Keating Chambers

Keating Chambers is a London-based set of commercial barristers’ chambers with both domestic and international practice, renowned especially for its expertise in construction law. The chambers comprises 74 barristers, including 34 silks, enabling representation across a range of seniorities for disputes of every type and size. Members are widely recognised for their advocacy skills, particularly in cross-examination, and for their deep understanding of judicial and tribunal thinking.

The firm offers litigation, arbitration, adjudication, mediation, dispute-board work, advisory services and independent appointments. Practice areas include, among others, construction & engineering; energy & natural resources; infrastructure & utilities; international arbitration; offshore construction & marine engineering; PFI & PPP; planning & environment; procurement & competition; professional negligence; property; and technology & IT. Clients are served in the United Kingdom and in many international markets including the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe, and the Americas & Caribbean.

Keating Chambers’ members regularly appear in the Technology & Construction Court, the Commercial Court, the Court of Appeal, the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court, domestic and international arbitration under major institutions, and in mediation and adjudication settings. Several barristers hold dual qualifications in engineering (civil, electrical, chemical), enabling effective handling of disputes involving complex technical issues. The chambers has members permanently based abroad in locations such as Australia, Hong Kong and India.

In addition to advocacy and dispute resolution, Keating Chambers is highly regarded for its drafting and advisory work at all levels. Many members are authors of leading practitioner texts: Keating on Construction Contracts (in its 12th edition), Keating on NEC, Keating on Offshore Construction and Marine Engineering Contracts and the Keating Construction Dispute Resolution Handbook.

Awards & Recognition include (but are not limited to) top-tier rankings by The Legal 500 and Chambers UK across several practice areas (such as construction, energy, international arbitration); “Set of the Year” honours—including Legal Cheek ‘Chambers of the Year’ 2024, The Lawyer’s ‘Chambers of the Year’ 2020, and Lexis Nexis ‘Set of the Year’ 2020; repeated wins as Construction Set of the Year at Chambers UK Bar Awards (10 times in the past 15 years, most recently in November 2024); and Construction & Energy Set of the Year at The Legal 500 UK Bar Awards; International Arbitration Set of the Year at the Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards. Individual members have received such accolades as Construction Silk of the Year, Construction Junior of the Year, and inclusion in “The Lawyer’s Hot 100.”

Keating Chambers has operated for over 70 years, named after former Head of Chambers Donald Keating QC. Over its history, several members have become eminent judges, including in senior positions of the Technology & Construction Court, Queen’s Bench Division, Court of Appeal, and beyond.

Languages: Some members have working knowledge of Arabic, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Norwegian, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Swahili and Yoruba.

Honorary Associates: His Honour Peter Bowsher KC; Prof John Uff CBE KC; Richard Fernyhough KC; Adrian Williamson KC; Louise Randall.