Krista Lee was called to the Bar in 1996. She is an experienced advocate and has conducted trials, large applications and sought injunctions in the Commercial Court, Technology and Construction Court, and Chancery Division.
Throughout her career Krista has specialised in engineering and construction matters. She has a degree in engineering and is able to handle complex technical and IT disputes. Krista’s experience covers the entire construction process, from the negotiation and drafting of contracts, through the management of contractors, designers and sub-contractors on site, and on onwards to adjudication, mediation, arbitration or litigation.
Krista’s wider commercial expertise covers company, partnership and insolvency litigation. She has conducted minority shareholders applications, applications in administration proceedings, directors’ disqualification proceedings and winding up proceedings.
Examples of recent work
Construction and Engineering
- £10m professional negligence claim against quantity surveyors in a project to convert and restore a historic manor house in to a first class hotel.
- £32m claim arising out of the construction of a purpose built factory, for the relocation of three businesses serving the automotive industry.
- Junior counsel in a US$35m claim relating to defects and delay in a Coca-Cola megaplant in Ballina, Ireland.
- Successfully resisted enforcement of an adjudicator’s award on the ground that “more than one dispute” had been referred.
Energy
- Negotiation and drafting of a £multi-million engineering contract (based on NEC3) for the design, installation and commissioning of a new power station.
- Counsel in a multi-billion dollar claim arising out of a consortium agreement for the construction and operation of a gas fuelled power station in South America.
- Advised defendants in a multi-party claim arising out of an explosion at Humber Oil Refinery during the installation of a Diesel Hydrodesulpharisation Unit.
- Junior counsel acting for a Joint Venture between Birse Construction Ltd and Bilfinger and Berger UK Ltd, main contractors in respect of the construction of Didcot B power station.
Arbitration
- US $35m claim arising out of the failed operation of gold mine on a South Pacific Island. Dispute as to scope of insurance policies covering political risks in the event riots and/or war. (LCIA)
- US$1.3 billion dispute as to liability for construction and running costs and distribution of profits in respect of a thermoeletric power plant in Brazil. (UNCITRAL)
- US$40 million letter of credit dispute arising from the performance of a petrochemical plant in Qatar constructed by a French/US joint venture. (ICC)
- US$2 million claim arising out of the design, construction and commissioning of an Exxon facility on Sakhalin Island. (LCIA/UNCITRAL)
Information Technology
- Junior counsel in an ad hoc arbitration concerning breaches of a software licence agreement to supply financial software to the worldwide branches of an international bank.
Company/Insolvency
- Two week Chancery Division trial of preliminary issues arising out of a £4m partnership dispute.
- Obtained injunctive relief for minority shareholders to prevent the threatened buy our of their shares.
- Junior counsel in £230m claim against investment bankers, directors and solicitors for fraud, misrepresentation and breach of the Listing Rules and the City Code prior to the sale of a PLC.
- Junior counsel in four week trial for breach of warranty in a share sale agreement.
- Acted for chief executive of Crystal Palace Football Club (1986) Ltd in a five week directors disqualification action.
Publications
- Adjudicating More than One Dispute – Adjudication Society Newsletter (December 2006)
- Arbitration: Practical self-study course on best practice (Informa (2005))
- Civil War Exclusion Clauses - (On Risk Spring 2005 - Insurance Newsletter)
- Winding up petitions following an application for payment (Tolley’s Newsletter 2001)
Seminars
- The New Administration Regime (April 2006)
- Pride & Prejudice -s459 of the Companies Act 1985 (March 2006)
- Performance Bonds & Guarantees (November 2005)
- Concurrent Delay in Construction Claims (September 2005)
- The Liability of Construction Professionals (April 2005)
- Brokers - The New Regulatory Framework (March 2005)
- Liquidated Damages Clauses in Construction Contracts (August 2004)
- Unlawful Financial Assistance - Recent Cases (March 2004)
- The Enterprise Act 2002 - Impact on Corporate Insolvency (December 2003)
- Freezing Injunctions -A Practical Guide (March 2002)
Professional CV
BA (Hons) Jurisprudence, University College Oxford
Exhibitioner at University College Oxford
Hardwicke, Megarry and Sunley Scholarships, Lincoln’s Inn
Called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn
BCL, University College Oxford
Hilda Martindale Scholar
MA, University College Oxford
BSc (Hons) Engineering, Open University
Keating Chambers
TECBAR Accredited Adjudicator
Public Access Training
Chartered Arbitrator | 1992-1995
1993
1994-1996
1996
1996-1997
1996
2001
2003
2007
2007
2007
2007 |
Memberships
Fellow Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
London Court of International Arbitration
Commercial Bar Association
Technology and Construction Bar Association
Society for Computers and Law
Society of Construction Law
Rights of audience: Dubai International Finance Centre Court
Other Information
Krista enjoys yoga and riding.
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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