Professional Experience
Professional Experience
When in full time practice as Counsel, my practice covered a broad spectrum of advisory and advocacy work related to construction, engineering, energy, technology, mining, process plant and insurance disputes, along with professional negligence claims involving architects, engineers and surveyors. I also advised on alternative dispute resolution and arbitrations in the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Korea (as advocate or arbitrator). I have particular experience in claims relating to off-shore oil and gas assets, railway infrastructure, power station construction, environmental and regulatory work and shipbuilding contracts.
In 2015/2016 I appeared at a well-publicised public inquiry in Hong Kong concerning the investigation of levels of lead in potable water at Housing Authority developments. From 20018 to 2020, I was Counsel to the Commission in another construction related public inquiry in Hong Kong. My clients included the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, the Hong Kong Housing Authority, MTRC, tertiary educational establishments, numerous listed and privately owned companies both in Hong Kong and elsewhere (developers, joint ventures, main contractors, sub-contractors and plant hirers), various Incorporated Owners and insurance companies.
Between 1984 and 1989 I practised as a barrister in Hong Kong (from what is now Des Voeux Chambers). From 1990 to 2010 I was in full time practice in London at Keating Chambers, the well-known specialist construction set. I was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2003. In June 2010 I re-joined Des Voeux Chambers on a full-time basis and became an International Tenant at Keating Chambers. I was appointed Senior Counsel in Hong Kong in 2014. I was made a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 2018. On 31 December 2025, I retired from practice as Counsel both in England & Wales and Hong Kong, ceased to be an international tenant at Keating Chambers and joined the List of Neutrals at Des Voeux Chambers. I continue to accept arbitral and other alternative dispute resolution appointments.
- Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR)
- Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
- Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, Panel of Arbitrators
- Singapore International Arbitration Centre, List of Arbitrators
- Society of Construction Law (UK and Hong Kong)
Recent Arbitration Appointments
- Appointed Sole Arbitrator in an international arbitration relating to the construction of a water treatment plant in the Middle East.
- Appointed Sole Arbitrator in a professional negligence dispute relating to a large scale residential development in Hong Kong.
- Appointed by HKIAC as Sole Arbitrator in Main Contractor/Sub-Contractor dispute in Hong Kong.
- Party appointed arbitrator in SIAC administered international arbitration concerning a development in Mongolia.
- Appointed by HKIAC as Sole Arbitrator (after listing procedure) in a dispute concerning desalination units in the Middle East.
- Party appointed arbitrator in LMAA international arbitration concerning a Semi-Submersible Drilling Unit.
- Ad hoc appointment as Sole Arbitrator in an Employer/Main Contractor dispute.
- Appointed as President of ICC Tribunal in an arbitration concerning a project in Korea.
- Appointed by HKIAC as Sole Arbitrator in a Sub-Contractor/Main Contractor dispute.
- Appointed by HKIAC as Sole Arbitrator in two related arbitrations between a Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor concerning a Macau development.
- Appointed by SIAC as Chairman of a Tribunal in a dispute between a Main Contractor and a Government.
- Appointed by the ICC as Sole Arbitrator in an international arbitration concerning a mixed development in Singapore.
- Party appointed arbitrator in an international arbitration governed by UNCITRAL Rules 2013 concerning a power plant project in Pakistan.
- Appointed (by agreement of the parties) as Sole Arbitrator in a Sub-Contractor/Main Contractor dispute concerning an MTRCL project in Hong Kong.
- Appointed by HKIAC as Sole Arbitrator (pursuant to the List System) in disputes between an Incorporated Owner and a Contractor.
- Party appointed arbitrator in an international arbitration governed by the SIAC Rules in a dispute between a Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor concerning a substantial Singapore development.
- Appointed (by agreement of the parties) as Sole Arbitrator in a Sub-Contractor/Main Contractor dispute concerning a hotel and retail development in Macau.
- Party appointed arbitrator in an international arbitration governed by the SIAC Rules in a dispute between a Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor concerning a Coal Fired Power Plant in Cambodia.
- Appointed by AIAC (Kuala Lumpur) as Presiding Arbitrator in a domestic arbitration governed by the AIAC Rules 2021 in a dispute between Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor concerning a mixed-use development in Malaysia.
- Party appointed arbitrator in an international arbitration governed by the SIAC Rules in a dispute between a Sub-Contractor and Main Contractor concerning an energy project in Thailand.
- Party appointed arbitrator in an international arbitration governed by the LCIA Rules in a dispute between a Main Contractor and a Government concerning a power station project.
- Consultant Editor (with Sarah Hannaford KC) of Halsbury’s Fuel and Energy Volumes 19 (1) to (3) October 2007 and Consultant Editor (with Gideon Scott Holland) for the Energy and Climate Change titles (published in 2011)
- Consultant Editor of Halsbury’s Cross-Country Pipelines Volume 39(1A)(February 2008)
- Contributor, Keating on Construction Contracts – Eighth Edition (2006) and first supplement (2008)
- Editorial team, Keating on Building Contracts (5th, 6th and 7th editions) and First Supplement to the 7th Edition (2003)
- Joint Editor Halsbury’s Laws of England, Volume 4(3) Building Contracts (2002) and Consultant Editor of Building and Building Contracts, Volume 6 (2011)
- Joint Author (with Calvin Cheuk) of ‘Commissions of Inquiry in Hong Kong’ (published in November 2021).
