Instruct Lynne
To instruct Lynne please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5555 or email [email protected].
Lynne McCafferty KC has an international commercial practice.
She has particular expertise in the following areas:
Lynne is highly rated for her advocacy skills. She has extensive advocacy experience in the Technology & Construction Court (TCC), international and domestic arbitrations, dispute adjudication boards, adjudication proceedings, and mediation. She is registered as an advocate in the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts (DIFC). She is particularly adept and highly experienced in cross-examining expert witnesses in a wide range of disciplines.
Most of Lynne’s cases involve highly technical issues. She is known for the forensic technical understanding and rigorous attention to detail required for these heavy and complex cases. She has extensive experience of working with and leading large teams of solicitors, juniors, and experts.
Lynne McCafferty KC is recommended as a leading silk for construction, energy, international arbitration, professional negligence, and technology & telecoms law in Chambers & Partners, Chambers Global, Legal 500, Legal 500 EMEA, and Who’s Who LegalLexology Index (where she is recognised as a Thought Leader: Construction).
Lynne was shortlisted for Construction Silk of the Year by the Chambers UK Bar Awards in 2024 and as Technology Silk of the Year by the Legal 500 Bar Awards in 2023. She was also shortlisted in 2025 for DE&I Champion of the Year (Bar) by both the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards and the Women & Diversity in Law Awards.
Recent directory comments include:
Lynne has extensive experience of major construction litigation and arbitration across the globe. Her practice encompasses all types of construction and engineering disputes, from huge infrastructure projects to multi-million pound commercial and residential developments to high-profile PFI projects. Recent projects include factories, museums, hospitals, and a state-of-the-art scientific facility.
Lynne has been instructed as Counsel under a wide range of arbitration rules including ICC, LMAA, LCIA, DIFC, UNCITRAL and DIAC. She has also been appointed as an arbitrator by the ICC and on an ad hoc basis; she has been appointed to a dispute adjudication board; and she is a TECBAR-accredited adjudicator.
Representing a major residential developer in two linked DIAC arbitrations worth hundreds of millions of dirhams relating to a huge residential development to design and build 42 residential towers with associated retail spaces and community facilities in Dubai.
Acting for the employer in an HKIAC arbitration worth HK$400 million concerning the design and construction of a pharmaceuticals factory in the New Territories, Hong Kong.
Instructed on the Grenfell Tower Inquiry for a building services engineering firm who was involved in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower. This was the biggest, and one of the most important, public inquiries there has been in the UK with huge ramifications for the whole construction industry.
Lynne has been and is involved in many high-value multi-party TCC claims relating to fire safety defects in cladding systems on residential and mixed-use developments following the Grenfell fire. She has variously acted for the main contractor, the cladding sub-contractor, the fire engineer, and the building services engineer in such claims.
In particular, Lynne represented the cladding sub-contractor in the case of Shepherd Construction Limited v Drytech Façades Ltd, a £70 million claim by the main contractor against 24 defendants for alleged defects in the design and construction of various different cladding systems on a major mixed-use development in Colindale, London. This was one of The Lawyer’s Top 20 Cases of 2024. It settled shortly before the 12 week TCC trial.
Acted for the purchaser of an industrial waste management facility in Saudi Arabia in a £90 million ICC arbitration involving allegations of breach of warranty concerning the treatment of hazardous waste and issues of environmental compliance at the new facility.
Acted for the defendant MEP engineer in a £12 million claim in the TCC for multiple alleged defects in the design of a major new oncology wing at St James’s Hospital in Leeds: Lendlease Construction (Europe) Ltd v AECOM Ltd [2023] EWHC 2620 (TCC). This was one of the most important TCC judgments in 2023.
Acted for the defendant in a TCC dispute concerning the design and construction of a bus station in Blackburn: Thomas Barnes & Sons plc v Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council [2022] EWHC 2598 (TCC). This was one of the most notable TCC judgments of 2022 due to the Judge’s determination of the thorny issues of concurrent delay and termination.
Acted for the main contractor in a dispute relating to a £110 million PFI contract to rebuild and refurbish 924 sheltered homes for the elderly across 26 sites in the North-East of England (Solutions 4 North Tyneside Ltd v Galliford Try Building 2014 Ltd [2022] EWHC 2372 (TCC)). The dispute concerned responsibility for remedying widespread defects in the properties’ roofs, the costs of which will run to tens of millions of pounds.
Acted for the contractor on a high-profile and extremely time-critical transport infrastructure project in the Middle East defending a $40 million ICC arbitration claim brought by a sub-contractor in relation to alleged design changes, delay, prolongation, and variations under a bespoke contract modelled on NEC4.
Represented a façade subcontractor in an application in the DIFC Court for an injunction to compel the main contractor to withdraw demands for AED 21 million made under a performance bond and an advance payment bond.
Instructed on the Scottish Hospitals Inquiry, a huge public inquiry set up to investigate the design and construction of two major new hospitals where there have been a number of fatalities from rare infections. Lynne is representing the project manager who was engaged during the initial design phase on the £840 million project to design and construct the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Instructed in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration by an MEP sub-contractor in a claim against a major Middle Eastern contractor relating to the construction of the prestigious New York University in Abu Dhabi. This wide-ranging dispute worth AED 300 million concerned substantial delays, hundreds of variations, and payment disputes.
Instructed in an LCIA arbitration for a leading global contractor claiming for delay and variations worth over $420 million in connection with a $840 million contract to design and construct production facilities to process oil and gas from an oil field in the Middle East.
Instructed by a world-renowned steelwork engineer on a DIAC arbitration worth AED 33 million concerning wide-ranging disputes with its sub-contractor in relation to the steelworks for a high-profile iconic museum project in Abu Dhabi.
Acted for a quasi-public body in a £10 million arbitration claim against a contractor for the costs of replacement of a defective standing-seam aluminium roof on the UK’s national synchrotron, a major scientific facility.
Advised a leading engineering firm on a wide range of technical and legal disputes arising out of the design and construction of a major new hospital in Liverpool, including the insolvency of the main contractor, Carillion.
Instructed by a specialist M&E contractor in multi-party TCC proceedings worth £30 million arising out of the design and construction of a major national data centre facility.
Acted for a major UK contractor in two linked multi-party TCC cases relating to the multi-million pound design and construction of a new acute hospital under a PFI project agreement. The disputes concerned multiple alleged defects in the M&E services installed in the new hospital.
Acted for the employer in a multi-million pound TCC claim against a national contractor for defects in the design and construction of concrete slabs in the docking areas of several distribution centres.
Acted for a local authority on wide-ranging disputes arising out of the construction of a major biological treatment plant by a specialist waste management company, which were played out in multiple adjudications and multi-party TCC proceedings.
Instructed by a specialist piling contractor to defend an adjudication claim arising out of its design and installation of sheet piling during the construction of a high value residential property. The claim turned on evidence from geotechnical engineering experts about the geology and ground conditions at the site.
Instructed by a global design services consultancy in ICC arbitration following termination of a design services agreement under which the Main Contractor was engaged to design, build, and maintain a new underground metro system (including related stations and viaducts) in Dubai.
Instructed by the EPC turnkey contractor on a high-profile international infrastructure contract under a FIDIC form of contract concerning works to construct an undersea railway tube crossing together with associated tunnels, additional stations, and an extension and upgrade of the existing railway and tube networks in Istanbul. Several disputes relating to applications for extensions of time were referred to the DAB.
Lynne has considerable experience in litigation and arbitration relating to the oil & gas, renewable energy, and utilities industries. Her work in this specialist field includes solar photovoltaic plants, onshore wind farm projects, offshore and onshore oil and gas processing plants and pipelines, pumping stations, power stations, Energy from Waste facilities, and biofuel processing plants.
Lynne is one of four founder members of WEConnect, a network launched in 2023 to connect, promote, and support women working in the energy sector in the UK.
Representing the employer in a £30 million dispute about defects in the works on two linked projects to engineer, procure, and construct solar photovoltaic installations.
Acted for the main contractor in UNCITRAL arbitration proceedings worth SAR 868 million (approx. £173 million) relating to a huge project to engineer, procure, and construct a tank farm and loading facilities at a major oil refinery and terminal in Saudi Arabia, which forms part of one of the largest gas power plants in the world.
Acted for a specialist contractor on a £35 million dispute arising out of the design and construction of HVDC Converter stations for the North Sea Link, the world’s longest undersea electricity transmission cable.
Instructed by engineers to defend linked TCC claims worth £41 million relating to alleged defective turbine foundations in several wind farms.
Acted for a leading engineering firm specializing in the renewable energy industries in adjudications and related adjudication enforcement proceedings in the TCC in connection with several projects to construct Energy from Waste plants in the UK (Engie Fabricom UK Ltd v MW High Tech Projects UK Ltd [2019] EWHC 1876 (TCC); [2020] EWHC 1626 (TCC)).
Instructed in an LCIA arbitration for a leading global contractor claiming for delay and variations worth over $420 million in connection with a $840 million contract to design and construct production facilities to process oil and gas from an oil field in the Middle East.
Appointed as Adjudicator to decide a dispute arising under a £20 million piping installation sub-contract for the design and construction of a thermal power station as part of a major waste management PFI project. The dispute comprised four separate claims involving certification of payment, alleged defective works, and complex contractual issues.
Represented a European governmental agency in defending $85 million of claims in an ICC Arbitration by an EPC contractor engaged to build an oil pipeline (including pumping stations and intermediate pigging station).
Instructed by a process design consultant to defend adjudication and TCC proceedings worth £18 million in respect of alleged design defects in a biodiesel processing plant.
Acted for the contractor in a $600 million ICC arbitration claim for variations to a contract for the design, fabrication and construction of an oil pipeline, pumping stations and associated communication system and oil marine terminal in Africa.
Acted for the claimant in LCIA arbitration in a $30 million claim under a contract for the onshore and offshore refurbishment and upgrading of a jack-up rig and the provision of a permanent production facility in a Qatari oilfield.
Lynne has a substantial professional negligence practice with particular focus on claims against construction professionals, especially structural engineers, geotechnical engineers, mechanical & electrical engineers, architects, quantity surveyors, and monitoring surveyors. She is also often instructed in disputes relating to the negligence of solicitors, barristers, and chartered surveyors.
She acts both for and against professionals and their insurers. She has considerable experience of advising professional indemnity insurers on coverage issues.
Engineers:
Architects:
Quantity Surveyors:
Monitoring Surveyors:
Solicitors’ Negligence:
Lynne has extensive experience in Technology & Telecoms litigation and arbitration. Her clients range from major international corporations to government departments to specialist software developers and consultants. She acts for both employers and suppliers alike.
Lynne has particular experience of heavy large-scale disputes arising out of IT contracts, including major business systems, government contracts, and bespoke software projects.
Acted for a specialist developer and supplier of cloud-based computer software solutions in a multi-million pound dispute with a retailer to whom it supplied an Enterprise Resource Planning software system.
Acted for a major global IT consultancy, the biggest Microsoft Dynamics 365 specialist in Europe, in its defence of a multi-million pound counterclaim in the TCC by a customer alleging defects in its proprietary pre-configuration of Dynamics 365 for the professional services industry.
Appointed by the ICC as sole arbitrator on a dispute under a telecoms distribution agreement.
Acted for a facilities management company in a £10 million claim against a specialist IT support services provider for substantial losses and reputational damage arising out of a ransom malware attack.
Advised a software developer on a dispute under a licensing agreement for its proprietary e-commerce software product.
Lynne is on the independent advisory panel tasked with assessing applications for compensation from postmasters affected by the defects in the Post Office’s electronic point-of-sale IT system, Horizon, which led to false shortfalls in branch accounts. This was the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice. The compensation scheme (known as the Historical Shortfall Scheme) was set up following the well-publicised class action brought in the TCC against the Post Office which resulted in several landmark IT decisions by Mr Justice Fraser (including Alan Bates v Post Office Ltd (Judgment No. 6) [2019] EWHC 3408 (QB)).
Acted for a major public body in relation to a range of complex disputes (relating to delays, defects, inadequate functionality, and contractual issues) arising out of a suite of multi-million pound operationally critical IT services contracts.
Instructed in a DIFC-LCIA arbitration by an MEP sub-contractor in a claim against a Middle Eastern contractor relating to the construction of the prestigious New York University in Abu Dhabi. This included a technically complex dispute worth AED 28 million dirhams about the supply of active and passive components for the IT and telecoms system for the facility.
Advised a leading engineering firm on a wide range of technical and legal disputes arising out of the design and construction of a major new hospital. These included a multi-million pound dispute about whether the installation of an active mobile telephony enhancement system (MTE System), enabling 4G capability, was a variation to the parties’ Electronic Low Voltage (ELV) Trade Contract.
Acted for a leading IT supplier in its defence to a £48 million claim by an NHS Trust arising out of a multi-million pound contract for the supply of desktop services and hardware.
Advised a Data Provider who (due to a coding error) had accidentally provided a customer with unauthorised access to its entire quality-enhanced database of UK businesses. This was a potential breach of the Data Provider’s licence agreement with the third party supplier of a Resale Database.
Acted for an employer in its claim against an IT consultancy in relation to a failed project to provide a Microsoft Dynamics AX/CRM solution tailored to the employer’s detailed requirements. The claim was for delay and failure to provide core functionality, with grave consequences for the employer’s business and ability to compete in the market.
Instructed as Junior Counsel for the Secretary of State for Health in relation to the NHS Connecting for Health project, multi-million pound arbitration disputes worth £300 million about what was at the time the largest civil IT system in the world.
We are proud to have received two nominations at the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards 2025. These awards recognise...
We are delighted to announce that Lynne McCafferty KC has been shortlisted for ‘DE&I Champion of the Year-...
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Sean Brannigan KC, Lynne McCafferty KC, Ben Pilling KC, George Woods, Laurence Page and Richard Sumarno will be in...
Instruct Lynne
To instruct Lynne please contact our clerks on +44 (0)20 7842 5521 or email [email protected].
For help and advice talk to a member of our clerking team. They can advise on the best options for your matter.
Call: +44 (0) 20 7842 5555