Infrastructure Projects
- Party appointment, LCIA rules, broadcasting infrastructure project in Qatar.
- Party appointment, ICC rules, operations facilities works at two airports in Oman.
- Party appointment, QICCA rules, support works for metro project in Qatar.
- Acting as Adjudicator for disputes under a contract for health care facilities and carpark in the UK.
- Party appointment, ICC Arbitration under Saudi law arising from contract for civil engineering works for a major metro infrastructure project.
- Dispute Board Member for final account claims for a container terminal in Central America.
- Party appointed Adjudicator for disputes under a contract for demolition works for HS2.
- Tribunal chair, ADCCAC Arbitration under a contract for military facilities in the UAE.
- Acting as Adjudicator, high value £66m claims by service provider under PFI contracts for UK roads.
- Party appointment, ad hoc arbitration for dredging and land reclamation works in Bahrain.
- Tribunal chair, ICC Arbitration for specialist contractor claims for airport construction in Qatar.
- Party appointed arbitrator, ICC Arbitration for specialist claims for airport construction in Oman.
- Party appointed arbitrator, DIAC Arbitration for construction of a canal system at Dubai Creek.
Selected Cases
Mechanical Electrical and Plumbing Systems
- Party appointed adjudicator for LTHW systems for a college building in the UK’s North.
- CIArb appointed Adjudicator for MEP claims under contract for food manufacturing facility.
- Acting as Adjudicator for dispute arising out of the construction of one of the UK’s largest GSHP.
- Sole Arbitrator in ICC arbitration for MEP systems to a mixed-use development in Abu Dhabi.
- Acting as Tribunal chair for specialist computer system claims in airport construction, Qatar.
- Decided as Adjudicator a dispute between a UK Contractor and Italian lift suppliers concerning the provision of an external panoramic lift for a landmark tower on the UK’s south coast.
Selected Cases
Luxury, Residential and Commercial
- Adjudicator under TeCSA Rules for high value claim for payment and delay damages under contract for bespoke UK office building.
- Party Appointed Arbitrator DIAC rules multi-storey construction, Dubai.
- Sole arbitrator, ICC Rules, dispute arising out of agreement for electronic trading platform services.
- Appointed as Adjudicator for complex and high value disputes arising out of the external refurbishment and cladding of a number of tower blocks in the north of England.
- Advising high net worth individuals on claims arising out the refurbishment of London residence.
- Acting as Counsel for an international contractor in its arbitration claim against Dubai’s largest residential developer arising out of one of Dubai’s first foreign built residential tower blocks.
- Deciding as Adjudicator for complex disruption claims under a contract for the refurbishment of an historic estate residence in Hampshire, UK.
- Tribunal chair, DIAC Arbitration concerning concrete defects in a residential complex in Dubai.
- Adjudicator for claims by interior designers for the refurbishment of luxury London residences.
- Adjudicator for extension of time claims for double level basement excavations at a prestigious residential property in Notting Hill, London.
Selected Cases
Superyacht
- Advising superyacht project rescue consultants on issues arising out of the construction of two 100m private yacht projects.
- Speaker at the Superyacht Design Symposium at Palm Beach, Florida US 2011.
Selected Cases
Previous Work as Counsel in Arbitration
- Successfully represented ICC arbitration claims against Dubai’s largest residential developer.
- Acted as leader with success, for a multi-national JV dispute, UAE law, hotel complex on Dubai Palm.
- Advised an Urban Development Corporation in a Government Enquiry in Trinidad & Tobago.
- Successfully acted for Japanese developers in extended ICC arbitrations for a UK chemical plant.
Selected Cases
- American International Bank Ltd (in receivership) v Landmark Ltd [2014] UK PC 17 (Privy Council) successfully upheld agreement for electricity supply in Antigua.
- Antigua Power Company Ltd v Attorney General [2013] UKPC 23 (Privy Council) successful appeal upholding JVA for electricity provision in Antigua.
- CRS v Taylor Young [2002] HL – Professionals’ contribution claim struck out – co-insured Contractor/Employer not ‘liable’ under Civil Liability (Contribution) Act 1978.
- West Faulkner Associates v. London Borough of Newham (1994) CA 71 BLR 1 – Successfully resisted Architects’ negligence claims. Meaning of ‘regularly and diligently’ in JCT Contract.
News
- Members of Crown Office Chambers recognised as Market Leaders in Who’s Who Legal
- Kim Franklin KC becomes a member of the SIAC Panel of Arbitrators
Events
Articles
Qualifications
- King’s Counsel – 2016
- Chartered Arbitrator/FCIArb – 2000/1997
- Accredited Adjudicator – 1998
- Called to the Bar (Middle Temple) 1984
- LLB University of Warwick 1983.
Publications and Conferences
- Joint editor of the Construction Law Journal. Popular Legal Column in The Architects Journal.
- Inspirational diversity speaker IWD (2021-2022).
- Chairing MBL Construction Law Conferences (2017- 2022).
- Speaker at Society of Construction Arbitrators conference 2022.
- Panel chair for CIArb DAS Convention (2019, 2020).
- Panel speaker at GAR Live, Paris Arbitration Week (2019) and Abu Dhabi (2024) ICC UK conference (2024) Lecturer, Construction Law MSc, Kings College London.
Memberships
- ICC UK Arbitration & ADR Committee Member and Expedited Procedures Working Group.
- Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Specialist Adjudication Group former London Branch PRO and PCC Chair).
- SCA (Former Committee Member).
- SCL (Former Council Member).
- London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), Worshipful Company of Arbitrators (Liveryman).
Rankings
- A well-regarded silk with expertise in complex international disputes involving engineering infrastructure projects, Kim Franklin QC acts in DIAC and ICC arbitrations in the UK and the Gulf.
- She has everyone eating out of her hand. If there are two warring parties, Kim as arbitrator gets them to cooperate and calms everybody.
- Very well organised and good at keeping the parties to the mark. Writes extremely clearly and immediately. Clever, practical and no-nonsense, she has no airs and graces and is fun to work with.
- She has a good, firm hand on the tiller and is very good at steering a case. She shows a great energy and endless patience. She gets the job done and puts her back into it.
- Extremely talented with formidable attention to detail and enormous experience … A true construction expert, especially good on international cases.
Recommendations
“Kim is efficient, very responsive and has good judgement.”…”She’s thorough with great attention to detail.”
Chambers & Partners, 2025
“Kim is a delight to work with; sensible and proactive.”
Chambers & Partners, 2023
“She is always a pleasure to work with. She is really good at reducing complicated matters and she is always one of the best prepared.”
Chambers & Partners, 2022
“She is very sharp and commercial but also pleasant to deal with.”; “She has everyone eating out of her hand. If there are two warring parties, Kim as arbitrator gets them to cooperate and calms everybody.”
Chambers & Partners, 2021
“She is very practical, good with clients, and writes extremely clearly and immediately.” “She is very well organised and very good at keeping the parties to the mark.”
Chambers & Partners, 2020
“An excellent new silk”
Legal 500, 2017
“Terrific with clients.”
Chambers & Partners, 2017
“A skilled advocate with a pragmatic approach.”
Legal 500, 2017
“She has a deep knowledge of construction law.”
Chambers & Partners, 2016
“A true construction expert, especially good on international cases.”
Legal 500, 2015
“She has a good , firm hand on the tiller and is very good at steering a case.” “She shows a great deal of energy and endless patience.” “She gets the job done and puts her back into it..”
Chambers & Partners, 2015
“extremely talented” with “formidable attention to detail and enormous experience.”
Chambers & Partners, 2014
