Legal 500 EMEA 2023 highlights Atkin Chambers’ strength in depth in the region
Awards
Atkin Chambers has been recognised as a Tier 1 set for construction by the new The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 (UK […]
12th Apr 2023
"Absolutely outstanding. He is strategically first class in terms of the advice that he gives and his advocacy is absolutely amazing."
Chambers and Partners
David Streatfeild-James KC acts as an advocate, adviser and arbitrator in high-value commercial cases comprising legally, factually, and technically complex issues. During 30 years of practice he has gained an outstanding professional reputation.
In acting for a wide range of clients relating to infrastructure projects worldwide, David’s scope of experience encompasses the fields of construction and engineering, energy, information technology and professional negligence.
Experience includes disputes under most standard construction contracts and forms, on and offshore fabrications, power and renewable energy projects, water treatment and waste plants, soft and hardware computer systems, and control and communication systems.
David also has expertise with financing and service agreements, and PFI / PPP contracts.
David has been recognised in Chambers & Partners (UK, Asia-Pacific and Global) and The Legal 500 as one of the leading silks at the commercial bar. He was named Construction and Energy Silk of the Year in The Legal 500 UK Awards 2020, and Chambers & Partners named David as one of its “Stars at the Bar” for the 11th year in a row in its 2022 UK Bar Guide.
David is regularly instructed to provide advice relating to the conduct of major energy-related projects including on and offshore fabrications, FPSOs, jack-up rigs, platforms, pipelines, power and renewables including wind, nuclear and carbon capture schemes, and water treatment and waste plants.
Recent examples include:
Many of the matters David advises and acts upon are governed by the rules of arbitration, administered by bodies including LCIA, ICC, SIAC and ad hoc rules.
David has extensive experience of acting for employers, contractors, sub-contractors and consultants both domestically and internationally, and has acted in connection with projects all over the world. His experience includes disputes on most standard forms, in relation to a wide range of projects, including hospitals, shopping arcades, large scale residential and mixed-use developments, roads, tunnels, bridges, railways, docks, jetties and other infrastructure. More recent examples include:
David has significant experience of disputes concerning technology of a number of kinds and has acted in relation to computer hardware/software disputes as well as in connection with different sorts of communication systems, control systems and building management systems. Experience includes the following:
Whilst the majority of David’s practice encompasses counsel appointments, he also accepts arbitral appointments (party nominated and chair) and has recently been appointed under LCIA, ICC and ad hoc rules. The subject matters covered include construction and engineering, IT, shipbuilding, energy, professional negligence and more general commercial disputes.
Subject to confidentiality sensitivities, further information and specific case examples can be provided upon request.
David is an accredited TECBAR arbitrator and DRB member.
“David completely masters the case he is engaged on. He drills into the finest of detail of the facts and technical analysis and then produces the most robust legal submission. He brings that mastery of the detail to his oral advocacy where he demands the attention of the tribunal and extracts effortlessly what is needed from the opponent’s witnesses and experts.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023
“His brain is just phenomenal and he’s a very down-to-earth guy who is easy to deal with.”
“He’s a first-rate KC who is quick to grasp the issue and very accessible and pleasant to deal with.”
“He’s extremely bright, so where there are tricky issues of law he would be our go-to for advice and representation.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“A top of the tree advocate.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2023
David remains a powerhouse among his peers and a true heavyweight that we would go to for significant disputes.”
“Clients like his approach to looking at things. He cuts through external noise and gets to the important things.”
“He’s scarily brilliant.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David is calm, reassuring and insightful. He invariably has the full confidence of the client.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2023
David remains a powerhouse among his peers and a true heavyweight that we would go to for significant disputes.”
“Clients like his approach to looking at things. He cuts through external noise and gets to the important things.”
“He’s scarily brilliant.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
David was calm, reassuring and insightful.”
“He has an excellent manner with clients.”
Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David Streatfeild-James is absolutely brilliant. I see him as one of the top names in Asia, where he has definitely been out a lot.”
“David Streatfeild-James KC was very creative in finding a solution to some complex legal issues.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia Pacific 2023
“David’s advocacy is excellent; he knows how to persuade tribunals and is very effective. Phenomenal grasp of the detail and outstanding on his feet. He is a good leader who is not averse to rolling his sleeves up.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
Smart and focused, he is the most able of the construction Bar, he knows how to persuade tribunals.’
Energy, The Legal 500 2023
“David is calm, reassuring and insightful. He invariably has the full confidence of the client.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David well deserves his reputation. He has a profound ability to take a substantial, complex construction case, and bring a unique, often case-winning approach to how the case should be presented and argued. He is a brilliant advocate, and a master of cross examination.”
Middle East: Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“His advocacy is excellent and his strengths are well-known.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
“He is the brain of the Bar! He has the most brilliant legal mind I have come across in the construction field.”
“He has a really brilliant mind for getting into and interpreting contracts.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2022
“He is highly intelligent and very good at getting to the nub of an issue and explaining complex points in a way that the tribunal will understand.”
“He is a very good cross-examiner.”
“He is very practical and gives clear and concise advice.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2022
“A very good, very well-respected barrister who would be a go-to on any matter requiring a big-picture view of a case.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2022
“He’s a very good performer in court, he delivers very good submissions and he works really hard.”
“He has an immense ability to get on top of the detail very quickly, and he’s prepared to think about strategies that are different.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2022
“David is extraordinarily clever and commercially astute.”
“He is one of the leading practitioners in this field.”
“He is a well-known advocate.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2022 and Chambers Global 2022
“Without question one of the very top London-based silks specializing in the energy, construction and infrastructure sectors, he is unrivalled in his ability to find a way through the most difficult cases.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2022
“David is a highly experienced construction and international arbitration specialist. He understands the construction industry well, and he is able to listen carefully to the client’s needs and then get to the heart of the matter.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2022
“His drafting is concise and packs a punch, and his advocacy is careful, measured and reflective of his deep understanding of the issues.”
Middle East, Construction, The Legal 500 2022
“Without question, one of the very top London-based silks specializing in the energy/construction/infrastructure sectors, and a first choice for any bet the company dispute in those areas.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2022
“He has an impressive capacity to master the issues of law and complex pertinent facts.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2021
“One of the brightest barristers in the construction field.” “He is an all-round excellent advocate, and is extremely good at arguing contract interpretation and cross-examination.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“A brilliant tactician and advocate who is incredibly hard-working and a real leader in this field.” “Very bright and very hands-on.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“David has the ability to cut through with a minimal level of verbiage. He can really hit the nail on the head and get to the heart of the matter.” “His style is understated and incredibly measured. He commands the attention of both the tribunal and the other party.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“If you have a difficult case which requires real brain power, then David is one of the top barristers in the country.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“Extremely bright.”
“A fabulous cross-examiner and great strategic brain, with an immense capacity for detail.”
Information Technology, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“One of those barristers we go to for the more difficult cases,” “particularly skilled at complex, project- related disputes” because “the attention to detail they require is well suited to his temperament and skills.” “I don’t think I have ever worked with a KC who is as consistently good as him, and certainly none who is better.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2021
“He is a very good advocate with great skills in cross-examination.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2021
“He is effortlessly brilliant.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2021
“A true specialist, his advocacy reflects his style of analysis: precise, efficient, incredibly structured and effective.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2021
“David is one of the finest advocates in the construction Bar. He is perhaps unmatched on a good day.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
“An extraordinary ability to reduce the complex (factual and legal) issues to a simple expression of the main point, I am yet to find a factual matrix that he couldn’t master – as an instructing solicitor, he is very accessible and a delight to work with.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2021
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.