“an absolute star, with sharp intellect and an amazing work ethic”
Legal 500
Katie Powell specialises in commercial disputes with a particular emphasis on construction, professional liability and insurance disputes.
She is recognised in the directories as “an absolute star, with sharp intellect and an amazing work ethic” and wins “universal praise”. She has a formidable reputation both on paper and on her feet, being described as an “outstanding construction and construction related junior”, as “unfailingly charming, super bright, incredibly hard-working and highly competitive” and as being “very tough and persuasive, and incredibly good in court”. She is confident in conducting all major forms of dispute resolution on both a led and an unled basis.
Katie has substantial experience in large litigation, arbitrations, adjudications and appeals. She frequently is instructed in place of silks and has appeared unled against silks in both the High Court and Court of Appeal.
As well as being a formidable advocate, her analytical skills are also sought after. She is described as “phenomenally bright” and as having a “really impressive ability to reduce complicated legal points into digestible prose”.
Katie’s outstanding reputation has been confirmed in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 for a number of years. They recently have described her as “pure class: super-clever and down to earth”, as “phenomenally bright” and as being “simply brilliant and passionate about everything she does”.
Katie undertakes a wide variety of work both in a litigation and arbitration context concerning in both pure construction claims and claims against construction professionals. She was junior counsel in the Co-op v Birse litigation, which gave rise to some of the leading decisions on limitation in a construction context.
Examples of the cases she has been involved (both led and unled) in include:
Katie’s professional negligence experience is substantial, having practised for a number of years in a leading professional negligence set. She has acted for and against a wide range of professionals, including architects, engineers, surveyors, solicitors, barristers and accountants, and has been involved in some of the most important recent cases in this area.
Katie is rated as a leading junior in this field in both Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500. Recent comments include: “[a] very smart cookie who will be a QC a few years down the road”; “incredibly dedicated”; “she did a really good job in front of a scary bench. One to watch”, “a very clear advocate who gets to the issues quickly”; and “bright, able, user friendly and definitely performs beyond her year of call”.
She is regularly instructed in relation to claims against lawyers, auditors and accountants, construction professionals, surveyors and valuers, practising both domestically and internationally.
Before joining Atkin Chambers, Katie was for many years a chapter editor of ‘Jackson and Powell on Professional Negligence’.
Examples of her cases (both led and un-led) include:
Katie has a substantial arbitration practice. She acted as junior Counsel in the ground-breaking decision in Secretary of State for the Home Department v Raytheon Systems [2014] EWHC 4375; [2015] EWHC 311, the first time an arbitral award was set aside in its entirety under s.68 of the Arbitration Act 1996 for serious irregularity.
Examples of her recent arbitration work include:
A significant element of Katie’s practice comprises insurance disputes, both for and against insurers. She has particular expertise in Contractors All Risk insurance policies and is the current editor of the section on Insurance in Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts.
Further examples of her insurance experience (both led and unled) include:
Katie is regularly instructed in both domestic and international commercial dispute resolution. Examples of her work include:
2003 B.A. Magdalen College, Oxford
2004 Diploma in Law, City University
Katie is the current editor of the insurance section in Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts.
Katie is a member of COMBAR, LCIA, SCL, TECBAR, CHBA and PNBA.
“She is quick to grasp complex issues, easy to work with and an effective advocate in a case.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2021
“She produced excellent written advice which was incredibly thorough and helpful, and engaged with the facts. She’s very hands-on and approachable, and her advice is very practical while also being detailed.” “An excellent advocate.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2021
“Direct and bold advocacy.” “She very ambitious and able, extraordinarily hard-working and a punchy advocate.”
Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2021
“She has a fantastic understanding of the law and the issues in play. Superb attention to detail and excellent drafting. Very clear and thorough advice, but easy to follow and practical.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2021
“A very sharp barrister and great to work with. Adapts perfectly to challenging circumstances.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
“An outstanding construction and construction-related professional indemnity advocate.” “She is extremely user-friendly, very bright and responsive.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“She is very resilient for her clients and has a very good manner in dealing with both the court and opponents.” “She is unfailingly charming, super bright, incredibly hard-working and highly competitive.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“Hard-working, diligent and excellent in court.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“She is extremely good at writing skeleton arguments and her advocacy is good. She’s done a lot of multiparty cases and is a general all-rounder who never lets you down.”
“She is unfailingly charming, super bright, incredibly hard-working and highly competitive, which makes her a winner.”
Professional Negligence, Technology & Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2020
“Experienced in multiparty disputes”
Construction, The Legal 500 2020
“Hardworking and bright; without doubt a rising star.”
Product Liability, The Legal 500 2020
“She is a strong junior. “
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2020
“One of the smartest people I’ve ever met.” “Has a practice beyond her call.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“She did a really good job in front of a scary bench. One to watch.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“Extremely bright and very good at deploying the material she has to her advantage. She delivers great written work.”
Product Liability, Chambers UK Bar 2019
“Outstanding construction and construction-related professional indemnity advocate.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2019
“Technically very good, and very good with clients.”
Product Liability, The Legal 500 2019
“She is very bright and hugely dedicated.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 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.
