Charles Edwin Edwards (2002), MSt(Cantab) MSc(Lond) MRICS FCInstCES of Middle Temple, Barrister (England and Wales), Adjudicator (Head of Chambers)
Practice overview
Charles is a first-class high performing Construction Barrister (with a background as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS)) who was called to the Bar by Middle Temple in 2002.
Charles is a legal expert in construction and engineering law. Charles has a busy practice in chambers in construction and engineering law and specialises in the resolution of disputes involving large scale, major and complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects. This includes advisory work and robust representation in adjudication, the Technology and Construction Court (TCC) and the Court of Appeal.
Charles has a predominately High Court practice due to the complexity of cases he is instructed in.
Charles’ practice also includes commercial litigation, professional negligence, arbitration and commercial chancery. He is an extremely bright, confident and fearless barrister with a fine eye for detail. He is also technically brilliant and very commercial.
In summary, Charles’s expertise encompasses the following areas of law:
Construction, engineering and infrastructure
Charles is a legal expert in construction and engineering law and a high performing Construction Barrister. Charles has a busy practice in chambers specialising in disputes involving large scale, major and complex construction, engineering and infrastructure projects (carried out under JCT Contracts, NEC Contracts, FIDIC Contracts and or bespoke construction contracts), including advisory work and robust representation in adjudication and construction litigation in the High Court (Technology and Construction Court (TCC)) and the Court of Appeal and arbitration. He is an extremely bright, confident and fearless barrister with a fine eye for detail. He is also technically brilliant and very commercial. Charles is sought after for his legal expertise in construction, engineering and infrastructure.
Charles is meticulous and excellent at mastering the detail in complex cases for his clients. He is an excellent advocate and provides robust representation in the High Court, Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Arbitration, Mediation, Adjudication and other tribunals.
Comments about Charles includes:
Charles’s knowledge and insight has been described as “unparalleled’. Charles’s “grasp and in-depth knowledge of construction, construction law and dispute resolution…is second to none.” Charles is “… extremely dedicated, precise and utterly relentless…”. He has been described as “…a leading thinker in the construction law field” and is “an advocate you most certainly want on your side”.
“…In a recent adjudication conducted against a large multi-national corporation. Charles was instrumental in putting together the adjudication documents and dealing with all correspondence from the opposing sides solicitors…in an adjudication that proved to be very successful in its conclusion…I have no hesitation in recommending Charles to others and…look forward to working with him in future...” Commercial Director (top 5 UK Contractor)
“…He is an extremely persuasive and powerful advocate with excellent analytical skills…“. (Director)
“…We were able to meticulously comb through the data we had with your legal and commercial brain…in order to write a robust rebuttal to their claim…Thank you for your diligence…more than once you went beyond the call of duty to support us…” (Managing Director)
“…Counsel for the Claimant’s skeleton argument was Excellent…“ (High Court Judge)
Charles practices covers all standard forms of construction contracts, including the full suite of JCT2016 contracts, the full suite of JCT2024 Contracts, the full suite of NEC Contracts, NEC3, NEC4 and ICE, FIDIC, ICHEME as well as bespoke forms contract. Charles is a public access accredited Barrister with full rights of audience before every court in England and Wales and has over 20 years’ experience in the construction industry. Charles is available for direct appointments by construction companies and organisations in the construction industry on a direct access/public access basis.
Selection of Case Studies:
Court of Appeal
1. Charles was sole Counsel and acted for the successful Appellant in the Court of Appeal (before Couslon LJ, King LJ and Poppwel LJ) representing the successful Appellant in A & V Building Solutions Ltd v J & B Hopkins Ltd [2023] EWCA Civ 54. (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2023/54.html).
High Court (Technology and Construction Court (TCC) and the Companies Court)
2. Charles acted as sole Counsel in the High Court (Technology and Construction Court (TCC) representing the a Claimant in the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision in Bishop Levitt Ltd v Treecane Ltd [2024] (case no. HT-2024-000188) Unreported judgment.
3. Sole counsel in the Technology and Construction Court (High Court) representing the Claimant in the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision in A & v Building Solution Ltd v J & B Hopkins Ltd [2022] EWHC 1186 (TCC) (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2022/1186.html).
4. Sole counsel in the Technology and Construction Court (High Court) representing the Claimant in the enforcement of an adjudicator’s decision in Level 1 Raised Flooring Ltd v JM Construction (SW) Ltd [2023] EWHC 2841 (https://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/TCC/2023/2841.html).
5. Charles successfully acted as sole Counsel in the High Court in a dispute involving a contractor, construction insolvency, breach of contract and non-payment.
6. Charles acted as sole Counsel for the Defendant in proceedings in the High Court (TCC) in relation to severe defective works, which included Cladding Works and whether the building works completed by the Defendant were in breach of the Building Regulations and/or the construction contract, the limitation period and the effect of the final certificate issued pursuant to the the contract. Charles advised on the legal strategy to the adopted in the TCC, the interpretation of the construction contract and the evidence to be presented, drafted the Pre-Action Protocol Lettering response to the Claimant’s solicitors following which the Claimant forthwith engaged in settlement discussions rather than continuing with proceedings in the TCC.
Adjudication
7. Representing a Contractor against a large architectural consultancy in multiple adjudications for breach of contract with regard to the provision of professional services and a JCT Design and Build Contract 2016 with a dispute value of circa £3 Million in relation several blocks of flats.
8. Advised a contractor successfully on a major infrastructure dispute with an Employer with a value of circa £7 Million pursuant to an NEC3 Contract. This involving advising on the interpretation of amendments to the NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract, Compensation Events and Payless Notices issued. The matter settled for circa £6 Million.
9. Advised a Subcontractor successfully on an adjudication launched for circa £1.2 Million against them by a Contractor pursuant to NEC4 Term Service Contract and the legal strategy to be adopted in order to secure victory and obtain payment for outstanding sums on the final account.
10. Acted for the successful Referring Party (a top 5 UK construction company) in adjudication proceedings against a large multi-national plc.
11. Acted for the successful government organisation in a large infrastructure dispute (for circa £1 Million) against a contractor for alleged termination of contract and non-payment pursuant to an NEC3 Contract which was taken to adjudication by the contractor.
12. Advised on the legal strategy to adopted in relation to payment disputes involving Compensation Events under an amended NEC3 Contract in order to recover outstanding payment on a major national/high profile project.
13. Acted for the Responding Party (main contractor) in adjudication proceedings in connection with complex mechanical and electrical works, breach of contract, non-payment, alleged variations, extension of time issues, defective works and damages.
14. Acted for the Referring Party (main Contractor) in adjudication proceedings in connection with a final account dispute, non-payment with regard to a new build restaurant offices and industrial buildings. This matter involved breach of contract, alleged defective works, non-payment, extension of time disputes and unlawful deduction of liquidated damages.
Arbitration
15. Advised and assisted (as part of team) with drafting statement of case in an international arbitration on behalf of a Contractor for an ICC arbitration against a particular Government in relation to a design and build infrastructure project carried out in the country seeking circa $40 Million. This involved a bespoke Contract. The Contractor’s claim was successful.
16. Advised on arbitration proceedings in relation to a dispute for circa £1 million pursuant to NEC3 Contract.
17. Acted was sole Counsel for an international company with regard to Applications in the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) under section 9 of the Arbitration Act 1996 to stay legal proceedings commenced against the company in the High Court. This matter involved the oil and gas industry, international commercial law, the validity of an arbitration agreement, breach of contract and the jurisdiction of the High Court of England and Wales in relation to the dispute.
Advisory
Charles has successfully advised on a wide range of complex disputes as part of his High Court practice. Charles also has extensive legal experience in representing clients and has provided first class legal advice, drafting and robust representation in matters involving, construction and engineering disputes, adjudication, commercial litigation, arbitration, professional negligence, partnership disputes, corporate insolvency, company law, solicitors negligence and insurance.
Charles is meticulous and excellent at mastering the detail in complex cases for his clients. He is an excellent advocate and provides robust representation in the High Court, Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, Arbitration, Mediation, Adjudication and other tribunals.
He is a graduate of the University of Cambridge (Departments of Engineering and Architecture) and Centre of Construction Law at King’s College London. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (CICES), a member of the JCT Council (the Joint Contracts Tribunal), a member of the Technology and Construction Bar Association (TECBAR), the Chancery Bar Association and the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators.
Payment – Cash is King – Legal Update: Talk on behalf of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors
A presentation on payment, in particular a legal update on recent developments in the case law on payment and some practical points for payees and payers to help avoid pitfalls in relation payment. Payment in the construction industry continues to remain one the biggest problems for all those involved in the industry. This talk will provide an update on payment, in particular on recent developments in the case law in relation to payment, pay less notices, enforcement of payment, challenges to payment, recovery of payment, identifying key trends from the courts in their approach to issues regarding payment and some practical points for payees and payers to help avoid the pitfalls identified in relation to payment.
Date: 19th November 2019
Venue: Middle Temple
The Queen’s Room
Middle Temple Lane
London
EC4Y 9AT
Booking details via the following link on the CICES website:
https://www.cices.org/news/events/payments-cash-is-king-legal-update/
Letters of Intent – Talk on behalf of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors
A presentation on to learn about the issues arising from the use of letters of intent and crucially the do’s and do not’s. The continued use of Letters of Intent and the subsequent potential issues which may arise are a continuing challenge for the construction industry. This event arranged at the prestigious Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court situated in the City of London will discuss the issues arising from the use of letters of intent and crucially the do’s and do not’s to be followed if you so choose to use this method of early engagement.
Date: 11th September 2019
Venue: Middle Temple
The Queen’s Room
Middle Temple Lane
London
EC4Y 9AT
Booking details via the following link on the CICES website:
https://www.cices.org/news/events/letters-of-intent/
Talk at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Thames Valley Branch) (JCT/NEC3 and PPC2000)
Keynote Speech on Dispute Resolution at Olympia London Exhibition Centre (Dispute Resolution)
Talk for an International Engineering Company involved in the Construction Industry (Letters of Intent)
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesedwinedwards/
Twitter accounts:
@newtemple_info
@Const_Barrister
We have a wealth of knowledge and experience in providing high quality legal advice, drafting and robust presentation in the civil courts and tribunals in England and Wales.
Barristers regulated by the Bar Standards Board
