Paul Buckingham KC

Call: 1995 Silk: 2023

Email: pbuckingham@keatingchambers.com

Tel: +44 (0)20 7544 2600

Practice Overview

After spending eight years with BP as a chemical engineer in the oil and gas industries, Paul Buckingham was called to the Bar in 1995 and has since specialised in major construction, engineering and energy disputes. His particular area of interest and expertise lies in international arbitration work.

He has worked on a wide range of contentious matters involving international construction and engineering projects. He has extensive experience of numerous arbitrations under ICC, LCIA, UNCITRAL and ad hoc rules. He has also acted on disputes involving most standard form contracts and their derivatives, including the JCT, ICE, IChemE and FIDIC Forms.

He regularly acts for clients in court, domestic and international arbitration, adjudication and mediation hearings. Paul also has experience at all levels of alternative dispute resolution including dispute review boards, project appeal panels and direct settlement negotiations. His international work includes matters in the Middle East, Europe, the Far East, Africa and the Caribbean.

In addition, Paul has been appointed as arbitrator, adjudicator, dispute board member and neutral evaluator on a range of disputes involving construction and engineering projects.

Practice Areas
  • Construction & Engineering
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Offshore Construction & Marine Engineering
  • IT & Technology
  • Professional Negligence
  • PFI/PPP
Construction & Engineering
  • Acting for a contractor in the High Court in respect of claims arising out of the supply of 28compressors for a pipeline project in Spain.
  • Acted for a Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration against its Middle Eastern joint venture partner concerning claims arising out of the construction of a water storage facility in the Middle East.
  • Acted for a Japanese/UK joint venture partnership defending subcontractor’s claims in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of the construction of an LNG plant in the Middle East.
  • Acted for a US design and construction company in a claim for outstanding design fees on a major planned infrastructure and leisure development in the Middle East, conducted under UNCITRAL Rules.
  • Acted for Multiplex in a High Court claim to recover a £4 million advance payment under the terms of a personal guarantee.
  • Acted for a main contractor in two ICC arbitrations arising out of the design and construction of flue gas desulphurisation plants at power stations in the UK, together with several related adjudications.
  • Acting for a contractor in an international arbitration concerning claims arising out of the expansion of an airport in the Caribbean.
  • Acted for Multiplex in the High Court in respect of disputes arising out of the construction of the Wembley Stadium in London, including two successful references to the Court of Appeal.
  • Acted for a US company on claims in the High Court arising out of the construction of its distribution warehouse in the UK. Participated in a four party mediation and settlement of the matter.
  • Acted for Eurostar on claims in the High Court arising out of the construction of the Waterloo International Terminal. Actively involved in a five party mediation and settlement of the matter.
Energy & Natural Resources
  • Acted for a pipeline contractor in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of the design and construction of an oil pipeline in West Africa.
  • Advised a US design and construction contractor on a series of disputes in the Middle East, including the construction of an oil separation plant, a desalination plant, and a power station.
  • Acted for the main contractor in two ICC arbitrations arising out of the design and construction of a gas fired power plant in the Caribbean, together with a series of related dispute board adjudications.
  • Acted for the employer against a contractor in an ICC arbitration in respect of claims for defects at a diesel power station constructed in the Caribbean.
  • Advising a main contractor in respect of claims arising out of the construction of two power projects in Pakistan.
  • Acted for a Baltic oil company in an ICC arbitration defending claims made by a Swedish exploration company in respect of oil exploitation rights and the valuation of assets.
  • Acted for an Australian oil drilling and exploration company in a LCIA arbitration concerning claims for unpaid fees arising out of a drilling project in East Africa.
  • Advised a major design contractor on disputes arising out of a series of power station developments worldwide, including adjudication and subsequent enforcement proceedings.
  • Advised a Chinese construction company on the merits of claims arising out of the design and construction of an oil pipeline in East Africa.
Offshore Construction & Marine Engineering
  • Acted for the contractor in an LMAA arbitration concerning delay, variation and termination claims arising out of the construction of a semi-submersible drilling rig.
  • Acted for a main contractor in an UNCITRAL arbitration arising out of the construction of offshore processing and accommodation platforms in the Middle East.
  • Acted for the employer in two ICC arbitrations concerning defects and variation claims arising out of an offshore wind farm development in the East of England.
  • Acted for the employer in proceedings arising out of an offshore wind farm development in the North West of England. The matter proceeded to the Supreme Court in respect of the ‘fitness for purpose’ obligations.
IT & Technology
  • Acted for a major US contractor in an LCIA arbitration concerning the termination of a contract during the supply of a major government IT system.
  • Acted for a Japanese telecoms company in an ICC arbitration arising out of the construction of a telephone network in the Philippines. Advised on proceedings issued in the local court by the defendant and on a parallel local arbitration commenced by the defendant.
  • Acted for a Baltic telephone company in an ICC arbitration concerning claims arising out of an agreement for the modernisation and development of the existing telephone network.
Professional Negligence
  • Acted for Multiplex in its claims against Mott MacDonald in the High Court arising out of the construction of the Wembley Stadium in London.
  • Acting for the employers in respect of claims against the architect on a high value residential building project.
PFI/PPP
  • Acted for Essex County Council in a High Court dispute concerning the performance of a waste treatment facility in Essex and the council’s right to terminate the contract.
  • Advised the SPV in respect of disputes concerning life cycle maintenance obligations arising out of a PFI project in Scotland.
  • Acted for the concessionaire on a PFI hospital project in the North East in connection with disputes concerning availability payments and entitlements to extensions of time.