Providence Building Services Ltd v Hexagon Housing Association Ltd
News - Cases
Mark Chennells KC acted for the successful appellant Contractor (Providence) before the Court of Appeal (Coulson, Stuart-Smith and Popplewell LJJ) […]
19th Aug 2024
"Incredibly bright and fiercely hard-working, with an excellent style on his feet. He's one of the best."
Chambers and Partners
Mark Chennells KC was appointed silk in 2021.
He has broad experience of acting in substantial commercially, legally and technically complex disputes. As well as litigation in the TCC and Commercial Court, recent cases include ICC, LCIA, SIAC, LMAA, UNCITRAL, HKIAC and DIAC Arbitrations.
He specialises mainly in construction and engineering, energy (oil and gas, power generation, renewables including offshore wind), professional negligence, and IT and telecommunications disputes all over the world.
Mark is recommended by Chambers and Partners UK Bar as a leading silk in the construction, energy and international arbitration fields. He is also recommended for construction and energy in Chambers Global. The Legal 500 lists Mark as a new silk and listed him as a leading junior in the fields of construction, international arbitration, energy and information technology, and in The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for construction, energy and infrastructure.
Mark was awarded Construction Junior of the Year at the Chambers UK Bar Awards 2015 and was nominated for construction and energy at the 2019 Legal 500 Awards and for international arbitration at the Chambers UK Bar Awards in 2020.
Mark is familiar with the standard forms of contract in use in the industry (including FIDIC, NEC, JCT and ICE) and has experience of issues including delay and disruption to projects, variations and defects in design and construction as well as related commercial issues including issues relating to guarantees and performance bonds. He has been involved in disputes of widely varying size, value and scope, and has appeared before a variety of tribunals including in the Technology and Construction Court. His experience of construction and engineering disputes encompasses a wide range of industry sectors. He has extensive international experience as well as in domestic cases. Examples of his cases include:
He has wide experience acting for contractors on domestic and international disputes arising out of the design and construction of, among other things, power stations, offshore wind farms and waste water treatment plants as well as oil and gas disputes (infrastructure and otherwise). Examples of his work include:
Mark has significant experience of IT project disputes and has acted variously for client, supplier and consultants. Issues of which Mark has direct experience include (but are not limited to) payment and termination provisions in IT contracts, software design and defects, and delay in the provision of software. Recent matters include:
Mark has acted as sole counsel and as junior counsel variously for and against engineers, architects, project managers and other consultants in the IT, construction and engineering sectors. Recent instructions include:
In addition to the specialist areas above, Mark is also instructed on general commercial disputes arising (such as sale of goods and bonds and guarantees), to include:
Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co Ltd v Songa Offshore [2020] EWHC 2353 (TCC)
MPB v LGK [2020] EWHC 90 (TCC); [2020] BLR 222
MTH Højgaard A/S v EON Climate & Renewables [2014] BLR 450; [2015] BLR 431; [2017] UKSC 59; [2017] BLR 477
Wales and West Utilities Ltd v PPS Pipeline Systems GmbH [2014] BLR 163
MTH Højgaard A/S v EON Climate & Renewables [2013] EWHC 697 (TCC); [2014] EWCA Civ [710]; [2015] BLR 55;
Fluor v Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co, Ltd [2016] EWHC 2062 (TCC)
Fluor v Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industry Co, Ltd [2018] EWHC 1 (TCC)
Axis v Multiplex Europe [2019] EWHC 169 (TCC); [2019] Bus LR 986; [2019] BLR 250; 182 Con LR 110
Connect Plus (M25) Ltd v Highways England Co Ltd [2017] BLR 33
BT Cornwall Ltd v Cornwall Council, Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Peninsula Community Health CIC [2015] EWHC 3755 (Comm)
Countryside Properties v MDS Civil [2009] EWHC 3418 (TCC);
Charter UK Ltd v Nationwide Building Society [2009] EWHC 1002 (TCC)
Linklaters Business Services v Sir Robert McAlpine & Ors [2011] BLR 108
Enterprise Managed Services Ltd v Tony McFadden Utilities Ltd [2010] BLR 89
P C Harrington Contractors Limited v Multiplex Constructions (UK) Limited [2008] BLR 16
Pearson Education Ltd v The Charter Partnership Ltd [2006] PNLR 14 (TCC), [2007] EWCA, Civ 130 (CA), [2007] BLR 324
2021 Queen’s Counsel
2001-2002 – BVC, Inns of Court School of Law, London
2001 – Senior Mooter, Gray’s Inn
Lord Justice Holker Award Holder, Gray’s Inn
1998-2001 – MA Law (Upper Second), Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University
Mark is a member of COMBAR, TECBAR and the SCL.
“He has an excellent analytical mind that yields sound advice. Mark is a pleasure to work with and is an exceptionally good advocate in a non-showy delivery.”
Construction Energy & Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2023
“He’s incredibly hard-working, a perfectionist with a real eye for detail.”
“He’s really, really clever, his advocacy is all very good and he punches above his weight.” “Mark Chennells’ cross-examination is very good.”
“He is a highly effective advocate.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
He is absolutely outstanding and an extremely good skeleton argument writer.”
“He is a very astute, thorough, incisive and experienced barrister.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“He’s very knowledgeable about the law, great on the technical detail, and able to present complex issues in simple terms to tribunals.”
He’s extremely skilled at getting to the real meat of the issue, and he has a skill of taking huge amounts of information and narrowing it down to what is relevant.”
International Arbitration, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“Mark is a good, strong advocate with an excellent mind. He’s very clever and identifies difficult and compelling arguments.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“He is very good at getting into the detail of a case whilst keeping an eye on the overall strategy, and his advocacy skills are very good.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2023
“He is very hard working and really gets into the detail which provides dividends when you are in the hearing. He also has a good feeling for strategy and is excellent on his feet.”
International Arbitration: Counsel, The Legal 500 2023
“He is fiercely intelligent and has a knack for seeing alternative approaches to what appears to be difficult problems.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2022
“A responsive and incredibly diligent barrister, he gets into the meticulous detail of a matter very quickly and has a thorough cross-examination style.”
“A commanding presence both on his feet and in conference but also impressive in his grasp of the commercial and practical issues in a dispute.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
“He is very good at really penetrating the detail and getting into the nub of the issue very quickly.” “
He is a very skilled operator and is able to deal with difficult technical issues in the sector.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
“Very user-friendly and good to work with.” “He’s very quick and very good on his feet.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2022
“Mark is able to absorb a considerable amount of information, and also is able to get to the core of the problem and identify the key issues. He is hardworking and focuses on the detail.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2022
“Very quick to get on top of the detail and difficult concepts, user friendly and an excellent advocate.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2022
“Mark is very adept at seeing the commercial issues and cutting through irrelevant material to focus on the issues.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2022
“Great cross-examination skills, provides a calm and thorough approach.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2021
“He is excellent on his feet and on paper. A QC in waiting.” “A real workhorse with a great attention to detail.” “He is a calming influence in stressful situations.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“An outstanding junior.” “He’s like a chainsaw on documents – powers through them and produces great results.” “His writing is very good. He’s very good at cross-examination too.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“He is really excellent – he stands out.” “Absolutely fantastic. He is a very good cross-examiner.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“Very astute, thorough, incisive and experienced junior. His preparation is impeccable and he zeroes in on the key issues.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
“He offers considered analysis and instils confidence into his clients”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2021
“Sharp, yet has a straightforward approach with the ability to make the most complex contractual issue simple to understand.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2021
“He gets to the heart of the issues very quickly and never hesitates to plummet into the details of a case.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2021
“He has a skill set that instructing solicitors dream of and would be at the very top of the list of juniors I would be delighted to recommend – he is an intellectual heavyweight with a masterful presence and yet also very accessible and client-friendly.” “A very astute, thorough, incisive and experienced junior.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“He is tough, clever and very personable.” “He is commercial and has a positive attitude.”
Energy, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“A great lawyer who is extremely modern in his approach.” “A really good cross-examiner.”
International Arbitration, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“Dedicated, with a great eye for detail.”
Construction, Energy & Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2020
“He has a knack for suggesting different approaches which turn issues on their head and in your favour. “
Construction, The Legal 500 2020
“Clever with good instincts and very able to run whole sections of a big case on his own.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2020
“He offers considered analysis and instils confidence into his clients.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2020
“Has a knack of popping up with slightly different answers and approaches which turn issues on their head and in your favour. “
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2020
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.