Pre-eminent construction advocates, arbitrators, adjudicators, mediators and neutrals
3PB’s specialist construction barristers and expert adjudicators provide advice and dispute resolution across all aspects of domestic and international construction law and engineering. Our team includes the highest number of specialist FIDIC Adjudicators anywhere in the world.
Unlike many barristers’ chambers, a significant proportion of our construction barristers are qualified in a construction profession in which they have previously practiced and have real understanding of delivering construction and engineering projects. Through their extensive exposure to court practice in the early stages of their careers, our barristers develop advocacy excellence from first hand experience of dealing with construction disputes. Many of the team are Chartered Arbitrators or Chartered Surveyors and are frequently appointed for arbitration, mediation, adjudication or early neutral evaluation.
Our barristers act on behalf of professionals, employers, contractors, sub-contractors, insurers and central and local government, on disputes arising out of:
- Building and engineering projects
- Adjudication under the HGCRA 1996
- Enforcement of Adjudicator’s decisions in the Technology and Construction Court (TCC)
- Power engineering and power station projects
- Industrial processes and production lines
- Professional negligence - such as cases involving architects, surveyors and engineers
- Commercial disputes involving complex technical issues when delivering live projects and settling final accounts.
3PB is a specialist construction law chambers and has maintained and grown its team of construction specialists advising clients, and representing them in legal proceedings, as advocates since the 1970s. In that time chambers has covered practically everything from the provision of legal advice, to negotiating and drafting contracts and documents in this field. As part of a multi disciplinary chambers we appreciate the linkage and interface with the planning, property and finance aspects of construction and engineering projects.
As neutrals – individuals who function specifically to aid parties in resolving a dispute or controversy - our members are renowned for their expertise. This work includes acting as arbitrators, adjudicators, mediators, expert legal witnesses and sitting on expert review boards as well as carrying out early neutral evaluation.
Legal 500 notes that "3PB’s group is adept at handling a broad range of construction, planning and environmental matters. Recent work includes construction-related disputes and village green applications and appeals.” 3PB is described as “a reliable and extremely well-organised chambers,” with 3PB’s Construction group having “a repertoire of barristers who are well versed in their chosen practice area and promptly turn around exceptional work.”
With offices in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Bournemouth, Oxford and Winchester all equipped with modern conferencing and video link facilities, our barristers our used to working nationally and internationally.
The group's practice management team can be contacted by email here.
Our Construction and engineering Barristers...
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In Providence Building Services Limited v Hexagon Housing Association Limited, in which 3PB construction barrister Nick Kaplan acted as junior counsel for the successful defendant Housing Association, Hexagon, the Technology and Construction Court (the “TCC”), has made a recent decision about the Termination for Employer Default provisions at clause 8.9 of the JCT Design and Build Contract 2016, which is one of the most widely used forms of contract in the construction industry. The TCC...
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Twelve 3PB barristers and staff from our international construction and commercial litigation teams -pictured here - are delighted to be attending the upcoming Dubai Arbitration Week 2023 (from 13 to 17 November) and the TL4 FIRE Middle East 2023 (from 12th to 14th November). These are 3PB's head of construction Peter Collie, head of commercial Seb Oram, David Parratt KC (Scot), Philip Bambagiotti, Nick Kaplan, John Jessup, Dr Zhen Ye, William Charlesworth, Faizul Azman, Simon...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) breaks another record in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 81 accolades. The national set is rewarded with rankings in 18 areas of law, in the London Bar as well as in the South Eastern, Western and Midlands Circuits and exceptional comments on its service delivery, including praise for its “sublime service” and its "ability to manage matters in a professional and comprehensive manner second...
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), the UK's third largest chambers, is delighted to report this year again an outstanding number of rankings - totalling 145 - in the Legal 500 2024’s edition published today, a 12% increase on last year’s 130. The set has achieved its rankings across 5 large UK regions - or Circuits (London, South Eastern, Western, Midlands and Chester and Wales) - in 21 areas of law. 3PB is also ranked in...
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3PB Barristers are delighted to announce that Peter Collie (pictured here), Head of 3PB Construction and Engineering, has been elected Chair of the ARBRIX Construction committee. Peter will succeed Bob Davis. ARBRIX was launched in 1986 with a clear focus of promoting best practice in the arbitration process through the education and training of those involved in dispute resolution in the property industry. Five years later, ARBRIX inaugurated its Construction Group to deal with issues specific...
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Paul Newman, specialist construction law barrister at 3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings), is set to speak at an upcoming seminar event to be held by The Society of Construction Law. The evening seminar and networking event will be held on 8 June 2023 in Cardiff and will see Paul speaking on the topic of “Expert Witness Mishaps”. In his seminar, Paul will be defining what it means to be an ‘expert’ witness under the codified...
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3PB's construction and building defects barrister and arbitrator Philip Bambagiotti (pictured here) has penned an article for the Bar Council's Counsel magazine on the principal features of the Building Safety Act 2022 and whether, in the long term, this is the best way to improve standards. He states there that: "There is no question that, following the terrible example of the Grenfell Tower fire, building regulations need to be examined, analysed, understood, reviewed and, in...
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3PB's dual UK-Australia qualified barrister Philip Bambagiotti (pictured here), a construction and building defects expert, has tackled the serious issue of mould growth in council and privately-owned buildings, substandard ventilation and poor design. The death in 2020 of a 2-year-old Awaab Ishak in a Rochdale council house from severe breathing problems, caused by the effect of mould to his blood and lungs, was a terrible reminder of its consequences. His report advises that "claims involving...
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3PB's Head of Construction & Engineering Group, Peter Collie - pictured here - will be speaking at the FIDIC Official International Contract Users' Conference in London from 29 – 30 November 2022. Peter Collie is a dual-qualified construction professional and barrister. He has 38 years’ experience in the construction industry and has worked as legal adviser on major projects around the world. According to Legal 500, Peter has acted in several international multimillion-pound disputes and...
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3PB construction and mediation barrister Paul Newman, pictured here, was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland by the Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan in the High Court of Northern Ireland on 21 October 2022.
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3PB Barristers (3 Paper Buildings) has been awarded a record number of rankings in the latest edition of Chambers and Partners with a total of 73 accolades for its barristers. The national heavyweight chambers achieves its rankings in London, South Eastern, Western and the Midlands - in 18 categories of law. Earlier this year, 3PB also celebrated its first ranking in Chambers and Partners High Net Worth guide. Click here to view the full results...
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3 Paper Buildings (3PB Barristers) has announced that five of its current pupils - former general counsel Jo Laxton (Employment & Discrimination) and four 12-month pupils: Rachel Bale (Commercial/Property & Estates), Olivia McGonigle (Crime), Oliver Hirsch (Crime/Personal Injury/Animal Welfare) and Robert Dawson (Construction/Commercial) - have become tenants following their successful pupillages at the national chambers. 3PB Chief Executive Simon Astill, pictured here, said: “We welcome these five pupils as new tenants and junior counsel across...
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Construction Law Seminar - Birmingham - 7 December
Date: Thursday 7th Dec 2023 Time: 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Venue: 3PB Birmingham, Colmore Building, 20 Colmore Circus, Birmingham, B4 6AT Our Construction and Engineering Law Group is delighted to invite you to our Birmingham Construction Law Seminar to take place on Thursday 7th December at 5:30pm at our Birmingham Chambers. Topics The seminar will be chaired by Tony Bingham and will include presentations from Seb Oram, Nick Kaplan and Rob Dawson on the following topics: Seb Oram will review “Construction Project Insurance after the Rugby Football Union decision” Nick Kaplan will present "Spiking the Guns of Trigger-Happy Contractors…
Recommendations
Legal 500 2022
‘It is a strong, approachable set.’
‘Always available to help, even on short-notice, 3PB is ready to assist even for urgent same-day instruction.’
‘3PB has a strong range of experienced barristers at all levels, meaning it is able to provide the correct level of barrister for a particular matter.’
‘The quality of advice and advocacy never fails to impress. The set always has the right counsel for the job and counsel are very involved in providing regular training.’
‘3PB are an excellent chambers to work with and they will always find available counsel, even when issues crop up last minute that are out of anyone’s control. The barristers deal with matters in a timely and professional manner.’
Legal 500 2021
3PB offers a specialist construction team, which comprises of FIDIC adjudicators and members qualified in the construction profession. The set also provides private client expertise for matters such as insolvency where LPA receivers are instructed. Clients include developers, insurers and individuals instructing through direct access.
Legal 500 2020
Construction and planning remain mainstay work spheres for 3PB, with Paul Newman undertaking a wide range of construction instructions, and village green specialist William Webster a strong presence in planning matters.
The combined clerks’ room across the set’s six offices is a ‘well-oiled machine’.
The monopoly on the Western CircuitLegal 500