Call Date: 1992

Silk: 2008

Practice

Chantal has a broad commercial practice and regularly appears in domestic and international arbitration, domestic courts, mediation and adjudication.

She specialises in construction and engineering, energy, information technology, professional negligence and transport disputes representing a wide range of clients including governments and public bodies, contractors, private employers, manufacturers and professional advisors.

She is recommended by the most recent legal directories: in the Legal 500 (2007) as a leading junior in the construction field and in Chambers & Partners (2008) as a leading junior in the fields of construction and international arbitration.

Construction and engineering

Chantal has represented employers, contractors and their professional advisers in many cases concerning numerous types of building and civil engineering projects. Examples of her recent cases include acting for:

Robert McAlpine in Court proceedings relating to claims in excess of £25 million arising out of Lloyd's Register of Shipping headquarters re delay, disruption, variation and defects claims;

International contractor in 3 substantial arbitrations against developer in relation to a large construction project in Hong Kong;

The British Museum in UK Court proceedings arising out the supply of stone for the Great Court project involving allegations of fraud;

Clugston in Court proceedings relating to design, manufacture, installation and commissioning of cranes for an aircraft surface treatment facility and the building;

M&S in Court proceedings re to design and construction of a large shopping centre car park;

the main contractor in an arbitration against sub-contractor re the design and installation of structural steelworks at a leisure centre project;

The FA / Wembley in relation to a series of adjudication arising out of the various disputes in relation to Wembley National Stadium;

a contractor defending Court proceedings brought by employer relating to delay from water ingress through piling works and pursuing claims against the sub-contractors and engineers;

developers in relation to dispute with vendors relating to the development of a chemical productions site into large residential development;

Mowlem in relation to proceedings against the local authority in relation to design and delay issues arising out of the Bath Spa project involving injunction proceedings.

Energy

She has wide experience acting for a wide range of clients in disputes arising out of the design and construction of power stations and off shore installations. Examples include acting for:

A German manufacturer of drilling equipment, in Commercial Court proceedings brought by Saipem for damages in excess of $100 million relating to an incident aboard an ultra deep water drill ship drilling offshore Equatorial Guinea;

the liquidator of an international engineering contractor in an ICC arbitration for claims in excess of € 100 million relating to the rehabilitation and upgrade of a power and desalination project in the Middle East;

an international energy contractor in a dispute relating to the design, construction and commissioning of a boiler in a power station in China;

a joint venture in a dispute concerning onshore and offshore contracts for supply of services, equipment and materials for the construction of a coal fired thermal power plant in Indonesia;

Thyssen in UK Court proceedings defending claims brought by RWE under a parent company guarantee concerning claims relation to the construction of a fluegas desulphurisation plant;

a specialist engineering equipment manufacturer in a dispute arising out of the supply of the equipment to a UK nuclear power station;

engineers in appeal proceedings in a dispute with an off-shore contractor re a contract for design of boiler foundations and supervision of works for a power station in the Philippines.

Professional Negligence

She has experience of dealing with a large number of negligence claims involving a wide range of professionals including engineers, architects, surveyors, project managers, solicitors and accountants. Examples of her recent cases include acing for:

Halcrow in proceedings brought by a public body arising out of construction of a highly sophisticated firemen training facility incl. 3rd party claims vs. engineers and QS;

employer in Court proceedings against WS Atkins in relation to design of a refrigeration facility for a chilled food factory;

the estate of deceased solicitor in proceedings re services provided by a firm of accountants, involving allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty against accountants and directors;

Kruger Tissue re dispute claiming professional negligence against engineers and project managers re design of paper tissue producing machine, deinking facility and effluent plant;

a project manager in Court proceedings concerning the design/ provision of mechanical handling equipment/computerised management system at a distribution facility;

an multi-national project management company and one of its directors in High Court proceedings arising out an infrastructure project. Central allegations concerned the role of the project managers and issues of independence.

IT and Telecommunications

Chantal has been instructed by suppliers and contractors in relation to claims concerning computer hardware/software and telecommunication systems. This includes acting for:

the provider of internet services and network access in High Court proceedings;

a computer hardware company purchaser seeking injunctive relief;

the contractor in High Court proceedings relating to the supply and installation of a fibre optic cable route;

suppliers in a dispute concerning services provided by accountants and auditors, involving allegations of fraud and breach of financial duties.

Transport

She has represented, among others, governments and contractors on disputes arising from road, rail and port building projects and infrastructures. Her cases include acting for:

London Underground in High Court proceedings against Tubelines, a supplier of infrastructure services;

a major UK contractor in number of substantial rail infrastructure disputes concerning issues of track maintenance and remedial works;

a port owner in Commercial Court proceedings in a dispute in respect of a contract for the construction of a berth and an accident involving a vessel;

a Middle Eastern government in arbitration proceedings brought by a contractor arising out of the construction of highway;

a contractor in an arbitration concerning the fabrication of a pontoon and linkspan bridge, forming party of a ferry terminal.

General Commercial

In addition to the specialised areas above, Chantal is also frequently instructed on general commercial disputes arising (such as sale of goods and service agreements), to include acting for:

the liquidator in Chancery Division proceedings against a director involving allegations of misfeasance, breach of fiduciary duty and negligence;

an overseas client in High Court proceedings and ICC arbitration involving allegations of defects in electronic and computerised inspection equipment at a production plant for the glass industry;

the German supplier of industrial conveyors for a car factory involving issues of design, installation and commissioning as well the appropriate jurisdiction and law;

the American manufacturer of roofing material in High Court proceedings concerning quality of the product;

a UK Port in a dispute arising out the supply/installation of a number of pumping systems forming part of a jet fuel berthing facility;

Recently Reported Cases

Captiva Estates Ltd v Rybarn Ltd [2006] BLR 66

Indescon v Sir Robert Ogden [2005] BLR 152

London Fire & Emergency Planning Authority v Halcrow Gilbert Associates [2005] BLR 18

Wimbledon Construction Company v Mr Vago [2005] BLR 374

Conor Engineering v Les Constructions Industrielles de la Mediterrannee [2004] BLR 212

Bath & North Eastern Somerset District Council v Mowlem plc [2004] BLR 153

Bovis Lend Lease v Triangle [2003] BLR 31

Co-Operative Insurance Society v Henry Boot Scotland and Others [2002] CILL 1932

Recommendations

"Possesed of a "calm and precise manner" she enters the courtroom "scarily well prepared" and "provides clients with commercial advice" Chambers and Partners 2008 Construction

"is lauded for "doing her homework, putting across a decent argument and knowing exactly how to charm a tribunal" Chambers and Partners 2008 International Arbitration

"Never leaves any stone unturned" Legal 500 2006 /07 edition, Construction

"Sources find Chantal's lack of obsequiousness extremely refreshing". "Not scared of telling it the way it is". She is "truly excellent" when tackling disputes with an IT or equipment failure aspect to them" Chambers and Partners 2006 Construction

"She is "very clever, good on paper and on her feet" and "always delivers on time"". Legal 500 2006/07 edition, Construction

" (She) is deceptively tough" Legal 500, 2005/6 edition, Construction

"The "tenacious" Chantal "never leaves any stone unturned". She is "very clever, good on paper and on her feet" and "always delivers on time". Legal 500 2006

"Solicitors like the team working ethos of Chantal: "Her style is collegiate and approachable and she is quite happy to muck in with us". In court she is "a brilliant advocate and tactically astute". Chambers and Partners 2005 Construction