Legal 500 EMEA 2022 highlights Atkin Chambers’ leading status for construction disputes
Awards
Atkin Chambers has been recognised as a Tier 1 set for construction by the new The Legal 500 EMEA 2022 […]
14th Apr 2022
"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 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.
“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 QC 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
“He is truly magnificent and should be at the top of every shortlist when shopping for a silk, no matter the size or value of the dispute. He is astronomically intelligent, with an ability to grasp both the breadth and the detail of a dispute in short order. He’s an advocate of the very highest calibre.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2020 (Star Individual) and Chambers Global 2020
“He is absolutely excellent, and in terms of his experience and legal analysis he is fantastic.” “He is excellent – a very good advocate.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2020 and Chambers Global 2020
“He combines nuggets of expert evidence and his excellent analysis to produce a spectacular piece of work.”
“He is good to work with and is quite tough in court.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“A fabulous advocate who has the rare ability to speak to a tribunal or a judge as an equal.” “A good eye for detail and a very appealing advocate.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“He is a very polished performer and a fantastic advocate.” “He has a very nice manner with the tribunal.”
International Arbitration, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“Instructing solicitors, who value him for the “incredible thoroughness” of his preparation and “an exceptional capacity to get on top of new concepts and to command the detail of his brief,” also appreciate a deceptively casual cross-examination style, which “can take a witness to a particular point before they’ve realised it,” and arguments which “carry a lot of weight”. “Exceptionally user-friendly, receptive to your point of view and very collaborative.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020 and Chambers Global 2020
“He very quickly sees and understands the bigger picture, both from a legal and commercial point of view.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2020
“An absolute star – he gets to the bottom of every case and has an incredible capacity to distil complex legal issues.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2020
“He is a very good advocate with great skills in cross-examination.”
IT & Telecoms, The Legal 500 2020
“He is a fantastically good advocate and he really delivers.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2020
“He deserves his reputation as one of the best.”
Construction, The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) 2020
“His style of advocacy is calm, measured and highly credible.”
Construction, Energy & Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2020
“Very measured and persuasive and he gets to know a case inside out, so is able to field the most difficult questions.”
“He has tremendous heritage in construction litigation.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2019 (Star Individual)
“A fabulous cross-examiner with a great strategic brain and an immense capacity for handling the detail in a case.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“Gets through immense quantities of material quickly and efficiently, and engages well with judges in tribunals and arbitrations.” “He’s really on top of the details; if there’s a stone that needs turning, he’s the man to do it.”
Energy, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“Very measured and persuasive, and he gets to know a case inside out, so is able to field the most difficult questions.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“He has an incredible legal mind and is excellent at cross-examination.”
“Very clever.”
International Arbitration, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“Very talented.”
“Charming to deal with.”
“A source of “very good, to-the-point and constructive” advice.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019
“One of the heavy guns to call when there is a complex, high-value construction dispute.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2019
“A fantastic trial lawyer with a frightening ability to retain and order information.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2019
“He is a very intelligent, strategic lawyer, able to deal with highly-complex matters very quickly.”
IT and telecoms, The Legal 500 2019
“Produces compelling arguments always put with extraordinary persuasion and perfection.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2019
“He can deal with highly complex matters very quickly, and is a bright, intelligent and strategic lawyer.”
Construction, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2019
“He has a very easy manner and can also quickly understand a client’s needs – a helpful blend of skills for a QC.”
Energy, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2019
“He’s absolutely superb: extremely sensible, calm, experienced and user-friendly. If it’s a big and difficult case then he’s on point.” “Cuts straight to the chase and gives unbelievably good commercial advice. He’s intellectual and academic but when the need arises for brutal commercial advice he will do that too.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2018 (Star Individual) and Chambers Global 2018
“One of the best around, he’s at the top of his game.” “Immensely clever and modest with it.”
Energy, Chambers UK Bar 2018 and Chambers Global 2018
“At the top of his game at the moment. Quite extraordinarily good at advocacy, and has an ability to cut through issues and problems with his particular view.” “His advocacy and insight can be breathtaking to witness at times.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2018
“At the top his game.” “Extremely sensible, calm and experienced with a user-friendly manner.”
International Arbitration, Chambers UK Bar 2018
“A fantastic advocate in front of a tribunal. He is assured and the tribunals trust him. There are few people in the world that work harder than him.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2018
“Very cerebral.” “The thinking man’s counsel.” “Counsel of choice.” “A pre-eminent silk to lay down the law.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018
“He provides very thoughtful, technical and robust written advice, which proves critical in the pre-dispute stage.”
Construction, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2018
“A popular choice for Korean construction companies.”
Energy, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2018
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.