Christopher Butler
Christopher.Butler@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Christopher is a construction specialist with particular expertise in defending construction and engineering professionals in high-value multi-party disputes. This includes acting for architects, contractors, engineers, monitoring surveyors, property managers, surveyors/valuers, subcontractors, and specialist consultants.
He is experienced in court proceedings and procedure, as well as alternative dispute resolution, including adjudication and mediation.
Christopher is acting in an impressive number of high-profile multi-party disputes relating to cladding and building regulation compliance following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. He is also defending a number of international fit out contractors in respect of the renovation and refurbishment of signature central London properties. He is acting for tunnelling contractors in respect of alleged design issues with a high-profile vehicular tunnelling project. Christopher also regularly defends claims against geotechnical consultants in relation to land condition surveys, and architects in respect of claims relating to alleged negligent design.
In terms of coverage, he regularly advises professional indemnity insurers in respect of issues relating to aggregation, fraud/dishonesty, late notification and block notifications.
Whether defending claims, or advising on coverage issues, Christopher adopts a pragmatic commercial approach tailored to the clients’ needs.
He is a member of the Society of Construction Lawyers and the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).
Qualifications
- Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales in 2009
He’s good strategically in the contentious claims arena. He’s good at finding angles.
Market recognition
-
Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'The Legal 500 UK 2024
- Leading individual, next generation partner and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2023 - Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2022 - Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2021 - Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2019/20 - Recommended Lawyer for 'Professional negligence (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2018/19
Awards
Work highlights
- Leading the team advising a major roofing contractor in respect of allegedly damaged and/or defective works totalling over £100 million at a household name company’s corporate HQ. Complex technical, legal, and insurance issues relating to exposures and CAR policy response. Litigation commenced against the CAR insurers.
- Successfully defending multi-million pound adjudication proceedings in respect of a DAF water treatment plant.
- Advising a leading global property and construction consultancy in relation to allegations of negligence regarding its performance and delivery in respect of a private finance initiative project.
- Acted for a major engineering and environmental consultancy and its insurers in respect of allegations of negligence regarding groundwork investigations at a large development site. Sum claimed circa £14 million.
- Acted for various contractors, subcontractors, consultants and architects in relation to cladding-related issues and compliance with building regulations.
- Advised an international property company in respect of allegations of fraud relating to one of its employees. The alleged fraud exceeded £18 million and proceedings were issued against multiple parties.
- Defended an international fit out contractor in respect of the renovation of a number of landmark properties in central London.
- Acted for a tunnelling specialist in respect of allegations of defective design and installation at a major UK vehicular tunnel. Sum claimed circa £20 million.
Construction and engineering