Call: 2023 (England & Wales), 2021 (Ontario, Canada)
Galen Lambert is developing a specialist practice in several of Chambers’ areas of expertise, including construction, engineering, and energy; building safety; shipping; and commercial litigation. He is regularly instructed in Technology and Construction Court proceedings, adjudications, and disputes arising under the Building Safety Act 2022, and has broad experience of shipping arbitration and litigation (including LMAA arbitrations and proceedings before the Commercial Court) as well as general commercial disputes. Galen also has substantial international arbitration experience, with cases spanning the Middle East, North America, South America, Central Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Prior to coming to the Bar, Galen completed his education and qualified as a barrister and solicitor in Canada. As a Canadian lawyer, Galen served as a clerk (judicial assistant) to Justices Tysoe, Griffin, and Marchand of the Court of Appeal for British Columbia, assisting with all aspects of judicial decision making. Following his term as a clerk, Galen moved to London as a Harold G. Fox Scholar, where he worked in two sets of barrister’s chambers for a term of ten months.
Galen subsequently practised as an associate in the dispute resolution group of a leading Canadian law firm, where he worked on a wide variety of matters including class actions, securities litigation, and construction, energy, and technology disputes. Galen’s practice areas include:
In addition to being called to the Bar of England & Wales, Galen is licensed as a barrister and solicitor in Ontario, Canada.
Galen is regularly instructed in construction, engineering, and energy disputes. He has experience of adjudications, arbitration proceedings (including ICC and ad hoc arbitrations), and litigation before the TCC. His work encompasses claims arising from alleged defects, delay and disruption, non-payment, insurance coverage disputes, and professional negligence in the construction context. Galen has experience of claims involving several standard form construction contracts, including JCT and NEC standard forms, as well as bespoke construction contracts.
Instructed as junior counsel (with Sean Brannigan KC and Alice Carse) for the developer in a dispute regarding alleged defects (including defective cladding) in a large residential development, with claims in excess of £80 million
Instructed as junior counsel (with Luke Wygas) in a dispute before the Technology and Construction Court arising out of a contract for the design and construction of high voltage direct current cables as part of the design and construction of the Greenlink Interconnector between Great Britain and Ireland, with claims in excess of EUR 5 million
Instructed as junior counsel (with Sean Brannigan KC and Alice Carse) for the developer in a dispute regarding a claim under a Construction All Risk Insurance Policy for damage caused by water ingress into four developments in Ireland, with claims in excess of EUR 40 million
Instructed as sole counsel in an adjudication in relation to the design and installation of lifts in residential apartment blocks, with claims in excess of £300,000
Instructed as junior counsel (with James Leabeater KC and Martyn Naylor) in ad hoc arbitral proceedings arising from alleged defects in two residential developments, with claims in excess of £5 million
Assisted (as a pupil) with advice regarding strategic and legal issues in an ICC arbitration in relation to a contract for the design, construction, and commissioning of a power station in the Middle East, with claims in excess of USD 425 million
Acted (as a Canadian associate) for the claimant in proceedings arising from the allegedly negligent design and installation of wind turbines, with claims in excess of CAD 100 million
Advised (as a Canadian associate) on prospective claims in relation to alleged defects under a long-term design, build, operate and manage contract for a hospital
Galen has a growing practice in building safety work and acts on behalf of developers, contractors, building inspectors, housing associations, and freeholders. He has particular experience of applications for Remediation Orders and Remediation Contribution Orders before the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) under sections 123 and 124 of the Building Safety Act 2022 (the “BSA”), and of claims arising under the extended limitation period for the Defective Premises Act 1972 (the “DPA”) introduced by section 135 of the BSA.
Instructed as sole counsel for a design and build contractor and related companies in a dispute regarding alleged breaches of the DPA brought pursuant to the extended limitation period under section 135 of the BSA, with the claimant seeking damages in excess of £15 million and Building Liability Orders under section 130 of the BSA
Instructed as junior counsel (with Jennie Gillies KC) for an approved building inspector in proceedings regarding alleged failures to identify breaches of the Building Regulations, including alleged external and internal fire-safety defects, with claims in excess of £15 million
Instructed as junior counsel (with Thomas Crangle) for the defendant design and build contractor and a related company in relation to alleged external and internal fire-safety defects, with the claimant seeking damages in excess of £6 million and a Building Liability Order under section 130 of the BSA
Instructed as junior counsel (with Jennie Gillies KC) for the claimant housing association in proceedings in contract and under the Defective Premises Act 1972 against an architect and the insurers of the design and build contractor (in administration) arising from the allegedly defective design and construction of external walls at a residential development
Instructed as sole counsel to appear on behalf of the landlord at a case management hearing before the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) in relation to an application for a Remediation Order
Instructed as junior counsel (with Jennie Gillies KC) for the freeholder in parallel Remediation Order and Remediation Contribution Order proceedings before the First-Tier Tribunal (Property Chamber)
Galen is developing a particular expertise in international arbitration and has experience in disputes under various arbitral rules, including the ICC, LCIA and DIFC-LCIA Rules.
Instructed as junior counsel in an LCIA arbitration arising out of a contract for the design and construction of an LNG terminal, with claims in excess of EUR 180 million and counterclaims in excess of EUR 67.5 million
Instructed as junior counsel (with Daniel Goodkin) in relation to a SIAC arbitration arising out of a long-term agreement for the supply of coal to a thermal power plant in Vietnam, with claims in excess of USD 70 million and substantial unquantified counterclaims
Instructed as junior counsel in an ICC arbitration arising from alleged defects and non-payment under a contract for interior design works at a prestigious residential property, with claims in excess of £7.5 million
Assisted (as a pupil) with advice on the merits in relation to an LCIA arbitration arising out of a contract for the sale and purchase of certain commodities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with claims in excess of USD 100 million
Acted (as a Canadian associate) for the claimant in an ICC arbitration regarding the purported termination of an IT master services agreement worth over CAD 1 billion
Assisted (as a Harold G. Fox Scholar) with a DIFC-LCIA arbitration arising out of alleged variations and delays in relation to an architectural design consultancy agreement governed by Qatari law
Galen has a particular interest in shipping law and has a broad range of experience in shipping litigation and arbitration. He has experience with cases involving jurisdictional and service issues and has assisted with anti-suit injunctions as well as service-out and substituted service applications. Galen previously completed a three-month secondment to the shipping disputes team at a leading London law firm, where he regularly assisted the team by providing formal and informal advice and preparing documents for arbitral and court proceedings.
Instructed as sole counsel in proposed proceedings before the London Circuit Commercial Court arising from alleged non-payment of hire under a time charter
Instructed as junior counsel (with James Leabeater KC) in four consolidated LMAA arbitrations arising from contracts for the design and construction of four specialised tankers with alleged deadweight deficiencies on delivery
Instructed as junior counsel (with James Leabeater KC) in an LMAA arbitration involving competing claims of repudiation of a charterparty and an alleged failure to maintain the vessel with a claim in excess of £15 million
Instructed as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration arising from a final hire statement dispute involving deviation, underperformance, and off-hire claims
Instructed as junior counsel (with Alexander Wright KC) in an LMAA arbitration regarding the repudiation and termination of a contract for the sale of a bulk carrier
Instructed as sole counsel in an LMAA arbitration arising from a series of alleged off-hire events under a time charterparty
Instructed as sole counsel to prepare closing submissions in an LMAA arbitration regarding the question of whether a specific port was an “open port or berth” within the meaning of a charterparty
Instructed as junior counsel (with James Leabeater KC) in an LCIA arbitration regarding liability for hire during an extended period in which the vessel was under arrest
Instructed as sole counsel to prepare claim submissions and reply submissions in an LMAA arbitration in relation to a cargo contamination claim
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on the merits of certain disputed deductions on a provisional hire statement, including deductions attributable to off hire periods, hold cleaning, and bunkering costs
Assisted (as a pupil) with enforcement proceedings before the Commercial Court in relation to an arbitral award and court order requiring redelivery of vessels following termination of their charterparties, including seeking anti-suit injunctions and the commencement of contempt proceedings
Assisted (as a pupil) with advice on the merits and the preparation of LMAA claim submissions arising from alleged failures to maintain a vessel and the subsequent breach of her performance warranties
Galen has experience in commercial litigation both in England & Wales and in Canada, including particular expertise in relation to class actions.
Instructed as junior counsel (with Daniel Goodkin) in relation to claims for breaches of fiduciary duty and other related causes of action against the former directors and shareholders of a company
Instructed as sole counsel to advise on potential claims against members of a global supply chain in relation to the allegedly defective supply of sugar to a food products manufacturer
Instructed as sole counsel in relation to a dispute regarding the treatment of VAT under a consumer contract with significant precedential value to the business
Assisted (as a pupil) with advising on the merits of a proposed novel class action strategy in relation to certain breaches of the Competition Act 1998
Assisted (as a pupil) with the preparation of pleadings in relation to allegations of bribery and breaches of directors’ duties
Acted (as a Canadian associate) for a defendant in a CAD 85 billion class action brought by the Government of British Columbia (on behalf of itself and other provincial governments) against the manufacturers and distributors of certain opioid products
Acted (as a Canadian associate) for an investment company facing allegations of breaches of applicable securities laws brought by the Ontario Securities Commission
Assisted (as a Harold G. Fox Scholar) with the preparation of opening written submissions in a USD 280 million claim arising out of a fraudulent commodity trading scheme
Galen has experience in cases involving sanctions, and is particularly well-placed to advise on sanctions disputes involving multiple jurisdictions, having previously worked on cases involving the American, Canadian, English, and European sanctions regimes.
Instructed as sole counsel in relation to a commercial court claim brought by a sanctioned entity seeking the return of USD 9 million in advance payments under a contract for the supply of fuel
Assisted (on a disclosed devilling basis) Sean Brannigan KC in an LCIA arbitration regarding the enforceability of bank guarantees in favour of a corporation that was allegedly sanctioned under the laws of another country and the application of the principle in Ralli Brothers
Assisted (as a pupil) with the preparation of defence and counterclaim submissions as part of an LMAA arbitration arising out of alleged violations of the Russian oil price cap
Assisted (as a Harold G. Fox Scholar) with advice regarding the application of the “second condition” under s. 7 of the Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 to a large Russian company
Galen has a first-class equivalent degree in biochemistry from the University of Victoria and a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School. He has won numerous academic awards and graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in the top 2% of his class.
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