Profile
Nicholas is a construction and engineering disputes barrister, specialising in complex, high‑value disputes arising out of major building and infrastructure projects. He regularly acts as sole and junior counsel in adjudication, litigation (TCC and County Court), and international commercial arbitration, including under ICC, LCIA, DIFC‑LCIA and ADCCAC Rules. Nicholas is admitted to appear in the Dubai International Financial Centre (2026). Furthermore, Nicholas is listed by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) as a panel arbitrator and by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) on their list of rising arbitrators.
He has an established and expanding international practice, with experience in disputes connected with the Middle East and offshore jurisdictions. Nicholas brings a tribunal‑focused approach informed by experience acting both as counsel and as tribunal secretary, and is increasingly instructed in matters with an international and cross‑border dimension.
Uniquely, Nicholas is also a chartered civil engineer with a prior senior career at Ove Arup, including major infrastructure engineering, procurement and delivery roles. This background enables him to engage authoritatively with technical expert evidence including in the fields of delay and disruption, quantum, and complex engineering systems — a capability highly valued by clients and tribunals alike.
Contact Us
Harvey Scott
Senior Practice Manager
Helaina Padda
Assistant Practice Manager
Appointments
- Full rights of advocacy (Part II), Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (2012)
Publications
Nicholas has contributed extensively to leading publications, including chapters in Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts and The GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration, reflecting his deep knowledge of construction law and dispute resolution.
- Contributing Author (former editor), Construction Law Quarterly Review, Management, Procurement and Law, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
- Chapters on Time for Completion and Adjudication (jointly) in Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts, Fourth Edition 2021, OUP
- Contributions to Shackleton on the Law and Practice of Meetings, Fifteenth Edition 2020, Sweet & Maxwell
- Chapter on Dispute Boards in The GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration – Third Edition 2019.
- Co-author, with Sir Rupert Jackson, of a chapter in The History of the Technology and Construction Court on Its 150th Anniversary.
Appointments
- Full rights of advocacy (Part II), Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (2012)
Publications
Nicholas has contributed extensively to leading publications, including chapters in Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts and The GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration, reflecting his deep knowledge of construction law and dispute resolution.
- Contributing Author (former editor), Construction Law Quarterly Review, Management, Procurement and Law, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
- Chapters on Time for Completion and Adjudication (jointly) in Wilmot-Smith on Construction Contracts, Fourth Edition 2021, OUP
- Contributions to Shackleton on the Law and Practice of Meetings, Fifteenth Edition 2020, Sweet & Maxwell
- Chapter on Dispute Boards in The GAR Guide to Construction Arbitration – Third Edition 2019.
- Co-author, with Sir Rupert Jackson, of a chapter in The History of the Technology and Construction Court on Its 150th Anniversary.
Contact Us
Harvey Scott
Senior Practice Manager
Helaina Padda
Assistant Practice Manager
Areas Of Expertise
Nicholas acts in technically and legally complex construction disputes, frequently involving fire safety, cladding, structural failure, and major infrastructure works, with values ranging from £0.5m to £140m. His experience includes:
Fire Safety / Cladding / Defects
- Junior counsel to Adam Robb KC in a claim concerning fire safety‑related defects in the construction of an office building in the City of London (c.£20m).
- Junior counsel to Sean Brannigan KC in TCC proceedings seeking £50m for the repair of structural defects in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
- Instructed as junior counsel (to Adam Robb KC and Sean Brannigan KC) by the claimant trust in Northumbria Healthcare v Lendlease, a £140m claim concerning fire protection and construction defects.
- Junior counsel to Calum Lamont KC in a £34m TCC claim concerning fire‑related cladding and construction defects in student accommodation.
- Instructed by the claimant school in a £2-3m claim concerning defective pre-fabricated construction elements.
- Instructed by a major UK hotel chain in claims concerning fire‑related defects in cladding to hotel properties.
Major Infrastructure / PFI / Commercial Projects
- Retained by CERN to provide contract drafting and dispute resolution advice in respect of building and infrastructure works in Switzerland and France, particularly under FIDIC‑based contracts.
- Junior counsel (to Richard Wilmot‑Smith KC) in a series of adjudications concerning the redevelopment of a food manufacturing facility in North West England.
- Instructed on behalf of ProjectCo in an adjudication concerning defects and maintenance failures in a PFI leisure centre project.
- Instructed by both contractor and facilities manager on multiple claims in litigation and adjudication arising out of the Building Schools for the Future PFI programme.
Professional Negligence / Consultants
- Junior counsel (to Marion Smith KC) in Standard Life Investments v Buro Four & Ors, a TCC claim concerning professional services for a shopping centre development.
- Instructed by a defendant engineer in an adjudication concerning allegations of professional negligence relating to an outdoor cycle track.
Residential / Private Client Construction
- Instructed by homeowners in multiple claims concerning defective architect‑designed new‑build homes (£0.5m–£1m).
- Instructed by the defendant contractor in a three‑day London County Court trial concerning high‑end residential works.
- Instructed in a three-day London County Court trial by the defendant developer of new residential premises.
Nicholas has an established and expanding international arbitration practice, acting as counsel and tribunal secretary in high‑value construction and infrastructure disputes under leading institutional rules.
He has experience of arbitrations conducted under ICC, LCIA, DIFC‑LCIA and ADCCAC Rules, including disputes seated in the Middle East and offshore jurisdictions, which includes:
- Junior counsel (to Lynne McCafferty KC) in a DIFC‑LCIA arbitration concerning a US$50m dredging contract dispute arising out of works in Iraq.
- Member of a large counsel team (led by Adam Robb KC) pursuing a US$1bn ADCCAC arbitration on behalf of a contractor in relation to a major UAE transportation infrastructure project, with particular responsibility for geotechnical issues.
- Junior counsel (to Marion Smith KC) in a US$20m ICC arbitration relating to a desalination facility in the Middle East.
- Tribunal secretary in an LCIA arbitration concerning the construction of an offshore gas delivery platform, including responsibility for procedural timetables, draft procedural orders, evidential organisation, and liaison with parties.
