Energy & Natural Resources
Recommended in Legal 500
Crispin’s energy practice involves large-scale projects in the UK and around the world. His experience includes oil and gas, petrochemical plants, power generation and renewables, including biomass, waste-to-energy and solar power (both PV and CSP).
Selected Cases
- Acting in a dispute under a consortium agreement in respect of a 120MW diesel power plant in the Middle East. Claims and counterclaims in excess of $12m. ICC arbitration with Zurich seat and Swiss substantive law. 6 day evidential hearing.
- Acting for the owner of a 485MW CCGT power plant in the Middle East in a $40m ICC arbitration against the offtaker concerning claims under a power purchase agreement for capacity charges and wrongly withheld LADs. 5 day evidential hearing.
- Acting for the owner and operator of a 50MW concentrating solar power (CSP) plant in South Africa in a $90m ICC arbitration concerning EPC contractor’s claims for generation upside payments and owner’s counterclaims for performance LADs and defects. 13 day evidential hearing.
- Shepherd Construction v Drax Power [2021] EWHC 1478 (TCC); 196 Con LR 239 – acting for the owner in a dispute as to the effect of retention provisions in a contract based on the FIDIC Yellow Book 1999 which had been varied to add further works as part of the conversion of Drax Power Station to biomass.
- Acting for the owner of a waste-to-energy plant in relation to a £multi-million dispute in respect of delay and defects.
- Acting for a state-owned oil company and its insurers in a $60m ICC arbitration arising from a fire at an oil refinery in the Middle East. 2 week evidential hearing.
- Acting for a contractor in a $400m LCIA arbitration relating to an oil and gas project in the Middle East. 2 week evidential hearing.
- Representing a state-owned oil company in a $multi-billion LCIA arbitration arising from an oil and gas project in the Middle East. 2 week evidential hearing.
- Representing a UK contractor in a dispute with an Italian steel fabricator in relation to a contract for the supply of steel products to an iron ore mine in West Africa.
- Acting in a £multi-million TCC dispute over the fabrication of process units for installation in an FPSO.
- Advising a European contractor in relation to a number of water treatment works and power generation projects (including biomass).
- Acting for a state-owned oil company in a £100m LCIA arbitration concerning an oil and gas project in the Middle East. Bespoke contract. London seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state.
- Acting for a Danish contractor in DAB proceedings relating to a 720MW CCGT power plant in the Caribbean. London seat and English substantive law.
- Acting for Total UK in relation to the explosion at the Buncefield Oil Storage Depot.
Events
- Crispin Winser KC to take part in the Global Disputes Summit
- Crown Office Chambers Construction and Arbitration team in the Middle East next week
News
- Legal 500 EMEA 2025 rankings
- Crown Office Chambers Construction and Arbitration team in the Middle East next week
Articles
- An Exercise in Utility: Liquidators Adjudicating Construction Disputes
- “When Insolvency Trumps Rough Justice: Injunctions and Stays of Execution of Adjudication Proceedings”, The Society of Construction Law
Qualifications
- Registered practitioner in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)
- Major Scholar, Inner Temple
- MSc Construction Law & Dispute Resolution, King’s College London
- Dip Law, City University
- BA, Bristol University
Memberships
- British Japanese Law Association
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (FCIArb)
- Commercial Bar Association
- LCIA European Users Council
- London Common Law and Commercial Bar Association
- Society of Construction Law (UK & Gulf)
- Technology & Construction Bar Association
Rankings
- Legal 500 2025 London Bar: recommended for Construction, Energy, Insurance & Reinsurance, International Arbitration and Professional Negligence
- Legal 500 2025 Middle East: the English Bar: recommended for Construction
- Chambers UK 2025: recommended for Construction, International Arbitration: Construction/Engineering and Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction
- Chambers Global 2025: recommended for Construction
- Lexology Index 2025: recommended for Construction
Recommendations
“Crispin’s cross-examination is very impressive. He is super-cool, calm and collected, and is someone you want on your side.”… He “demonstrates exceptional expertise and a solution-focused approach. He displays a deep understanding of any complexities involved. He’s a valuable asset to any team in an arbitration.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Crispin is an incredibly talented advocate who is persuasive, calm, and comprehensive, and who delivers oral submissions in a thorough and thoughtful way.”…”One of the best in the game. He has a no-nonsense style which gets the job [done] very effectively but without unnecessary drama.”
Legal 500, 2025
“Crispin Winser is an exceptionally hard-working and brilliant barrister” … “His expertise in international construction arbitrations is exceptional and he is clear, concise and extremely convincing.”
Chambers & Partners, 2024
“Crispin is clever, works hard and fast, has clarity of thought and a pleasant demeanour. He is a spectacular advocate.”…”Crispin can dissect complex legal issues and identify key arguments and strategies, and his extensive knowledge and meticulous ensure he can build a strong case.”
Legal 500, 2024
“Crispin is an excellent advocate, balancing a willingness to investigate matters fully to gain a mastery of the details, with a firm eye on the core matters in dispute to provide practical, commercial advice and incisive cross-examination.”…”Extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic, explains clearly and concisely. Not just the law itself but strategically how to reach the desired objective.”
Legal 500, 2024
“He’s just always composed, really, really smart and very measured. He delivers beautiful advocacy which is a pleasure to listen to.” … “Crispin is an excellent and approachable leader.” … “Crispin raises the game because he will think of every possible argument, which makes him a challenging opponent.” … “His written work is extremely good and he has shown himself to be a very adept advocate.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“He is extremely intelligent, quick and efficient, and his advocacy style is calm, measured but forceful when necessary.” … “Crispin is excellent” … “Crispin is an extremely bright barrister who solicitors would highly recommend in international arbitration. He is able to process and distill large volumes of information which he is able to assess quickly to get to the nub of the matter. He retains information at his fingertips and when asked for his views he is very quick to provide sound, reasoned and practical advice.”
Legal 500, 2023
“He is a good sounding board for strategies and excellent on his feet where he is very calm and assured.” … “A very clinical and really compelling advocate.” … “His strengths lie in quickly grasping the matter of the dispute and delivering fast, reliable advice.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“Crispin is frighteningly bright. He has a forensic mind which allows him to see through the chaff and get to the nub of any issue quickly. His advocacy style is calm, measured but insistent. Very effective.” … “Simply superb. Very responsive, helpful and suitably aggressive when he needs to be. A dedicated expert in his field. Richly deserved elevation to silk.” … “An excellent and polished advocate who works exceptionally hard to master the papers and be fully on top of the brief.”
Legal 500, 2022
“Reasonable, on top of the detail, commercial and an amazing advocate – particularly at cross-examination.”
Legal 500 EMEA, 2021
“A highly recommended dispute resolution practitioner who excels at assisting construction and energy sector clients in complex proceedings.”
Who's Who Legal 2021
“One of the standout performers among senior juniors at the Construction Bar. He is thorough, well prepared, and an effective advocate.” … “He’s considered, calm under pressure and able to get up to speed quickly.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
