Adam Robb KC

Adam specialises in the litigation and arbitration of large construction, engineering and infrastructure disputes, often involving professional negligence and insurance issues. He has experience of disputes arising out of the major UK and international forms of contract and a wide range of infrastructure projects. Adam has particular experience in relation to fire safety disputes

Cases of note

• Lead counsel for an international JV with respect to a termination dispute valued at US$1 billion arising out of the termination of an EPC contract for an airport in the Middle East
• Representing the owner of a water desalination plant in the ME in an arbitration concerning the operation of an indexation clause in a long-term water supply contract.
• Representing a major contractor in relation to a cladding claim valued at £25m arising out of the design and construction of a number of residential tower blocks.
• Representing a local authority with respect to a PFI cladding dispute valued at £80m arising out of the design and construction of a number of residential tower blocks.
• Representing a leading UK contractor in a series of disputes, in litigation and adjudication, concerning defects in a number of schools constructed under the PFI. The defects include fire safety and noise issues.
• Representing an NHS trust in a very substantial (c. £100m) TCC claim arising out of serious defects (including fire defects) at a new accident and emergency hospital in north east England.
• Representing a major international contractor in relation to a US$100m dispute concerning alleged defects in a refinery in the Caribbean.
• Representing purchasers of three biomass plants in an ICC arbitration arising out of termination disputes valued at c. £100m.

Adam has significant experience of disputes arising out of high value energy projects, including oil and gas and renewables.

Cases of note

• Representing purchasers of three biomass plants in an ICC arbitration arising out of termination disputes valued at c. £100m.
• Representing a major international contractor in relation to a US$100m dispute concerning alleged defects in a refinery in the Caribbean.

Adam has significant experience of and expertise in the international arbitration of infrastructure (including transport, energy, water treatment) and commercial (including sales of goods and long-term supply contracts) disputes, in Europe, the Middle East (including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and KSA), Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.  He is a dual UK/Australian national and holds full UK and Australian passports.

Cases of note

• Representing an international contractor in a major dispute concerning a desalination plant in the Middle East.
• Representing Sellers in a dispute concerning the sale of a waste treatment company in the Middle East.
• Lead counsel for an international JV with respect to a termination dispute valued at US$1 billion arising out of the termination of an EPC contract for an airport in the Middle East.
• Representing the owner of a water desalination plant in the ME in an arbitration concerning the operation of an indexation clause in a long-term water supply contract.
• Representing purchasers of three biomass plants in an ICC arbitration arising out of termination disputes valued at c. £100m.
• Representing a major international contractor in relation to a US$100m dispute concerning alleged defects in a refinery in the Caribbean.
• Representing a Hungarian company in an ICC arbitration concerning commodity sales and force majeure.
• Representing a Kuwaiti contractor in ICC arbitrations in termination disputes arising out of waste water treatment plants in the Middle East.
• Representing a German contractor in an ICC arbitration with respect to infrastructure design in a port project in Africa.
• Representing a Chinese contractor in an ICC arbitration concerning the termination of a sulphuric acid/ copper project in Africa.

Adam has significant experience of and expertise in disputes arising out PFI projects, including in the healthcare and education sectors. These disputes include payment mechanisms (including one of the leading TCC cases on the operation of the paymech), deductions, service failures, and construction defects, including energy, fire safety and structural defects. He acts for public bodies, SPVs and contractors.

Recent cases of note

• Representing a local authority with respect to a PFI cladding dispute valued at £80m arising out of the design and construction of a number of residential tower blocks.
• Representing a leading UK contractor in a series of disputes, in litigation and adjudication, concerning defects in a number of schools constructed under the PFI. The defects include fire safety and noise issues.
• Representing an NHS trust in a very substantial (c. £100m) TCC claim arising out of serious defects (including fire defects) at a new accident and emergency hospital in north east England.
• Representing an NHS Trust in relation to very substantial defects and delay claim arising out of fire defects and delays arising out of a PFI project in the north-east.

Adam’s experience in relation to construction professionals’ liability includes:

• Representing a leading engineering consultancy in a domestic arbitration defending a very high-value professional negligence claim arising out of a United Kingdom transport (rail) infrastructure project.
• Representing a contractor in a c£150million TCC professional negligence claim against a structural engineer in relation to defects in a retail development car park.