“A superb advocate and a great team player.”Legal 500
Nicholas Dennys QC
Nicholas Dennys QC is internationally recognised as one of the foremost practitioners of his generation in the resolution of disputes involving all aspects of construction law. He has for many years acted as advocate and advisor to parties in the UK and overseas involved in many types of major infrastructure projects.
His recently reported cases include Trebor Bassett Holdings Ltd v ADT plc [2012] BLR 441 (CA), Sabic UK Petrochemicals Ltd v Punj Lloyd Ltd [2014] BLR 43 (TCC) and Obrascon Huarte Lain v H.M. A-G for Gibraltar [2014] BLR 484 (TCC and CA)
Nicholas has also been appointed as arbitrator in numerous institutional and ad hoc arbitrations in many common law and civil jurisdictions involving disputes of diverse subject matter, involving the application of both English and foreign law. In the UK, Nicholas has adjudicated a number of major disputes and frequently acted as expert determinator.
He was awarded Construction Silk of the Year 2012 at the Chambers Bar Awards and is one of the general editors of the 12th edition of Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts.
CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
Recent projects include disputes over road construction in the UK and Europe, railways, trams, trains and a guided bus system in the UK, major airport developments, bridges in East Asia and telecommunications and the construction of a city commercial centre in the Middle East.
“Nicholas Dennys QC will see you through thick and thin” Legal 500 2014
PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE
For many years Nicholas has presented and defended cases brought by and against architects and engineers. He was advocate in a number of important cases decided on appeal – Jarvis v Castle Wharf (2000), E Turner & sons v Watkins (2001), Baxall v Sheard Walshaw (2001), Pearson v Charter Partnership
(2007). He has recently been involved in cases concerning the project management of the construction of a graduate college, soils failure affecting a supermarket, air conditioning defects in a large office development and the destruction of a popcorn factory.
“An excellent tactician who is outstandingly good in trial” Chambers and Partners 2014
MINING, OIL AND GAS
Recent experience of mining disputes includes advising on issues relating to coal denationalization and an explosion at the largest copper mine in Africa and a major project in Australasia. Nicholas has for many years acted in disputes over drilling rigs, most recently in the Gulf of Mexico, FPSO’s, semi submersibles, pipelaying vessels and process plant manufacturing products from oil derivatives and oil industry software.
“A superb advocate and a great team player.” Legal 500 2014
SHIPBUILDING
Nicholas led the team that brought the longest running shipbuilding arbitration to a successful conclusion for a Dutch shipowner. He has also acted in various disputes involving RoRo ferries and other vessels.
IT AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
He has extensive experience of acting for software houses in major projects involving the NHS, Courts System, the Stock Exchange, a FTSE100 Company’s integrated billing system, the London Underground and Hong Kong Metro. He has experience of mobile telephone, Broadband and satellite systems for a variety of clients including Tmobile, UBS, and the BBC. He was nominated as IT Silk of the Year at the Bar Awards in 2008 and 2009.
“He’s very good at getting the confidence of clients and he gives good commercial advice.” Chambers and Partners 2015
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Nicholas has become increasingly involved as arbitrator acting both as chair and party appointed member of institutional arbitrations and as single arbitrator in ad hoc arbitrations in many jurisdictions, involving both English and foreign law as the proper law and curial law. In the UK, he has acted as adjudicator in a number of high value disputes. Other appointments include chairing a DAB overseeing a major project in the Middle East.
“He is brilliant” Chambers and Partners 2015
ARBITRAL AND ADR APPOINTMENTS
Nicholas accepts arbitral and other ADR appointments.
He has recently been appointed as arbitrator in the Far East, the Middle East, Geneva and London in ICC, LCIA, HKIAC and ad hoc arbitrations both as chair, sole and party-nominated arbitrator in numerous arbitrations involving major projects involving IT systems, telecommunications transportation, airports, bridges, power generation plants (including wind farms) and other construction activities.
He also acts as an adjudicator, expert determinator, and DAB chair