Adam Constable was called to the Bar in 1995 and has advocacy experience in a wide range of common law and commercial fields. He has specialised in construction and engineering disputes and related professional negligence and insurance work. He joined Keating Chambers in 2002 and was appointed Treasury Counsel in 2004.
He has wide experience of technical and engineering disputes both in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) and arbitration, including Information Technology infrastructure projects. Adam Constable has been extensively involved in a number of high value international arbitrations arising out of energy related projects. He also has considerable experience of adjudication work, from initial advice, drafting submissions and representation in front of adjudicators, to enforcement proceedings at first instance and in the Court of Appeal. In addition, he is regularly involved in advising clients on all forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution and has been appointed as Adjudicator and Expert in a number of disputes.
Recent reported decisions include Kier Regional Ltd (t/a Wallis) v City & General (Holborn) Ltd [2008] Adj.L.R. 10/17, Ledwood Mechanical Engineering Ltd v Whessoe Oil and Gas Ltd [2008] BLR 1998, Secretary of State for Transport v Pell Frischmann Consultants Ltd [2007] BLR 46 TCC and Shepherd Homes Ltd v Encia Remediation Ltd [2007] BLR 135 and [2007] 110 Con LR 90 TCC.
Adam Constable was named Junior Construction Barrister of the Year 2007-8. It was the second year in a row that Adam had been nominated. The Judges commended him for his “eye for detail, thorough preparation, and a robust and engaging court demeanour”.
Recommendations
Construction Junior of the Year 2007-8.
Chambers and Partners Bar Awards
Chambers and Partners Recommended junior in four categories: Construction and Engineering, International Arbitration, Energy, and Professional Negligence.
Construction and Engineering
"Especially high praise amongst peers, clients and solicitors"...“a real standout lawyer”...“hard working and has an outstanding court manner”..."observers are consistently impressed with [his] 'effortless grasp of things'"...“direct, intelligent and robust demeanour is perfectly suited to large disputes”..."incredibly bright, personable and user-friendly"..."impressing all with his assured courtroom performances and exemplary drafting skills"..."thorough" and "hard-working" first choice construction junior...“proactive and user-friendly...solicitors go back to him for the superb support and excellent turnaround time they receive”..."a smooth operator with a good grasp of the detail"..."clever and capable...as good as it gets"... "remarkable ability to absorb huge amounts of information and his enthusiastic commitment to the cause"..."His talent for handling clients is renowned."
Energy
“Outstanding”...“Adam effortlessly grasps technical issues and goes two or three steps beyond – he just seems to glide through documents”..."a commercially minded practitioner who never gives up"..."Detail-oriented and a good team player".
Professional Negligence
Described by leading counsel at the professional negligence Bar as “the perfect junior – very bright and very efficient, and he gets on well with judges and clients”..."stars at junior level"..."A first-rate junior who is bright and very likeable."
Legal 500 Recommended junior in Construction.
“Highly intelligent, has fantastic judgment and he gets results"
Examples of recent work
Construction and Engineering
- Domestic arbitration for breach of warranty arising out of presence of sulphates in the ground across large housing estate.
- TCC relating to bearing failures on a major UK viaduct. Issues of design liability, involving complex technical evidence including metallurgy and fracture mechanics.
- High value litigation arising out of the Chancery Lane derailment.
- Substantial TCC action arising out of strengthening works to a quay wall carried out under ICE 6th edition for contractors design.
- Involved in a number of M&E related disputes, involving concert halls, hospitals and the London Aquarium.
- Advised upon PFI agreements relating to the construction and operation of schools, academies, hospitals, and prisons.
- Instructed in relation to the high profile ‘B of the Bang’ litigation in the TCC.
- Substantial Commercial Court claim arising out of a blow-out at an Oil Well in Uzbekistan, involving numerous technical and legal issues, under Uzbekistan law.
- LCIA arbitration arising out of the construction of an oil gathering plant in Kuwait.
- ICC arbitration relating to a major international gas pipeline project.
- Substantial adjudication and arbitration relating to the design and construction of a UK biofuels plant.
- Significant ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of energy plant in Abu Dhabi.
- Advised and acted in relation to a number of wind farm developments, both onshore and offshore.
- £1.3m SIAC arbitration relating to construction of the HoPing Power Plant in Taiwan.
- Expert determination relating to the design, construction and operation of a combined cycle gas turbine cogeneration facility producing electricity and industrial steam.
Click here for link to energy profile
Shipbuilding
- $100m LCIA arbitration in relation to the construction in Singapore of a floating production storage vessel for the Norwegian oil fields. Numerous technical process and structural engineering issues as well as interpretation of contract scope.
- Significant TCC litigation relating to the construction of the Ramform Bamff FPSO.
- Disputes relating to the completion and handover of ships constructed in Chinese shipyards.
Professional Negligence
- Multi-million pound ICC Singapore arbitration arising out of alleged professional negligence in relation to a major Far East infrastructure project.
- High-profile TCC litigation relating to the renovation and refurbishment of a Park Lane mansion.
- Action against professional Project Manager and QS in relation to the construction of student accommodation.
- Substantial adjudication proceedings against civil and structural designers in relation to a major UK bypass scheme.
IT / Telecommunications
- Substantial TCC litigation arising out of the provision and integration of a computerised management system for a national mobile telecommunications network.
- Dispute arising out of development of traffic management systems.
- Substantial claim arising from extensive fire damage to telecommunications network.
International Arbitration
- Experienced in UNICTRAL, ICC, LCIA, SIAC arbitrations. See Energy Section above.
Professional CV
MA in Jurisprudence, Balliol College, Oxford
Called to the Bar
Pupillage and Tenant at 2 Temple Gardens, London
Keating Chambers
Appointed as Treasury Counsel
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Lecturer on International Construction Construction and
Arbitration, Queen Mary's College, University of London
Inner Temple Advocacy Training Committee
Public Access Training | 1994
1995
1995
2002
2002
2004
2007
2007
2008 |
Memberships
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
Professional Negligence Bar Association
Society of Construction Law
Adjudication Society
Society of Computers and Law
Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
Other Information
Adam Constable enjoys spending time with his young family, rugby, golf and the odd card trick.
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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