Panama Canal Award Upheld by US Court of Appeal
News
A US Appeals Court has upheld an ICC Award, worth US$285 million, finding for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). The […]
24th Aug 2023
“He is very bright and exceptionally diligent. He is always the best-prepared person in the room.”
Chambers and Partners
Christopher practises principally in the fields of construction and engineering; energy and utilities; information technology; and related matters.
He is an experienced trial advocate and is usually also involved at earlier stages of a case. His experience includes, therefore: advisory work; settling pleadings, submissions and notices; pre-trial advocacy (including advocacy in mediations); and trial advocacy. That experience spans a range of different forums, including mediation, adjudication, expert determination, arbitration (domestic and international), the High Court (principally the TCC and the Commercial Court) and appellate courts.
He has represented clients from, and advised on disputes relating to, a number of different jurisdictions throughout Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. A number of those disputes have been subject to arbitration, under differing arbitration rules. He has a particular interest in disputes which have a conflict of laws element (whether as to jurisdiction, or choice of law, or otherwise).
Very often his cases will involve complicated issues of law, fact and/or expert evidence; and those issues have arisen in a range of different types of project across a range of different disciplines.
Christopher is recommended in the most recent editions of The Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in the fields of construction, international arbitration and energy & natural resources.
Christopher has extensive experience of the issues arising in construction, engineering and infrastructure projects. He has represented contractors, employers and consultants. Examples of his work include:
In addition to Christopher’s experience in oil and gas projects, he has also been instructed on cases relating to projects involving other natural resources, utilities and the like. By way of example:
He has experience in the professional negligence field in relation to claims brought against construction industry professionals. Case examples include:
Christopher has been instructed by customers and suppliers in relation to claims concerning computer hardware/software and telecommunication systems, including:
2017: Appointed Queen’s Counsel
1998: Called to the Bar (England & Wales)
1997-1998: BVC, ICSL London. 7th Overall (Outstanding)
Queen Mother Fox Scholar and Harmsworth Exhibitioner (Middle Temple)
1992-1996: Law, University College Oxford
Law Moderations (Distinction), Finals (First), BCL (First)
Eldon Scholar
Christopher was a full-time tutor of law at Wadham College, Oxford from 1996 to 1997; and a part-time tutor of law at the London School of Economics from 1997 to 1998.
He spent three months in early 2000 as judicial assistant at the Court of Appeal to the then Master of the Rolls, Lord Woolf.
Christopher is a member of TECBAR, COMBAR, LCLCBA, SCL and the Society for Computers and Law.
Christopher is a former editor of the Building Law Reports.
Christopher speaks conversational Italian.
“Christopher Lewis is a superbly talented lawyer who gets to the nub of any issue, however complex, incredibly quickly.”
“He has a brilliant mind, he’s commercially very astute and he’s very client-friendly.”
“He’s just excellent in a hearing and he shows a real mastery of the detail.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2023
“Christopher offers a consistently high-quality service.”
“Christopher is very bright and very user-friendly.”
Energy & Natural Resources client, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2023
“His recall of facts is uncanny.”
“He’s just excellent in a hearing and shows a real mastery of the detail.” “He’s extremely quick, smart and client and user-friendly.”
International Arbitration: Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2023
“He inspires confidence with the depth of his analysis and strategic thinking.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“He provides practical advice on complex issues, recognising the commercial priorities of the client.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2023
“He inspires confidence with the depth of his analysis and strategic thinking.”
International Arbitration: Counsel, The Legal 500 2023
“He has forensic attention to detail and is a brilliant advocate.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
He is very responsive, as well as very thorough, and finds out all the pertinent facts in order to include limitation assumptions in the opinions he provides.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
He is very precise and very detailed.”
“He terrifies opponents!”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
“Very thorough and efficient, but humble and easy to work with.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2022
“Great attention to detail, highly adept at mastering areas of law outside his usual practice area.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2023
“He combines a sense of fairness and openness in his advocacy with an ability to quickly identify the key points.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2022
“He is a very thorough barrister and good at getting to the issues in complex matters.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“Chris has a huge capacity to absorb detail and, nevertheless, to identify with precision the key issues.” “Super-bright, good commercially, very insightful.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“A great intellect. He is down to earth, clients love him and he’s so hard-working.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“Immaculate on his feet, extremely well thought of.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
“Super bright and very good at complex cases.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2021
“A brilliant new silk for construction cases, he has a superb intellect.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2021
“Well known for his diligence and thoroughness.” “Exceptionally good.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar and Global 2020
“He is extremely thorough, attentive to detail and technically minded.” “He is very sharp and clever, but also pleasant and user-friendly.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar and Global 2020
“He is extremely good. He is great with clients, very bright and hard-working.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“A superstar in the making.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2020
“Absolutely brilliant, a razor-sharp intellect highly sought after at the construction Bar.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2020
“He takes on a phenomenal amount of information and really gets under the skin of a case to understand the complex technical points.” “Has authority without being arrogant.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019
“Has an impressive ability to review, absorb and understand a vast amount of technical information and use this to produce concise pleadings. His oral presentation at a hearing is also well ordered and, as a result, easy to follow.” “He has a really good understanding of the technical aspects of a case and is powerful in his submissions.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019
“He is brilliant at what he does. He has a very strong eye for detail.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019
The above are a selection of recent client endorsements from the leading legal directories, both UK and internationally. For a complete list of endorsements, please contact the practice management team at Atkin Chambers.