of and disputes relating to the high speed 'bullet train' project in Taiwan linking Taipei and the south of the island.
- Acted for a sub-contractor on disputes relating to the construction of RORO car ferries in Belfast.
- Advising Australian contractors involved in a dispute arising out of the construction of a cigarette factory in the Philippines.
- Acting for an International JV involved in a dispute with a Scandinavian Government arising out of the construction of a metro system.
- Advising a UK rail company in relation to a subsidence claim against a mining company resulting in damage to railway tracks, interrupted services and a large claim for repair costs and consequential losses.
Energy
- Acting for EC Bank in an adjudication in relation to a dispute concerning a nuclear energy facility in Lithuania. Claim value E41m.
- Acting for a major power generation equipment manufacturer in relation to a dispute concerning the construction of a power plant in the UK incorporating a steam turbine.
- Acted for a South American engineering company in ICC arbitration proceedings arising from the design, fabrication and construction of an oil pipeline, pumping stations and associated communication system and marine oil terminal in East Africa.
- Acting for a multinational JV in arbitration proceedings relating the construction of an oil treatment and stabilisation facility in the Middle East.
- Advised a major Italian oil and gas construction contractor regarding a facility comprising of an oil treatment and stabilisation and gas compression facility.
- Advised and acted in arbitration proceedings in Singapore for a regional subsidiary of a major oil company concerning issues relating to the fabrication of oil rig platforms in Brunei to be erected in the South China Sea.
- Advised various customers of the British Nuclear Fuels Industry on disputes over the terms of agreements concerning the safe treatment and disposal of nuclear waste.
- Acted for a network utility company in adjudication and court proceedings regarding delay and defects claims arising from the laying of a gas pipeline.
- Advising an oil and gas company on the contract documentation relating to the opening up of a new oil field in the North Sea.
- Advising and acting in an Expert Determination for a construction company on environmental issues arising out of the construction of a power station in Northern England.
- Acting for a Texan company involved in a Technology and Construction Court dispute arising out of work carried out to a North Sea oil and gas rig.
Professional Negligence
- Acting for a leading architect’s practice which is being sued in the TCC (together with the contractors) for alleged design/workmanship defects in substantial improvement works carried out to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious tennis stadiums (claim value approximately £5m).
- Advising a UK local authority in relation to claims against its professional team arising out of the substantially increased cost of constructing a new school.
- Arbitration proceedings in Hong Kong concerning the enforceability of an insurance policy issued by a Hong Kong insurer which was intended to indemnify the contractor in respect of injuries to and deaths of its workmen.
- Acting for a Hong Kong Government Department in arbitration proceedings alleging negligence against its professional advisers in connection with the design and construction of a tunnelling scheme.
Information Technology
- Acted for a technology company in an intellectual property case against a Swiss company relating to the manufacture worldwide of Ball Grid Array products and Microvias using laser technology for use in electrical products such as mobile telephones.
- Acted for a major Hong Kong based corporation in dispute with Japanese manufacturers of computerised quay cranes for use at the Hong Kong container port.
- Acted for the Port Authority in Singapore in a dispute arising out of faulty computer technology installed in bridge cranes supplied by Japanese manufacturers.
- Advising a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company in relation to claims relating to time over run on the installation of a unified computer system.
- Advised and acted in arbitration proceedings for an international computer company in relation to the provision of an enhanced computerised ticketing system (the London Oyster Smartcard which was intended to replace the existing magnetic strip type tickets) for London Underground and Buses which was designed, amongst other things, to increase revenues and reduce fraudulent transactions.
Appointments as arbitrator
- Appointed by the International Chamber of Commerce as co-arbitrator on a dispute relating to commercial property in Bahrain.
- Appointed sole arbitrator on a matter relating to a commercial property complex in the Caribbean.
- Appointed sole arbitrator on an engineering dispute in the United Kingdom.
- Appointed sole arbitrator on a dispute between a property developer and contractor concerning a development on Humberside.
Appointments as adjudicator and mediator
- Acting as adjudicator in a dispute between a railway service provider and engineering professional arising out of a contract for civil works and signalling installation, signalling design, E&P testing and commissioning in the SE of England (claim value approximately £30m).
- Acting as mediator in a dispute between a leading retail DIY store and a paint supplier in relation to breach of a vendor supply agreement. Claim value approx £10m.
- Acted as adjudicator on two adjudications relating to target price mechanisms.
- Acted as adjudicator on a £35 million commercial development dispute relating to damages for defects and delay.
- Acted as mediator on a dispute relating to the construction of a shopping centre in the North of England.
Reported cases
Seminars
- “The new JCT suite of contracts” – various venues in the UK during 2006
- “Global Claims” – Society of Construction Law. Hong Kong (August 2006)
- "The New Engineering Contract: A Progress Report" - Society of Construction Law, Hong Kong (Oct 2006)
- “The Assessment of Damages by Experts” – The Academy of Experts, London (March 2009)
- “The Local Democracy, Economic Development & Construction Bill – Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry (2009)
Professional CV
1965–1972
1973–1977
1976
1976
1976
1976
1976
1977
1977
1978
1979
1979
1979
1980
1994-1999
1996
1997
1997-2006
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2008 | Cambridgeshire High School, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge University
B.A. (Law) (1st Class Honours)
Elected to title of Scholar of Downing College
Harris Scholar
Pilley Scholar
Rebecca Flowers Squire Scholar,
Awarded by the Cambridge University Law Faculty
Senior Harris Scholar
Postgraduate LL.B. (now LL.M.)
Gray’s Inn Holker Entrance Award
Gray’s Inn Senior Holker Award
MA
Called to the Bar (Gray's Inn)
Keating Chambers
Committee Member of the Official Referees' Bar Association (now Technology and Construction Bar Association)
Queen’s Counsel
Called to Hong Kong Bar
Chairman, Keating Chambers Pupillage Committee
Elected Bencher of Gray’s Inn
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Public Access Training
Gray's Inn Continuing Education Committee
Consultant Editor of the Construction Law Reports
Contributor to Keating on Construction Contracts
Committee Member of Technology and Construction Bar Association |
Membership
Rights of audience: Dubai International Finance Centre Court (DIFC)
Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
Other Information
1975 and 1976
1976-1977
1976
1977
1975-1982
1990-1994
1994-1999
1996-1999 | Cambridge Rugby 'Blue'.
Member of Cambridge University Hawks Club Committee.
Hon. Sec. of Cambridge, University R.U.F.C.
England U-23 XV.
Bedford R.U.F.C. 1st XV.
President, Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club.
Vice-President C.U.A.B.C.
Governor of Hills Road Sixth Form College, Cambridge |
Philip is a regular contributor as both speaker and Chairman of Construction Conferences held in the UK and abroad.
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