James Howells KC
UK Bar Guide 2025
International Arbitration: Construction/Engineering + 4 more rankings
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
020 7404 0102Share profile
Band 1
Band 2
Band 2
Band 3
Band 4
About
Provided by James Howells KC
Practice Areas
James specialises in infrastructure, construction, energy and IT disputes both domestic and international. James regularly appears as an advocate in the English Courts and in international arbitration in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. He has extensive experience of arbitration under all major institutional rules and in ad hoc references. James is regularly instructed in other forms of dispute resolution. James’ experience of domestic and international infrastructure projects has included metro and heavy rail, roads, and airports across the globe. Experience of energy disputes has included numerous claims relating to the design, construction of oil and gas production platforms and rigs and their commercial operation including onshore and offshore (including UDW) drilling . Numerous ship building disputes have addressed some of the largest submersible/semi-submersible rigs in addition to the design and construction of drill ships and FPSOs. James has extensive experience of power-related disputes ranging from thermal and nuclear plants to waste-to-energy and renewable energy sources including wind, wave, hydro, solar and biomass production. IT experience includes commercial and technical disputes in respect of projects ranging from financial services/banking, commodities trading and commercial business systems to major government IT infrastructure and services outsourcing projects.
Career
MA (Cantab), BCL (Oxon). Silk 2014
Professional Memberships
TECBAR, LCLCBA, COMBAR, SCL, Society for Computers and Law.
Publications
Contributing Editor: 'Hudson's Building and Engineering Contracts' 12th to 14th editions.
Chambers Review
UK Bar
James Howells KC is well regarded for his wide-ranging international arbitration practice with an emphasis on energy, construction and engineering. He hasdealt with disputesin the Middle East, Africa and South-East Asia, and hashandled arbitrations under the auspices of the ICC, LCIA and SIAC.
James Howells KC advises on claims relating to design and construction defects in domestic disputes. His well-regarded practice also includes a strong international arbitration element, predominantly focused in the Gulf and East Asia. He receives praise for his compelling advocacy and exceptional analytical skills. He is especially active in litigation involving transport and social infrastructure projects.
James Howells KC is especially recognised for his skill in handling energy and power disputes on an international scale, with attendant technological and technical complications. His practice also covers IT issues such as software licensing and data protection, and he is well versed in alternative dispute resolution methods such as arbitration and mediation. He is an accomplished adviser to overseas companies.
James Howells KC offers expertise in both technology and construction law, acting in major claims involving negligence in software design and implementation as well as those against architects and other construction professionals. He has appeared in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
James Howells KC is recommended for his impressive technical expertise and diligence in cases. He handles a range of disputes, including those relating to defect and damages and alleged wrongful terminations arising from power and oil and gas projects. He is equally at home representing his clients in the domestic courts or in claims seated in other jurisdictions.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"James is very good on the technical side."
"James is a go-to silk. He is very bright, very easy to work with and very knowledgeable."
"James is very calming influence and advises in a straightforward, accessible way. He also very much gets involved in the detail of a case."
"James is phenomenal. His ability to show complete mastery of the detail while at the same time being able to help articulate and explain the bigger picture is truly outstanding."
"James is really great. He's all over the detail, collegiate, very good with the tribunal and very, very good at getting them round to his thought process."
"James is extremely knowledgeable and is excellent on paper and in his oral submissions and cross-examination. His oral advocacy style is subtle but effective."
"James is phenomenal. His ability to grasp huge amounts of technical information and to show complete mastery of the detail while keeping sight of the bigger picture is truly outstanding."
"James is very bright and assured. He is a pleasure to deal with and utterly reliable."
"James Howells is an excellent all-rounder. He has great client care skills."
"He is refreshingly easy to work with. He always looks to solve problems and find solutions."
"His ability to grasp huge amounts of technical information and show complete mastery of the detail, while at the same time helping to articulate and explain the bigger picture, is truly outstanding."
"James is very good on the technical side."
"James is a go-to silk. He is very bright, very easy to work with and very knowledgeable."
"James is very calming influence and advises in a straightforward, accessible way. He also very much gets involved in the detail of a case."
"James is phenomenal. His ability to show complete mastery of the detail while at the same time being able to help articulate and explain the bigger picture is truly outstanding."
"James is really great. He's all over the detail, collegiate, very good with the tribunal and very, very good at getting them round to his thought process."
"James is extremely knowledgeable and is excellent on paper and in his oral submissions and cross-examination. His oral advocacy style is subtle but effective."
"James is phenomenal. His ability to grasp huge amounts of technical information and to show complete mastery of the detail while keeping sight of the bigger picture is truly outstanding."
"James is very bright and assured. He is a pleasure to deal with and utterly reliable."
"James Howells is an excellent all-rounder. He has great client care skills."
"He is refreshingly easy to work with. He always looks to solve problems and find solutions."
"His ability to grasp huge amounts of technical information and show complete mastery of the detail, while at the same time helping to articulate and explain the bigger picture, is truly outstanding."
Discover other Barristers at
Atkin Chambers
Silks (KC)
All Circuits
London (Bar)