“Chris is brilliant at what he does, and works on massive litigation.”
Chambers UK 2024
About
Chris is a disputes and risk lawyer with over 30 years’ experience at senior level, with UK recognition of a track record of success in complex and business critical challenges faced by clients. His experience and expertise often involves analysing and advising on strategic systems and governance risk.
He has worked in many complex cases for both public and private sector clients including in the technology, transport, nuclear and other sectors. His extensive experience and national recognition includes complex procurement challenges, major public inquiries and inquests, judicial reviews, criminal prosecutions and strategic safety issues (including advising on most major UK rail accidents since 1995 / privatisation) economic and safety regulation.
Chris has also been involved at a senior level of law firm management and strategy development in the legal services market, with various roles over the last 15 years including as Managing Partner, Head of Transport Sector and Head of Infrastructure Sector.
Experience
- Major public Inquiries: acting for both Inquiries and for leading core participants. Chris initiated and jointly lead the formation of the firm’s public inquiries practice, including formal collaboration with Fieldfisher in a joint venture (BSFf) that has since 2022 been instructed in leading roles in most of the major UK public inquiries.
- Brought in (from May 2023) as the Recognised Legal Representative (RLR) – for Post Office in the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry, leading (jointly) the BSFf team of over 150 lawyers successfully taking over, without prior involvement, the conduct of Post Office’s representation in the Inquiry from a global litigation firm.
- Representing Atos IT Services in its claim against the procuring authority relating to a £1.2 billion supercomputer award. Instructed in place of a global (Magic Circle) firm, leading to successful settlement shortly before trial.
- Acting in many large scale and complex procurement challenges for either authorities or challenging bidders, including in the Technology, Justice, FM and healthcare sectors. Court of Appeal and Supreme Court cases including a Supreme Court case (Energy Solutions v NDA) that fundamentally changed aspects of procurement law.
- Lead partner for FirstGroup and First Trenitalia West Coast in its successful defence (in its capacity as interested party) of its West Coast and HS2 contract award challenged by unsuccessful bidders in the 2019/2020 multi-party Rail Franchising litigation.
- Acting successfully in multiple large scale commercial arbitrations, High Court cases and appeals to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Credentials
- Admitted as a solicitor: England & Wales (1990); Solicitor Advocate (High Court- Civil (2001)