Summary

David Streatfeild-James' practice extends across a wide range of building, engineering and technology disputes. He has particular experience in litigating or arbitrating cases which are complex, whether legally, factually or technically.

Experience

Examples of areas of work in which he has particular experience are as follows:

1. Building and construction:

Issues relating to all standard forms of contract and the various procurement processes; disputes over quality of work and the causes of and liability for delays; disputes over measurement and valuation of works. Recent cases have included the following:

• Acting for the claimant in an arbitration over the construction of a new component engineering facility for an airline
• Acting for a defendant window supplier in TCC proceedings
• Acting for a claimant contractor in TCC dispute over valuation, cost and delay in the construction of a large shopping center.
• Acting for the claimant in claims over water ingress to a landmark London building

2. Engineering:

Issues relating to many forms of engineering - disputes over civils works, ground condition claims, tunneling and bridge construction, mechanical and electrical disputes, air conditioning and building services and control systems. Recently this has involved the following:

• Representing the respondent in the Court of Appeal on an appeal from an arbitration concerning the proper construction of the measurement rules of the ICE 5th edition
• Advising the defendant in claims in connection with subsea tunneling in Cardiff Bay
• Representing the claimant in TCC proceedings over the costs of piling into chalk
• Acting for and against contractors in connection with M&E disputes of various types
• Acting for the respondent in an arbitration about the design of an air-conditioning system
• Advising the claimant in connection with claims arising from the construction of a cut and cover tunnel

3. Professional negligence:

Claims relating to the negligence of professionals in numerous areas:

• Acting for the claimant in connection with claims against M&E engineers for a central London office redevelopment
• Acting for the claimant against surveyors in connection with the failure to identify the nature and scope of asbestos
• Representing a defendant project manager against claims in relation to the design of a glass roof at a London station
• Acting for respondent designers of a bridge in Bangladesh in an international arbitration

4. Petrochemical and Power:

Considerable experience in the design and construction of power projects, and disputes relating to the construction of FPSOs includes the following:

• Acting for a main contractor in an ICC arbitration over plume abatement at a cogeneration plant
• Advising in connection with a financing agreement for a new cogeneration plant
• Acting for various parties in connection with numerous disputes relating to CHP plants
• Acting for owners in various disputes over the design and construction of an FPSOs
• Acting for boiler suppliers in several separate disputes concerning combined cycle power stations
• Representing the main contractor in an arbitration with a specialist controls subcontractor over the design and installation of a DCS
• Representing various defendants in disputes over waste to power plants

5. Process Plant:

Extensive experience of process plant and other similar disputes includes the following:

• Acting for defendant contractor in claim concerning sewage treatment in SBR plant
• Acting for the owner in defending claims relating to the design and construction of new water treatment works
• Representing the respondent in an arbitration about a contract for the de-bottlenecking of a steel mill
• Acting for the claimant contractor in a dispute over the design and construction of works for the de-bottlenecking of a chemical plant

6.Computers, Telecommunications and Technology:

• Representing the respondent in an ICC arbitration concerning over 100 new trains for the London Underground
• Acting for the provider of an internet telephony company in its dispute with an ISP
• Acting for a software house in connection with claims made against it by a major television company
• Representing an internet company in an arbitration over software for the provision of on-line financial services

In addition to these specific areas, David Streatfeild-James is regularly instructed in relation to related commercial disputes - financing arrangements, bonds and guarantees, sale of goods, service agreements and similar. He also has a wide experience of mediation and other forms of ADR (both in an advisory and a representative capacity), and has been appointed as arbitrator.