Charles Pimlott specialises in construction and energy disputes, professional negligence and commercial litigation.
Charles is recognised by Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500 2023 directories as a leading junior in the fields of Construction, Professional Negligence (Technology & Construction) and additionally in the field of International Arbitration by Chambers & Partners.
Construction & Engineering
Charles’ cases have involved technical issues in civil, structural, mechanical and electrical engineering under a wide variety of standard form (notably, JCT, NEC, ICE, FIDIC) and bespoke contracts, often with large amounts of paperwork and involving difficult expert evidence of a highly scientific nature, and contested oral evidence. His work has ranged from domestic conversions to major construction and infrastructure projects and process plant design. He has experience of arbitration (both domestic and international) and adjudication, including in relation to applications for the enforcement of adjudication decisions. He is also a TECBAR accredited adjudicator and has been appointed as adjudicator in a number of adjudications.
Selected Cases
- Acting in a £multi-million claim concerning allegedly defective earthworks design of a major new road-building project in the UK.
- Acting in a £multi-million claim arising out of defects in the cladding and other aspects of a new University student residence block in the Midlands.
- Acting in a c £30 million claim arising out of defects in works carried out to a major water network in the UK.
- Acting in a £multi-million claim arising out of cladding defects in a major landmark development in Manchester.
- Acting in a £multi-million claim arising out of cladding defects in a flagship university building in Manchester.
- Acting in a c £50 million claim arising out of defects in a major landmark development in London.
- Acting on behalf of a luxury hotel group in relation its £90 million dispute concerning the design and construction of a flagship hotel in London.
- Acting for a national facilities management company in relation to a £2m adjudication. Acting for a national developer in relation to a substantial dispute concerning the proper interpretation of a cyclical repair and maintenance contract.
- Acting on behalf of the Employer in relation to a FIDIC dispute adjudication board arising out of the construction of a major sewerage network.
- Acting on behalf of a developer in relation to a £20M claim arising out of the dismantling of an oil and gas power station.
- Acting for the contractor in a £20m DIAC Arbitration arising out of the construction of a major hotel in Dubai.
- Wide experience of adjudication, both during the adjudication process and in relation to the enforcement of adjudicators’ decisions, including AECOM Design Build Ltd v Staptina Engineering Services Ltd [2017] EWHC 723 (TCC); Waldeck Associates Ltd v Decomo UK Ltd [2017] EWHC 961 (TCC); Amey Wye Valley Ltd v Herefordshire DC [2016] EWHC 2368 (TCC); PP Construction v Geoffrey Osborne Limited [2015] EWHC 325 (TCC); Harding v Paice & Springall [2014] TCC EWHC 3824 (Court of Appeal); Maguire v Mar City Developments [2013] EWHC 3503 (TCC); Thameside Construction Co Ltd v Stevens [2013] EWHC 2071]; Fileturn Ltd v Royal Garden Hotel Ltd [2010] EWHC 1736 (TCC); Harris Calnan Construction Co Ltd v Ridgewood (Kensington) Ltd [2007] EWHC 2738 (TCC)
- Wide experience of procedural hearings, costs and case management conferences, and interim applications, including University of Manchester v John McAslan & Partners Ltd [2022] EWHC 2750 (TCC) (a case concerning “expert shopping”) and Blue Manchester Ltd v BUG-Alu Technic GmbH [2021] EWHC 3095 (TCC) (a case concerning the application of CPR PD 57AC to trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts).
- Acting for the Employer in relation to a c£100million LCIA Arbitration arising out of an oil and gas project in the Middle East.
- Acting for the Employer in relation to a £500m DIAC arbitration arising out of a major construction project in Dubai, UAE.
- International Arbitration (seated in Cayman), involving a $120m project insurance dispute arising out of property damage caused to a 5-star hotel following Hurricane Ivan.
Professional Liability
Charles has acted for both claimants and defendants and their indemnity insurers in relation to claims brought against the whole range of construction industry professionals including engineers, architects, design consultants and project managers.
Selected Cases
- Acting on behalf of a global engineering consultancy in a £multi-million claim concerning allegedly defective earthworks design of a major new road-building project in the UK.
- Acting on behalf of the claimant in a £multi-million claim arising out of defects in the cladding and other aspects of a new University student residence block in the Midlands.
- Acting on behalf of the defendant water engineer in a c £30 million claim arising out of defects in design work carried out in relation to a major water network in the UK.
- Acting on behalf of the defendant architect in a £multi-million claim arising out of cladding defects in a major landmark development in Manchester.
- Acting on behalf of the defendant structural engineer in a £multi-million claim arising out of cladding defects in a flagship university building in Manchester.
- Acting on behalf of a civil and structural engineering consultancy in relation to a £2M claim arising out the design and specification of slab, foundation and ground improvement works.
- Acting on behalf of an architect in relation to a claim arising out of the design of foundations at a residential home.
- Acting on behalf of an architect in relation to a £1million claim arising out of the setting out of a large housing estate.
- Wide experience of procedural hearings, costs and case management conferences, and interim applications in professional negligence actions, including University of Manchester v John McAslan & Partners Ltd [2022] EWHC 2750 (TCC) (a case concerning “expert shopping”) and Blue Manchester Ltd v BUG-Alu Technic GmbH [2021] EWHC 3095 (TCC) (a case concerning the application of CPR PD 57AC to trial witness statements in the Business and Property Courts).
Adjudication
Charles is frequently instructed in adjudications and related court proceedings, including enforcement proceedings and Part 8 claims. He is also a TECBAR accredited adjudicator.
Selected Cases
- Acting on behalf of a global engineering consultancy in a £multi-million adjudication concerning allegedly defective earthworks design of a major new road-building project in the UK.
- Acting on behalf of a major contractor in a £multi-million adjudication concerning alleged defects in the cladding, lifts and other aspects of a flagship development in the UK.
- Acting on behalf of the claimant local authority in a c £10 million adjudication claim arising out of defects in the asphalt resurfacing of a major road network in the UK.
- Acted for a national facilities management company in relation to a £2m adjudication. Acted for a national developer in relation to a substantial dispute concerning the proper interpretation of a cyclical repair and maintenance contract.
- Acted for the employer in a final account dispute.
- Acting as adjudicator appointed by the parties in a £2million dispute in relation to a substantial construction project in Central London.
- Acting for an architect in an adjudication arising out of the setting out of a large housing estate.
- Wide experience of adjudication, both during the adjudication process and in relation to the enforcement of adjudicators’ decisions, including AECOM Design Build Ltd v Staptina Engineering Services Ltd [2017] EWHC 723 (TCC); Waldeck Associates Ltd v Decomo UK Ltd [2017] EWHC 961 (TCC); Amey Wye Valley Ltd v Herefordshire DC [2016] EWHC 2368 (TCC); PP Construction v Geoffrey Osborne Limited [2015] EWHC 325 (TCC); Harding v Paice & Springall [2014] TCC EWHC 3824 (Court of Appeal); Maguire v Mar City Developments [2013] EWHC 3503 (TCC); Thameside Construction Co Ltd v Stevens [2013] EWHC 2071]; Fileturn Ltd v Royal Garden Hotel Ltd [2010] EWHC 1736 (TCC); Harris Calnan Construction Co Ltd v Ridgewood (Kensington) Ltd [2007] EWHC 2738 (TCC)
International Arbitration
Charles acts as counsel in domestic and international arbitrations, particularly in connection with construction, engineering, infrastructure and energy projects and related insurance disputes.
Selected Cases
- Acting for the defendant water engineer in a c £30 million claim arising out of alleged defects in the design of works carried out in relation to a major water network in Scotland, including acting on the appeal from the arbitration award: Arbitration Appeal No. 1 of 2021 [2021] ScotCS CSOH 41.
- Acting on behalf of the Employer in relation to a FIDIC dispute adjudication board arising out of the construction of a major sewerage network.
- Acting on behalf of a developer in relation to a £20M claim arising out of the dismantling of an oil and gas power station.
- Acting on behalf of the contractor in a £20m DIAC Arbitration arising out of the construction of a major hotel in Dubai.
- Acting on behalf of the Employer in relation to a £100million LCIA Arbitration arising out of an oil and gas project in the Middle East.
- Acting on behalf of the Employer in a £500million DIAC arbitration arising out of a major construction project in Dubai
- International Arbitration (seated in Cayman), involving a $120million project insurance dispute arising out of property damage caused to a 5-star hotel following Hurricane Ivan.
News
- Members of Chambers recognised by Doyle’s Guide as Leading Construction Law Counsel
- Construction: Judgment successfully striking out allegations of conspiracy to falsify practical completion
Articles
- Construction: Judgment successfully striking out allegations of conspiracy to falsify practical completion
- David Sears KC & Charles Pimlott successful in the Court of Appeal in Harding v Paice
Events
Qualifications
- MA (Cantab)
Memberships
- Technology & Construction Bar Association
- London Common Law & Commercial Bar Association
- Professional Negligence Bar Association
- Society of Construction Law (UK & Dubai, UAE)
Rankings
Recommendations
“A very astute barrister, who can deliver clear and concise advice on the most technical of matters.”…”He is highly responsive, reliable and excellent at drafting.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Charles is excellent to work with. He is super responsive and always makes himself available. His drafting is first-rate, and his advice on merits and strategy is always spot on.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Charles Pimlott is really dependable. He’s really good at doing the technical construction work. He’s excellent with expert witnesses and is an excellent drafter.” “He’s excellent.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“A team player and very responsive. Excellent drafting skills and attention to detail. Measured and effective advocate.”
Legal 500, 2024
“His advocacy style is well suited to the TCC. He is always on top of the facts and willing to fight tooth and nail for the client whilst always maintaining his ability to provide clients with honest and sensible commercial advice on the realities of a case.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
‘Charles is really excellent. He always rolls his sleeves up and is a great team player. I’ve used him on an adjudication with tight deadlines and he was fantastic to work with in that context. His drafting is very strong; great attention to detail and structuring of submissions. He is very reliable and accessible, and offers really sensible and pragmatic advice.’
Legal 500, 2023
‘Charles offers pragmatic and commercially focused advice. He provides direct advice, but always does it in a way that is empathetic to the client.’
Legal 500, 2023
“His advocacy style is well suited to the TCC. He is always on top of the facts and willing to fight tooth and nail for the client whilst always maintaining his ability to provide clients with honest and sensible commercial advice on the realities of a case.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Charles is excellent at providing pragmatic, sensible and commercial advice that the clients easily understand. He is always willing and able to go the extra mile for clients and gets to the heart of a client’s concerns.”
Legal 500, 2022
“He provides measured and practical advice. Very much a team player and responsive.”
Legal 500, 2021
“He gets to grips with the contractual details, identifying areas of strength and weakness quickly.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“Calm and logical approach to issues which is reassuring to clients, great attention to detail, clear and concise yet thorough.”
Legal 500, 2021
“An excellent lawyer who is very persuasive in both written and oral argument, and a genuine pleasure to work with.”
Chambers & Partners, 2019