Construction & Engineering
Recommended in Legal 500, Chambers UK, Chambers Global and Who’s Who Legal
Crispin’s experience ranges from residential building disputes to major international projects. He has been instructed in cases concerning residential extensions and conversions, houses, hotels, hospitals, apartment blocks, schools, housing estates, shopping malls, leisure centres, factories, power stations, process plants, water treatment works, roads, railways, airports, tunnels, micro-tunnels, pipelines and Oil and Gas installations (both onshore and offshore). He has dealt with many of the standard forms (e.g. JCT, ICE, NEC, FIDIC, IChemE) and a range of bespoke contracts. He is one of the authors of Emden’s Construction Law.
Crispin is a TECBAR accredited adjudicator, acts for and advises adjudicating parties and appears in the TCC on enforcement proceedings. Reported adjudication cases include:
- Crystal Electronics v Digital Mobile Spectrum [2023] EWHC 2656 (TCC); [2024] BLR 26
- WRW Construction v Datblygau Davies Developments [2020] EWHC 1965 (TCC); [2020] BLR 623
- Dawnus Construction Holdings v Marsh Life [2017] EWHC 1066 (TCC); 172 Con LR 162; [2017] CILL 3977
- South Coast Construction v Iverson Road [2017] EWHC 61 (TCC); [2017] 1 All ER (Comm) 653; [2017] BLR 169
- Imtech Inviron v Loppingdale Plant [2014] EWHC 4006 (TCC); [2015] CILL 3613; [2015] BLR 183
- Ellis Building Contractors v Goldstein [2011] EWHC 269 (TCC); [2011] CILL 3049
- OSC Building Services v Interior Dimensions Contracts [2009] EWHC 248 (TCC); [2009] CILL 2688
- Allen Wilson Joinery v Privetgrange Construction [2008] EWHC 2802 (TCC); [2009] TCLR 1; 123 Con LR 1
Selected Cases
- Acting for a sub-contractor in ICC arbitration against the main contractor in respect of electrical cabling works in connection with the construction of a 10-lane expressway in the Middle East. Claims and counterclaims in excess of $10m. 5 day evidential hearing.
- Sheffield Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust v Hadfield Healthcare Partnerships & ors [2023] EWHC 644 (TCC); [2023] BLR 333 – lead counsel for the FM services contractor in a multi-party TCC claim for over £17m arising out of fire safety defects in a PFI hospital.
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust v Lendlease Construction & ors – representing the roofing contractor in a multi-party TCC claim for over £140m arising out of a PFI project for the design, construction and facilities management of a hospital. One of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2022.
- WM Morrisons Supermarkets v Lorien Engineering Solutions & ors – lead counsel for the main contractor in a multi-party TCC claim for over £34m in respect of the allegedly defective refurbishment of an abattoir leading to a substantial loss of profit. One of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2021.
- Acting for the employer in a €10m ICC arbitration relating to the disputed termination of a contract for the construction of a medical facility. FIDIC Yellow Book. Maltese seat and Maltese law. 5 day evidential hearing.
- Acting for the employer in a $100m ad hoc international arbitration concerning the construction of an 8-lane expressway. FIDIC Red Book. Middle Eastern seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state. 13 day evidential hearing.
- Eco World – Ballymore Embassy Gardens v Dobler UK [2021] EWHC 2207 (TCC); [2021] BLR 687; [2021] TCLR 7; 197 Con LR 108 – representing the employer in an important decision on the enforceability of LADs where the employer had taken partial possession of the works but the contract contained no mechanism for reducing the level of LADs.
- Doosan Enpure v Interserve Construction [2019] EWHC 2497 (TCC); [2019] BLR 630 – acting for a contractor in a £5m dispute with its JV partner concerning the release of interim payments in respect of an upgrade to a water treatment works under an NEC3 Option C target cost contract.
- Acting for a contractor in a $400m LCIA arbitration relating to an oil and gas project in the Middle East. Bespoke contract. London seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state. 2 week evidential hearing. Issues included contractual interpretation, process engineering, delay analysis and quantum.
- Acting for a Middle Eastern government in a $500m ICC arbitration relating to the construction of an international airport. FIDIC Red Book. Middle Eastern seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state. 13 day evidential hearing. Issues included analysis and quantification of claims for extensions of time, prolongation and disruption costs.
- Acting for a state-owned oil company in a $multi-billion LCIA arbitration arising from an oil and gas project in the Middle East. Bespoke contract. London seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state. 2 week evidential hearing. Issues included contractual interpretation, engineering practice in the oil and gas industry and quantity surveying practice.
- Acting for a Middle Eastern government in a $750m ICC arbitration relating to the construction of an international airport. FIDIC Yellow Book. Middle Eastern seat and substantive law of the Middle Eastern state. 65 days of evidential hearings. Multiple claims involving complex issues relating to design obligations, architecture, structural and seismic engineering, fire safety engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering, forensic delay analysis and quantum.
- Acting for a police authority in a £multi-million dispute concerning the construction of a new custody facility. Issues included design obligations, energy efficiency, mechanical and electrical engineering, loss and expense.
- Triuva Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft v Galliford Try v Alumet [2017] EWHC 275 (TCC) – acting for a contractor in a £3m claim arising out of alleged defects in glazing, curtain walling and cladding works to a ten-storey office building in Birmingham.
- Gray v Elite Town Management [2016] EWCA Civ 1318 – acting in a party wall dispute arising out of adjoining basement constructions in central London. Appeared as sole counsel in two week-long trials and in the Court of Appeal.
- Acting for the developer of a £250m project in central London in TCC proceedings involving multiple applications for injunctive relief and complex issues of law and geotechnical and structural engineering.
- Acting for a joint venture contractor in a £multi-million PFI dispute in the TCC and a related adjudication.
- Rohan & Ors v Daman Real Estate Capital Partners [2013] DIFC CA 005 and CA 006 – acting for purchasers in the DIFC (Court of First Instance and Court of Appeal) in a claim for AED 12m arising out of delay to a mixed-use development in Dubai.
- Acting for consulting engineers in a $12m DIAC arbitration. Dubai seat and UAE substantive law. 4 day evidential hearing. Issues related to mechanical and electrical engineering and quantum.
- Inframatrix v Dean Construction [2012] EWCA Civ 64; 140 Con LR 59; [2012] 28 Const LJ 438; [2012] CILL 3145 – representing a developer in the TCC and in the Court of Appeal in relation to a £2m claim for defects in the construction of a specialist camera factory.
- Harrison & ors v Shepherd Homes [2011] EWHC 1811 (TCC); 27 Const LJ 709 – acting for the residents of a housing estate in a 5-week TCC trial successfully recovering damages for losses resulting from defective piled foundations.
- Acting for a developer in a $130m international arbitration concerning a hotel and condominium project in the Caribbean which suffered hurricane damage during the course of construction. London seat and substantive law of the Caribbean Island. 2 month evidential hearing.
- Acting for the Anglo-Japanese-Irish consortium that built the Dublin Port Tunnel in relation to claims before a DAB for delay, disruption, loss and expense totalling about 300m Euros. ICE 7th edition. Irish seat and Irish substantive law. Multiple DAB hearings. Issues included ground conditions (involving geotechnical engineering), design strength, the design approvals procedure and the analysis and quantification of delay, disruption, loss and expense.
News
- Crown Office Chambers recognised by Legal 500 EMEA 2024 for construction expertise in the Middle East
- Adjudicator’s decisions unenforceable as they did not relate to “construction operations”
Events
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 2024 London Bar: recommended for Construction, Energy, International Arbitration and Professional Negligence
- Legal 500 2024 Middle East: the English Bar: recommended for Construction
- Chambers UK 2024: recommended for Construction, International Arbitration: Construction/Engineering and Professional Negligence: Technology & Construction
- Chambers Global 2024: recommended for Construction
- Who’s Who Legal 2024: national leader and global leader for Construction
Recommendations
“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.”
Legal 500, 2024
“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.”
Legal 500, 2024
“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
