Piers Stansfield has been a member of Keating Chambers since 1994. He has wide experience of construction, engineering and energy disputes, and professional negligence within these areas of expertise.
Piers is known for his ability to master technical detail including engineering, delay analysis and forensic accountancy. He has been involved in complex and high value claims arising out of hospitals, tunnels, port facilities, shipbuilding, aircraft manufacturing, chemical plants, and power stations.
Piers has a wide range of advocacy experience, in domestic and international arbitrations, in the High Court, and in alternative dispute resolution. He also has considerable experience of adjudication, including making written and oral submissions to adjudicators, advising and appearing in enforcement proceedings, and acting as adjudicator himself.
Recommendations
Construction
“keen legal acumen and commercial insight” “calm, considered approach” “the underlying interests of the client are uppermost in his mind at all times” a high-calibre barrister you would instruct without hesitation."
Chambers and Partners 2012
Construction
"spot-on advice and is very willing to roll up his sleeves to get the job done"
Legal 500, 2011
Construction
"very authoritative and persuasive"..."in addition to being wise, very calm and approachable, he's excellent on paper and a superb fighter with an astounding intellect."
Chambers and Partners 2011
Construction
"prepared to fight a case, he doesn't cave in, and has the bottle to give it his all for the client."
Chambers and Partners 2010
Construction
“calm, bright and reliable even in the white heat of a case”...“his ability to spot the strengths and weaknesses of arguments marks him out for success.”
Chambers and Partners 2009
“has been winning fans during the course of the many large international arbitrations he has handled”...“shows maturity beyond his experience”...“is really coming into his own.”
Chambers and Partners 2008
"calm exterior hides a really tough fighter."
Legal 500 2007
"can really get to grips with complicated technical issues."
Chambers and Partners 2007
'thorough, calm, bright and reliable.'
Legal 500 2006
Recent Work
Construction
- Represented an international contractor in an arbitration in Singapore relating to a hotel and office block complex.
- Advised and represented the developer of a landmark project in the City of London in proceedings for an injunction.
- Advised and represented a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration concerned with a port facility in the Middle East.
- Acted for a specialist micro tunnelling contractor in connection with an arbitration concerning the renewal of the water and sewage system in Bangkok, Thailand.
- Represented the owner in an arbitration concerning design defects in a high-speed passenger ferry.
- Advised and represented clients in various proceedings to enforce adjudicators' decisions, including successfully defending such proceedings on the basis of breach of natural justice, and winding up proceedings in the Companies Court.
Energy
- Obtained an injunction on behalf of UK Oil Company to compel a contractor to complete pipeline work in North Sea under contract subject to CRINE conditions.
- Acted for a UK bio diesel producer in a dispute with the designer and manufacturer of chemical plant.
- Advised a Korean contractor in relation to contracts for the construction of a power station in Qatar.
Professional Negligence
- Acted for the contractor in a claim against consulting mechanical and electrical engineers relating to the alleged negligent installation of a nitrate storage facility.
- Advised and represented a national house builder in a high value claim against specialist planning solicitors.
- Advised a national museum in connection with a negligence claim against Danish architects.
- Acting for the Defendant Contractor on a claim arising from a fire at a commercial property.
- Defended surveyors against claims for negligence arising from the valuation of a property that subsequently suffered from subsidence.
Information Technology
- Advised and represented a client in a multi-million pound ICC arbitration involving computerised design development and CNC programming.
- Advised and represented an insurer in TCC litigation arising out of the malfunction of a computerised building management system.
PFI/PPP
- Advised and represented major UK contractors in adjudication and Dispute Resolution Board proceedings arising out of PFI projects for the design and construction of hospitals.
- Advised the main contractor in connection with one of the UK’s largest PPP schemes, concerning waste water treatment facilities.
Procurement
- Advised a main contractor on the application of the public procurement legislation to a social housing project.
- Advised a local authority and a housing trust in connection with disputes regarding the variation and potential re-tendering of construction projects.
- Advising a Housing Authority on procedures regarding advertising in the Official Journal of the European Union before awarding the contract
- Advising a proposed tender on procedure and required documentation for a Government scheme.
Selected Reported Cases
- Lanes Group PLC v Galliford Try Infrastructure Limited
[2011] EWHC 1035 (TCC)
- Forest Heath District Council v ISG Jackson Ltd
[2010] EWHC 322 (TCC)
- Linklaters Business Services v McAlpine Ltd & Ors
[2010] EWHC 2931, 133 Con LR 211
- Tai Ping Carpets UK Ltd v Arora Heathrow T5 Ltd
[2009] EWHC 2305 (TCC), [2009] 127 Con LR 43, [2009] BLR 601
- Balfour Beatty Construction Northern Ltd v Modus Corovest (Blackpool) Ltd
[2008] BLM Vol.26 No.1 TCC, [2008] EWHC 3029 (TCC), [2009] CILL 2660
- Benfield Construction Ltd v Trudson (Hatton) Ltd
[2008] EWHC 2333 (TCC), [2008] CILL 2633
- Westwood Structural Services Ltd v Blyth Wood Park Management Company Ltd
[2008] EWHC 3138 (TCC), [2009] CILL 2666
- Hiscox Syndicates v The Pinnacle
[2008] EWHC 145 (Ch)
- PT Building Services Ltd v ROK Build Ltd
[2008] EWHC 3434
- Felton Construction v. Liverpool City Council
[2007] EWHC 3049 (TCC)
- British Airways v. Apogee Enterprises
[2007] 111 Con LR 200
- Gray and Sons Builders (Bedford) Ltd v Essential Box Company
Ltd
[2006] All ER (D) 285 TCC, [2006] EWHC 2520 (TCC), 108 Con LR 49, [2006] CILL 2395
- S&W Process Engineering Ltd v Cauldron Foods
Ltd
[2005] All ER (D) 205 TCC
- Mowlem plc v Stena Line Ports Ltd
[2005] CILL 2198 TCC
- Lovell Projects Ltd v Legg and Carver
[2003] 89 BLR 452 TCC
- Guardi Shoes Ltd v Datum Contracts
[2002] CILL 1934 Companies Court
- All-in-One Design Limited v Motcomb Estates
Limited
[2000] Times Law Reports 4th April
- Ahmad Ali-Naimi v Islamic Press Agency Incorporated
[1998] CILL 1443 in the High Court (Official Referee) and [2000] BLR 150 in the Court of Appeal
Publications
- Researcher, Keating on Construction Contracts - Eighth Edition (2006).
- Researcher, Keating on Building Contracts 7th Edition.
- Editorial team, Construction Law Yearbook (1995).
Education and Professional Career
Bachelor of Laws, University of Bristol
Ashworth Scholar, Inner Temple
Inns of Court School of Law
(Overall Grade – Outstanding)
Treasurer’s Prize and Jardine Studentship, Inner Temple
(for highest Bar Finals mark in Inner Temple)
Called to the Bar (Inner Temple)
Pupillage, Keating Chambers
Keating Chambers
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Public Access Training |
1992
1992
1992-93
1993
1993
1993-94
1994
2007 |
Memberships
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
Society of Construction Law
Society for Computers and Law
Other Information
Piers is a keen cyclist and participates in races in the UK and occasionally on the continent. He also enjoys travel, theatre and music.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact the Director of Clerking,
Paul Cooklin, or 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.
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