Overview Expertise Related Insights, Events & Cases
David Streatfeild-James KC 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 for over 15 years has been noted by Chambers & Partners as one of its “Stars at the Bar”.
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, data centres, roads, tunnels, bridges, railways, docks, jetties and other infrastructure. 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 data centres and 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.
“He is probably the best KC I have ever worked with. He looks at winning in a very positive way and he inspires confidence.”
“David is methodical, calm and measured in his approach.”
“David Streatfeild-James is always to be counted on for detailed and expert advice.”
“David is brilliant at providing opinions on complex matters, and he is a great advocate too.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2025
“David Streatfeild-James has an amazing mind. He sees things others do not see.”
“David has a very good mastery of technical details.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2025
“David is a heavyweight. He is phenomenally intelligent and very diligent.”
“David Streatfeild-James is one of my go-to heavyweight silks for complex construction matters.”
International Arbitration: Construction/Engineering, Chambers UK Bar 2025
“One of the top lawyers in his field.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2025
“David is phenomenally intelligent and is very diligent.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2025
“David is very bright and great at thinking out of the box. Excellent advocate.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2025
“An excellent advocate who is very learned, and great at thinking outside the box.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2025
“David is an exceptionally clever and hardworking KC. He’s a genuine leader in his field.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2025
“David is an intellectual powerhouse. A very reassuring presence.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2024
“A great advocate with a fantastic mind, David is strategically astute and has good industry knowledge.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2024
“David has a profound ability to pick up a substantial, complex construction case and present it forcefully and convincingly at a hearing. He is innovative in is thinking, always bringing a new angle to the issues and the manner in which a case should be put – a formidable cross-examiner, knows exactly how to read a tribunal and drafts with clarity and persuasively.”
International Arbitration, The Legal 500 2024
“Exceptionally clever and considered – extremely good advocate, persuasive and clear and very commercial and strategic whilst being the ultimate team player.”
Professional Negligence, The Legal 500 2024
“David Streatfeild-James is a real brainbox. We always favour him when working on high-value, high-risk matters; he always gives insightful yet practical and useful advice.”
“David is one of the best in this arena.”
“He is simply brilliant.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2024
“David Streatfeild-James is one of the most outstanding silks.”
“He’s incredibly easy to listen to, very persuasive and extremely clever. It’s a devastatingly effective combination.”
“David Streatfeild-James is a brain of the Bar. He’s got a great skill of making incredibly difficult topics understandable.”
Energy & Natural Resource, Chambers UK Bar 2024
“For anything really important, he would be my top choice.”
“You need him on the most complex cases, because he’s so thorough.”
International Arbitration: Construction/Engineering, Chambers UK Bar 2024
“David is a heavyweight in construction law and we seek his advice on the most complex and technical issues. His legal knowledge is second to none and he gets to the heart of the issue very quickly.”
“David has a phenomenal grasp of everything, including strategy. He has huge gravitas with clients and tribunals for sure.”
Professional Negligence, Chambers UK Bar 2024
“A man with a first-class, analytical brain. Being against him is a really stiff professional challenge.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2024
“David’s ability to master the incredible level of details involved in this dispute is second to none. He is one of the easiest silks to use from the point of view of the solicitor; he is easy to deal with.”
“It is impressive how quickly he assimilated the knowledge and got to the heart of the issues. Once the clients saw him in action they were super impressed.”
International Arbitration – The Bar, Chambers Asia Pacific 2024
“David completely masters the case he is engaged on. He drills into the finest of detail of the facts and technical analysis and then produces the most robust legal submission. He brings that mastery of the detail to his oral advocacy where he demands the attention of the tribunal and extracts effortlessly what is needed from the opponent’s witnesses and experts.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023
“His brain is just phenomenal and he’s a very down-to-earth guy who is easy to deal with.”
“He’s a first-rate KC who is quick to grasp the issue and very accessible and pleasant to deal with.”
“He’s extremely bright, so where there are tricky issues of law he would be our go-to for advice and representation.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David remains a powerhouse among his peers and a true heavyweight that we would go to for significant disputes.”
“Clients like his approach to looking at things. He cuts through external noise and gets to the important things.”
“He’s scarily brilliant.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David is calm, reassuring and insightful. He invariably has the full confidence of the client.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David remains a powerhouse among his peers and a true heavyweight that we would go to for significant disputes.”
“Clients like his approach to looking at things. He cuts through external noise and gets to the important things.”
“He’s scarily brilliant.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David was calm, reassuring and insightful.”
“He has an excellent manner with clients.”
Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David Streatfeild-James is absolutely brilliant. I see him as one of the top names in Asia, where he has definitely been out a lot.”
“David Streatfeild-James KC was very creative in finding a solution to some complex legal issues.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia Pacific 2023
“David’s advocacy is excellent; he knows how to persuade tribunals and is very effective. Phenomenal grasp of the detail and outstanding on his feet. He is a good leader who is not averse to rolling his sleeves up.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“Smart and focused, he is the most able of the construction Bar, he knows how to persuade tribunals.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2023
“David is calm, reassuring and insightful. He invariably has the full confidence of the client.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David well deserves his reputation. He has a profound ability to take a substantial, complex construction case, and bring a unique, often case-winning approach to how the case should be presented and argued. He is a brilliant advocate, and a master of cross examination.”
Middle East: Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“David completely masters the case he is engaged on. He drills into the finest of detail of the facts and technical analysis and then produces the most robust legal submission. He brings that mastery of the detail to his oral advocacy where he demands the attention of the tribunal and extracts effortlessly what is needed from the opponent’s witnesses and experts.”
Construction, Energy and Infrastructure, The Legal 500 Asia Pacific 2023
“His brain is just phenomenal and he’s a very down-to-earth guy who is easy to deal with.”
“He’s a first-rate KC who is quick to grasp the issue and very accessible and pleasant to deal with.”
“He’s extremely bright, so where there are tricky issues of law he would be our go-to for advice and representation.”
Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“A top of the tree advocate.”
Energy & Natural Resources, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David remains a powerhouse among his peers and a true heavyweight that we would go to for significant disputes.”
“Clients like his approach to looking at things. He cuts through external noise and gets to the important things.”
“He’s scarily brilliant.”
International Arbitration: Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David is calm, reassuring and insightful. He invariably has the full confidence of the client.”
Information Technology, Chambers UK Bar 2023
David was calm, reassuring and insightful.”
“He has an excellent manner with clients.”
Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction, Chambers UK Bar 2023
“David Streatfeild-James is absolutely brilliant. I see him as one of the top names in Asia, where he has definitely been out a lot.”
“David Streatfeild-James KC was very creative in finding a solution to some complex legal issues.”
International Arbitration, Chambers Asia Pacific 2023
“David’s advocacy is excellent; he knows how to persuade tribunals and is very effective. Phenomenal grasp of the detail and outstanding on his feet. He is a good leader who is not averse to rolling his sleeves up.”
Construction, The Legal 500 2023
“Smart and focused, he is the most able of the construction Bar, he knows how to persuade tribunals.”
Energy, The Legal 500 2023
“David well deserves his reputation. He has a profound ability to take a substantial, complex construction case, and bring a unique, often case-winning approach to how the case should be presented and argued. He is a brilliant advocate, and a master of cross examination.”
Middle East: Construction, The Legal 500 2023
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