Chris Bates

Chris heads the construction advisory and dispute resolution team in London, specialising in construction and related insurance disputes. He focuses on handling high value and technically complex disputes, such as those in relation to post completion defects, professional negligence, payment claims, delay and prolongation, and termination issues. He is experienced in disputes arising from large-scale civil infrastructure schemes across all major sectors, as well as commercial building projects. He also regularly advises on construction insurance coverage matters, including undertaking complicated coverage investigations and disputes. Chris also specialises in building safety issues, acting for developers, owners, contractors, professionals, and insurers on a range of cladding and other fire safety related disputes. He has been consulted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over the practical impact of the changes introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022. He is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution used in the construction industry, including multi-party TCC litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. He also regularly advises clients in the background on live projects to mitigate or avoid escalation into formal disputes. · Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP

EnglandConstruction, Construction / InfrastructureEnglish

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About

Chris heads the construction advisory and dispute resolution team in London, specialising in construction and related insurance disputes and handling high-value, technically complex matters (including post-completion defects, professional negligence, payment claims, delay and prolongation, and termination). He acts on disputes arising from large-scale civil infrastructure and commercial building projects, advises on construction insurance coverage and building-safety (including cladding and fire-safety) issues, and is experienced in TCC litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation.

Practice areas

ConstructionConstruction / InfrastructureInsurance & ReinsuranceDispute ResolutionBuilding SafetyProfessional Negligence

Office

England

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP · Chris heads the construction advisory and dispute resolution team in London, specialising in construction and related insurance disputes. He focuses on handling high value and technically complex disputes, such as those in relation to post completion defects, professional negligence, payment claims, delay and prolongation, and termination issues. He is experienced in disputes arising from large-scale civil infrastructure schemes across all major sectors, as well as commercial building projects. He also regularly advises on construction insurance coverage matters, including undertaking complicated coverage investigations and disputes. Chris also specialises in building safety issues, acting for developers, owners, contractors, professionals, and insurers on a range of cladding and other fire safety related disputes. He has been consulted by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over the practical impact of the changes introduced by the Building Safety Act 2022. He is experienced in all forms of dispute resolution used in the construction industry, including multi-party TCC litigation, arbitration, adjudication and mediation. He also regularly advises clients in the background on live projects to mitigate or avoid escalation into formal disputes.

England

Expertise

Large-scale civil infrastructure schemesCommercial building projectsConstruction insurance coverage and investigationsCladding and fire-safety / Building Safety Act 2022 mattersBackground project risk mitigation and dispute avoidance

Education

St Edward’s School, Oxford
University of Wales, Swansea – BA Hons 1st (2004)
BPP Law School – GDL, Commendation (2005)
BPP Law School – LPC, Distinction (2007)

Admissions

Qualified as a solicitor (2010, England)

Languages

English