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.
News
- Construction: Judgment successfully striking out allegations of conspiracy to falsify practical completion
- Crown Office Chambers ranked in Chambers Global 2021 for Construction
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
“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
“Forthright in his advice, formidable in court and able to deliver within tight timescales.”
Legal 500, 2017
