“An excellent technical lawyer and an outstanding advocate”
Legal 500
Patrick’s specialist practice principally concerns fighting claims that involve complex technical or factual subject matter, in particular concerning construction, engineering of all kinds and IT or computing and communications disputes. He is regarded as one of the top trial lawyers in his field, recommended by the legal directories as a leading junior in construction and IT disputes, noted to be an outstanding advocate and expert cross-examiner.
He has broad experience of all methods of dispute resolution with expertise in the High Court in England as well as international arbitration, mediation and adjudication. The last few years have been marked by acting on, and appearing in, a series of large high-value arbitrations involving computer-related, oil and gas and infrastructure projects. Patrick’s international practice has recently been focused on the Gulf and Central Asia and he has acted in arbitrations in the Far East and the Americas.
Praised as being down to earth and a good communicator, Patrick’s client base is drawn from all sectors including contractors, specialist consultants, private individuals, national and local government departments, and commercial employers. The subject matter of his work ranges from private dwellings and local authority highways disputes to stadiums, drilling rigs and specialist shipbuilding and from disputes concerned with moving a single website based business to a different provider to disputes concerned with nationwide roll-out of hardware and software for a national government department.
Patrick is recommended as a Tier 1 junior for construction in The Legal 500, clients note him as being “an excellent technical lawyer and an outstanding advocate”. Chambers and Partners has noted that “his command of technical detail and his cross-examination of expert witnesses is really something. He is also recommended in the major directories for energy, professional negligence and IT and Telecoms.
Throughout his career Patrick has dealt with the full range of issues arising in the field including experience in matters relating to a number of standard industry contract forms including the JCT, ICE, NEC, GC/Works, IMech and IChem forms as well as disputes arising out of bespoke contracts. He has appeared in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) and arbitrations concerning final account, loss and expense, liquidated damages and defects claims. Examples of concluded and ongoing cases include:
His experience ranges from acting for a wide range of contractors on issues arising from the design and construction of power stations all over the world to various domestic litigation for local government and electricity authorities concerning allegations of late, defective and disruptive supply of services. Examples of his recent work include:
Patrick has broad experience dealing with fee and professional negligence claims for and against a wide range of professional including architects, surveyors, quantity surveyors and their indemnity insurers. Recent cases, on all of which he was instructed as sole counsel, include:
He has been instructed on a wide variety of matters including on litigation concerning both bespoke and ‘off the shelf’ software and fee claims and defects claims including ‘millennium’, internet and industrial processing software. Recent cases include:
Colas Ltd & Ors v Transport for London [2018] EWHC 831 (TCC)
Baldwin & Anor v Pickstock Ltd [2017] EWHC 2456 (TCC)
Erith Holdings Ltd (and Others) v Murphy (2017) 172 Con LR51
Trident Maintain Ltd v Falcon Investment Ltd (2016) LTL 23/6/2016
Hillcrest Homes Ltd v Beresford & Curbishley Ltd (2014) 13 Con LR 179 (TCC)
Rok Building Limited v Celtic Composting Systems Limited (No 2) [2010] EWHC 66 (TCC)
Rok Building Limited v Celtic Composting Systems Limited [2009] EWHC 2664 (TCC)
Port of Tilbury (London) Limited v Stora Enso Transport & Distribution AB (CA) LTL 23/1/2009 and (TCC) (7/5/2008)
Smith v Hart [2009] EWHC 2223 (TCC)
Haden Young v Laing O’Rourke Midlands Limited LTL 8/5/2008
Oxford Architects Partnership v Cheltenham Ladies College [2007] BLR 293
Associated British Ports v Hydro Soil Services NV and Others [2006] LTL 30/6/2006
Yorkshire Water Services Ltd v Taylor Woodrow Northern Ltd and Others 8 July 2004 LTL 10/9/2004
1996 – Steen Award, Gray’s Inn
1995-1996 – Diploma in Law, University of Birmingham
1992-1995 – BSc Physics, King’s College, London
1986-1991 – Stourport High School
He was a contributor to ‘Hudson’s Building and Engineering Contracts’ 12th Ed (2014) and is a former scheduling editor of the ‘Construction Law Journal’ published by Sweet and Maxwell.
Patrick is a member of TECBAR, COMBAR and the SCL.
“He is very easy to work with and always happy to speak directly to solicitors. He is good on paper and offers clear advice.” “He has excellent technical knowledge and understanding.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“Never caved under pressure or became flustered, but kept his calm demeanour when everyone else was getting stressed.”
Information Technology, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2021
“A highly capable and very experienced senior junior who is very willing to roll up his sleeves and get intensely involved in the detail.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2021
“Friendly, adaptable and he gives clear and practical advice that is readily understood by the client.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2021
“He is user-friendly and commands absolute confidence in the quality of work. He stepped into the breach on a case, picked it up very quickly and was highly attentive throughout.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2021
“He is clearly very intelligent and knowledgeable on construction matters.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2021
“He provides an excellent service in terms of his written advice and advocacy. He is bright but also alive to the commercial demands of a case.”
“Patrick is very good at distilling complicated legal, technical and factual issues into a comprehensible compelling case.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“He’s very easy to work with and not at all precious: very much a team player, who dives in and gets along with everyone.”
Information Technology, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2020
“User-friendly and quickly grasps the key issues.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2020
“A user-friendly junior.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2020
“He is user-friendly and commands absolute confidence in the quality of work.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2020
“User-friendly and a good addition to any team.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2020
“An excellent advocate with a great eye for detail.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019
“Approachable, diligent and excellent at distilling complex problems down to their key issues.”
Information Technology, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2019
“Very sound, technically very good, with years of experience under his belt.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2019
“He is commercially minded, offers attention to detail, and quickly grasps the key issues in dispute.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2019
“Strong attention to detail.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2019
“Very good at distilling complicated legal, technical and factual issues into a comprehensible and compelling case.” “Excellent and very capable junior who grasps the technicalities and commercial issues very quickly.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2018
“An excellent technical lawyer and an outstanding advocate.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2017
“He is diligent, approachable and prepared to challenge assumptions.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2017
“His command of technical detail and his cross-examination of expert witnesses is really something.” Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2017
“Very detailed junior who offers clear, well-thought-out advice. A good communicator who gets on well with clients.”
Construction, Chambers Global 2017
“He provides excellent advice, speedy responses and a commercial approach.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2016
“Recommended for high-value IT cases.”
IT and Telecoms, The Legal 500 2016
“He is very persuasive and gets the ear of the judge.” “He has a good eye for detail.”
Construction, Chambers & Partners UK Bar 2016
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.
