David Parratt KC (Scot)Deputy Head of Chambers

Year of Call: 1999
Year of Silk: 2017
Email Address: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 7583 8055

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Clerk Details

Clerk Name: David Fielder
Clerk Telephone: 020 7583 8055
Clerk Email: [email protected]

Construction and engineering

David Parratt KC (Scot) specialises in construction, engineering and energy disputes, including upstream oil and gas claims. His practice covers major infrastructure projects, residential developments, building defects, fire safety works and disputes concerning the supply and operation of specialist equipment. He acts as counsel, arbitrator and adviser in domestic and international matters involving complex factual, technical and contractual issues.

David has particular experience in the interpretation and operation of JCT and NEC contracts, including final account provisions, payment obligations, adjudication procedures and arbitration clauses. His recent work includes resisting enforcement of adjudicators’ decisions, pursuing related Part 8 proceedings and representing parties in mediation. He also advises developers on contractual arrangements for residential conversions and alterations, alongside property and development issues involving easements, conveyancing and development conditions.

He has extensive experience in the Technology and Construction Court and the Commercial Court, as well as in domestic and international arbitrations under institutional and ad hoc rules, including ICC, LCIA, LMAA and ADCAAC. His international experience includes airport, motorway, railway and offshore projects, acting both as counsel and as arbitrator.

David is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and holds Chartered Arbitrator status. His arbitral memberships and panel appointments include the ICC, LCIA, CIArb Scottish Branch Panel of Arbitrators, Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), WIPO Panel in Geneva, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), CIArb London President’s Panel and Juris Roster of International Arbitrators.

Recent and ongoing cases

Residential conversions and alterations (August 2026) – Drafting contracts for a developer concerning applications for planning consent, conversion of houses into houses in multiple occupation and adaptation of attic spaces.
Clerkenwell Lifestyle (UK) Limited v HG Construction Limited [2026] EWHC 1406 (TCC) (June 2026) – Resisting enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision in Part 7 proceedings and bringing related Part 8 proceedings, addressing the approach in Hutton Construction Ltd v Wilson Properties (London) Ltd [2017] EWHC 517 (TCC).
Land development – easements and development conditions (June 2026) – Advising on a proposed development requiring compliance with an easement and other development conditions.
Scots law conveyancing advice (May 2026) – Advising a Liechtenstein party on contractual issues arising in connection with property conveyancing under Scots law and the use of affidavit evidence.
AS v TCG (October 2025) – Advising on the interpretation and operation of the JCT Design and Build Contract 2016, including the contractual requirements for a Final Statement under clause 4.24.
Larsen Limited v Taylor (Royal Court of Jersey, File No. 2024/140, May 2025) – Representing a party at mediation in a construction dispute concerning a residential property in Jersey.
M v S (IAC, 2022) – Counsel for the claimant in an electricity supply and joint venture dispute involving share valuation.
NHT v K (CIMAR, 2022) – Advising on an arbitration claim concerning construction defects in a housing scheme.
Professional fees dispute (Northern Ireland, 2022) – Appointed as arbitrator in a dispute concerning professional fees under NEC3 terms and conditions.
Abu Dhabi airport construction dispute (2022) – Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute arising from airport construction works.
Woodstone Carpentry Limited v Crystal Engineering Limited (High Court, 2022) – Acting in a dispute concerning the installation of FRA on post-Grenfell tower buildings in London boroughs.
S v N (LCIA, Seat London, 2021) – Counsel in a dispute between an Aberdeen oil parts manufacturer and a US company concerning the non-exploitation of granted intellectual property rights.
J v T, C & A (ADCAAC, Seat Abu Dhabi, 2021 Award) – Appointed as co-arbitrator in a dispute concerning construction works on a major infrastructure project.
Scottish Ministers v Contractors (2020) – Instructed in disputes concerning the M74, M77 and M8 motorway infrastructure projects.
D v E (DIAC, LCIA, 2020) – Advising Dubai-based companies on continuing obligations under oil parts supply agreements and issues arising from two separate arbitration clauses. (£1 million)
NEC3 Option W2 arbitration clause (2019) – Advising on the operation of the arbitration clause under Option W2 of NEC3.
Z v GSP (LCIA, Seat London, 2019) – Instructed for the claimants in a $5 million claim and cross-claim between a subcontractor and contractor concerning the operation of a platform off the coast of Greece. Settled.
NEC3 referral notice (2018) – Advising on a Notice of Intention to Refer under clause 93 of NEC3.
OMS v US Oil Major (LCIA, Seat London, 2017–2018) – Successfully representing a small, two-director company in a £6 million claim against an oil major concerning outstanding invoices for the hire of oil and gas equipment, a global collaboration agreement and multiple alleged infringements of intellectual property rights.
Blackpool Pier project (2017) – Advising an adjudicator on NEC3 issues arising from the project.
SYE v M (ICC, Seat Geneva, 2013–2016) – Acting for Japanese respondents defending claims of $4.5 million by a Turkish subcontractor and pursuing a $13.5 million counterclaim concerning a major railway infrastructure project in Istanbul.

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Academic qualifications

LLB (Hons) University of Aberdeen (1992)
DipLP (University of Aberdeen) (1993)
PhD (University of Edinburgh) (2004)
DipICArb (Chartered Institute of Arbitrators) (2008)

Professional qualifications & appointments

Honorary Professor of International Arbitration, School of Law, University of Aberdeen. (January 2017-to date)
Co-Director of the Aberdeen University International Arbitration Summer School (2017 – to date)
Visiting Lecturer, International Commercial Arbitration, and Oil and Gas Dispute Resolution, University of Aberdeen (2016-17)
Honorary Senior Lecturer, International Construction Law and Arbitration, British University in Dubai (BUiD) (2010 - 15)
Honorary Research Fellow, International Dispute Resolution, School of Law, University of Dundee (2008-2015)
Honorary Lecturer, International Arbitration, Centre for Petroleum, Minerals, Law and Policy, (CEPMLP) University of Dundee (2007-10)

Professional bodies

Freeman of The Worshipful Company of Arbitrators
Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (FRHistS)
Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (FSAScot)
Fellow of the Society of Legal Scholars (SLS)
Member of the School of Advanced Legal Studies (FSALS)
Member of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL)
The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn
The Faculty of Advocates
The Bar of Northern Ireland
The Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
TECBAR
COMBAR
The Arbitration Club (Oil & Gas Chapter)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

Faculty of Advocates’ Positions

Member of various Committees including: Faculty Council (2003-6; 2012-17)
Curator of the Advocates Library (2005-8)
Quality Assistance Panel Working Group(2015-7)
Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates (2016 - present)
The Training Committee (2012-present)
Scheme for Fees Committee (2014); Board of Assessors (2012 -present)
CPD Reorganisation Committee (2016-7)
Malawi Pro Bono Group (2014); International Committee (2016-present)
Faculty Arbitration Group and Board member of the Faculty Dispute Resolution Service (FDRS) (2008-present)
Special adviser to the Personal Injury Arbitration Group (2016-present).

Director of Training and Education, with responsibility for the training of devils in written and oral advocacy and for ongoing training of members of Faculty in advocacy skills and for the Quality Assurance Assessment. (2012-2017)

Advocacy Trainer and Assessor of Advocate Assessors for the Faculty Quality

Direct Access

David Parratt KC (Scot) is qualified to accept instructions directly from members of the public and professional clients under the Direct Access (or Public Access) scheme.

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