Call: 1982
Silk: 2002
"David is a remarkably effective advocate, utilising his disarming charm and keen legal acumen to achieve favourable outcomes. His dedication and expertise make him an invaluable asset to any team."
Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2026
David Thomas KC is a hugely experienced advocate.
“Cross-examination skills second to none”
“Extremely hard-working, calm, bright, excellent with clients.”
“He can master complex briefs and articulate arguments speedily and efficiently”
“The doyen of the arbitration world”
“A very modern silk”
are a few of the quotes in Chambers UK, Chambers Global, The Legal 500 and Who’s Who Legal where David has been consistently recommended as a leader in his fields. David was awarded Construction Silk of the Year at the 2021 Chambers UK Bar Awards, having also been shortlisted for the award in the UK in 2013 and 2017 and the Middle East in 2024.
David is known for his forceful advocacy, incisive cross-examination skills, commercial awareness, and the clarity and practicality of his advice. He has been instructed in some of the biggest and highest profile cases in the world including the Shard, Wembley Stadium, the Olympic Stadium and the Burj Khalifa as well as numerous substantial oil and gas projects which have been a major part of his practice in recent years.
A large part of David’s practice arises from GCC countries, Africa and Asia. Recent international arbitrations have concerned a an offshore LNG terminal, an oil and gas fractionation and storage facility, and an export facility and tank farm, all in the Middle East, a coal-fired power station in South Africa, energy from waste projects in the UK, solar power projects in the Middle East, a major road project in Tanzania, railways in India, a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia and the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Vietnam. In the UK, he is a regular Court of Appeal advocate and frequently appears before the Technology and Construction Court on high profile matters. In 2024 he was successful in the UK Supreme Court on an appeal from Trinidad and Togabo. David has also provided long-term advisory work in relation to landmark developments around the world including in recent years in relation to a super-giant Asian oil field.
David has experience of all major standard form contracts including the FIDIC (Red, Yellow, Silver and Gold books) EPC contracts, NEC, JCT, ICE forms, GC/Works/1, CCC/Works/1, ICHEME, MF/1 and SAJ. He also has great experience of amended standard forms. He is the Editor of “Keating on NEC” (2018) and writes the commentary on the NEC form in “Keating on Construction Contracts”. He has lectured on the NEC and FIDIC forms in the UK, Hong Kong, South Korea, Oman and South Africa.
In addition, David sits as an international arbitrator under ICC, LCIA, SIAC, DIAC and other institutional rules as well as ad hoc arbitrations.
An ICC arbitration about an oil and gas fractionation and storage facility in the Middle East.
An ad hoc international arbitration concerning the construction of a coal-fired power station in South Africa.
A high value VIAC arbitration concerning the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Vietnam with delay and termination issues.
Acting for the claimant, a specialist engineering contractor, in an ICC arbitration arising out of a project to upgrade an LNG plant in Qatar.
Acting for a shipyard in an LCIA arbitration regarding delays and variations on the refurbishment/upgrade of an FPSO.
An LCIA arbitration concerning the construction of a combined power station and desalination plant in Abu Dhabi.
An arbitration on a contractor’s delay and disruption claim arising from mechanical and electrical works at a nuclear facility.
An ICC arbitration relating to a major road building project in Tanzania.
An ICC arbitration concerning a power plant in the Middle East.
An ICC arbitration concerning a railway in Singapore.
A SIAC arbitration concerning industrial equipment.
An ad hoc arbitration on a major road building project in Oman.
An ad hoc arbitration relating to infrastructure projects in Oman and Yemen.
Acting in an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a Power Station in the Bahamas.
A DIAC arbitration for specialist Chinese contractors in relation to a tall building in Dubai.
DIAC arbitrations relating to various hotel developments in Dubai.
Numerous DIAC arbitrations relating to commercial property developments in Dubai.
An ICC arbitration relating to airport construction.
An ICC arbitration for a Japanese contractor relating to road building in the UAE.
An arbitration for the employer concerning a dredging and reclamation project in Dubai.
Acting for the developer in a substantial claim against the main contractor for delays and termination of a contract for the refurbishment of a retail and office space in Birmingham city centre.
Acting for a UK main contractor in a delay disruption and termination dispute relating to the construction of an EfW plant.
Advising and acting in adjudications in relation to a major UK road building project.
Claim in the DIFC Court and Court of Appeal by property developer against his bank for wrongful withdrawal of loan facilities causing suspension of project to build a five-star luxury hotel on the Palm in Dubai. Proceedings in the DIFC and subject to UAE law.
Appearing before the DIFC in relation to a claim by a development company against a number of land owners.
Advising in relation to an NEC term services contract in respect of military facilities.
Advising in relation to an NEC engineering and construction contract in relation to a major hospital refurbishment.
A DIFC case concerning a facilities management contract.
Acting for the main contractor on Wembley Stadium.
An ICC arbitration concerning a power plant in the Middle East.
An ICC arbitration concerning a railway in Singapore.
A SIAC arbitration concerning industrial equipment.
Acting in an ICC arbitration regarding the construction of a factory in Siberia.
An arbitration about remediation of a contaminated site including issues as to chemical analysis as well as measurement and valuation questions.
A TCC trial for a German multi-national supermarket chain in relation to its’ obligations under a lease and agreement for a lease. The case also included engineering questions as to causes of subsidence.
Acting for assignees in a dispute about accrued rights.
Acting for a local authority in respect of alleged defects at a sports centre.
An adjudication and expert determination in relation to a major City of London office development.
Advising architects and acting in an adjudication in a copyright licence dispute.
Acting for UK clients in an ICC arbitration in relation to the redevelopment of the harbour side in Gibraltar.
An arbitration about a collapsed waste tip involving technical soil mechanics issues.
An arbitration about the construction of a reservoir, valuation issues under the ICE Conditions.
A TCC trial for a train building company in a dispute as to quality with a train operating company. Issues as to the performance of metals.
A TCC trial relating to the underperformance of a waste disposal plant. Issues as to the behaviour of powders in hoppers.
A TCC trial concerning the accounting treatment of profits earned by engineers on long term projects.
Advising on an NEC engineering and construction contract for coastal protection works.
Advising on hotel and residential towers development in Qatar.
Advising owners in dispute in relation to construction of a sporting facility in Hong Kong
David has a busy energy practice in the UK and internationally. He has widespread experience disputes related to mechanical electrical and process engineering, construction of power stations and CHPs, oil and gas, FPSOs and pipelines, open cast coal mining and coal handling, and nuclear waste disposal.
An ad hoc international arbitration concerning the construction of a coal-fired power station in South Africa.
Acting for the claimant, a specialist engineering contractor, in an ICC arbitration arising out of a project to upgrade an LNG plant in Qatar.
A high value VIAC arbitration concerning the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Vietnam with delay and termination issues.
An arbitration on a contractor’s delay and disruption claim arising from mechanical and electrical works at a nuclear facility in the UK.
Advising and acting on an adjudication on an NEC long term framework agreement concerning the replacement of gas mains.
An arbitration between the UK government and a specialist contractor concerning variations and delays at the Radioactive Effluent Treatment Plant at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in the UK. The case involved numerous design issues as well as issues as to requirements in the specification of specialised large-scale welding and whether the welding in fact gave rise to variations.
An LCIA arbitration concerning the construction of a combined power station and desalination plant in Abu Dhabi.
Advising on a dispute as to the port facilities for nuclear powered submarines.
A dispute concerning delays and termination of a contract for the construction of a process plant for
handling nuclear waste at Sellafield in the UK and in particular the design and construction of a top up system,
mechanical outcell equipment and hatches and a glove box assembly and operations cell.
A dispute related to the control equipment for an undersea gas supply pipeline.
An arbitration as to an electricity pricing dispute.
Acting for the manufacturers of coal handling equipment in an ICC arbitration against a mining company, involving factual and expert issues centred on the performance of conveyor belts.
Acting in an ICC arbitration in relation to the construction of a Power Station in the Bahamas.
An arbitration on a contractor’s delay and disruption claim arising from mechanical and electrical works at a nuclear facility.
TCC litigation about the construction of a CHP plant.
Advising and TCC litigation for contractors in valuation disputes arising under open cast coal mining contracts.
An ICC arbitration concerning an LNG terminal.
An arbitration relating to a combined cycle power and water facility.
Acting for Korean contractors on an EPC contract on a gas project in Iraq.
An arbitration for a local authority in a professional negligence claim against engineers in respect of the
design of a new bridge. Technical issues as to the design of steel columns.
An adjudication on a claim against engineering consultants on a road building project.
A long running TCC matter for a specialist engineering company in a professional negligence claim against consulting engineers in respect of work carried out at the Sellafield facility.
Advising on a claim in relation to geotechnical engineering.
Advising on a claim relating to M & E engineering in an office development
David is frequently instructed to advise and conduct adjudications on PFI and PPP contracts in relation to waste, roads, railways, prisons and hospitals. His recent cases include acting for authorities, building contractors, funders and FM contractors:
Advisory work and adjudications for building contractors and FM contractors on numerous hospital projects including fire issues.
Acting for the Contracting Authority in the PFI procurement of a waste disposal service, including an EfW plant.
Acting for M&E contractors in a Hospital PFI project dispute, in adjudication, TCC trial and in the Court of Appeal.
Advising a Project Company as to the obligations of the various parties with regard to cladding in a PFI project concerning a numerous high rise buildings.
Advisory work and adjudication on Schools PFI Projects.
Advisory work on prison PFI contracts for the FM contractors.
Advisory work in relation to alleged defects in a major highway bridge.
David’s experience in this area includes disputes relating to railway engineering and train building contracts; and other major infrastructure projects for public and private sector clients including reservoir, road, dam, airport and stadium construction.
Advising and acting in adjudications on NEC engineering and construction contracts relating to two major UK highway projects.
Acting for Greek contractors in relation to the construction of a major international airport.
Arbitrations on five major road building projects in Oman and Yemen.
Acting for engineers in the Ladbroke Grove Rail Inquiry. Consideration of Risk/Benefit analysis.
An ICC arbitration relating to a major road building project in Tanzania.
Advising in relation to a major Hong Kong infrastructure project.
Advising in relation to utility maintenance contracts.
Acting for contractors on FIDIC Yellow Book contract (and related Red Book contracts) in project in Kazakhstan. Exclusions of liability time bars and design liability issues (Kazakh law).
Acting for Korean contractors on port project in Iraq.
Acting for contractors in relation to a Middle Eastern airport.
A dispute related to a drainage project in Hong Kong.
An ICC arbitration relating to a major road building project in Tanzania.
Advising and acting in adjudications in relation to a major UK road building project.
An ICC arbitration concerning a railway in Singapore.
An ad hoc arbitration on a major road building project in Oman.
Acting for UK clients in an ICC arbitration in relation to the redevelopment of the harbour side in Gibraltar.
An arbitration about the construction of a reservoir, valuation issues under the ICE Conditions.
A TCC trial for a train building company in a dispute as to quality with a train operating company. Issues as to the performance of metals.
Advising and acting on an adjudication on an NEC long term framework agreement concerning the
replacement of gas mains.
Advising on a dispute as to the port facilities for nuclear powered submarines. An arbitration as to an electricity pricing dispute.
An adjudication on a claim against engineering consultants on a road building project.
Acting for a shipyard in an LCIA arbitration regarding delays and variations on the refurbishment/upgrade of an FPSO.
An international arbitration about an offshore LNG facility in Bahrain.
Various disputes about the construction of FPSOs.
Advising in relation to offshore wind farm projects.
Advising as to quality issues in pipelines and contractual issues as to a lengthy subsea gas pipeline.
A dispute related to the control equipment for an undersea gas supply pipeline in the Middle East.
A dispute concerning an offshore LNG facility in the Mediterranean Sea.
Approved Mediator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015
Approved Arbitrator, Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration, 2015
Trained in Dispute Adjudication Board Hearings and Procedure, 2005
CEDR Accredited Mediator, 2003
Queen’s Counsel, 2002
Called to the Bar of Gibraltar, 1996
MA Oxon, 1984
Called to the Bar (Middle Temple), 1982
Middle Temple Astbury Law Scholar, 1981-1982
BA in Jurisprudence (First Class Honours), Wadham College, Oxford 1981
David is a keen gardener with a particular interest in fruit growing and topiary. He also enjoys cricket and tennis and is a member of the MCC.
Panel of Arbitrators at the Delhi International Arbitration Centre (“DIAC”)
Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
UK Energy Law Group
Professional Negligence Bar Association
The Society of Construction Law
ICC United Kingdom
Dispute Resolution Board Foundation
Co-author, Keating on Construction Contracts – Tenth Edition (2016)
“Keating on NEC 3” David Thomas QC 1st Ed, May 2012, “Keating on NEC” 2022
“NEC Contracts: A Lawyers Perspective” SCL Annual Conference, Leeds 2013
“Discharge of Bondsmen after Hackney Empire v Aviva”. SCL Lecture, London 2013
“Practical issues on Projects using NEC 3” Hong Kong SCL Conference, Hong Kong, October 2012
“The FIDIC Dispute Resolution Machinery following CRW Joint Operation v PT Perusahan Gas Negara” Singapore CIArb and SCL, Singapore, October 2012
“International Construction Arbitration: Current Topics.” Korea International Arbitration Summit, Seoul 2012
“The 2012 International Arbitration Survey” Construction Law International, March 2013
“Contractual Obligations of Good Faith” Construction Law International, December 2012
“Standard Form Construction and Engineering Contracts: Current and Recent Developments” Construction Law International September 2012
“The New Edition of the I Chem E Suite” Construction Law International June 2013
Lecturer
Sometimes lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, International Construction Contracts and Arbitration. Contributor, Keating on Construction Contracts – Eighth Edition (2006).
