Energy

Our members deliver first-class advocacy, technical experience, and deep sector knowledge across the full spectrum of energy related disputes.

We pride ourselves in getting to the heart of the highly technical issues that often arise in this sort of dispute and explaining matters of complexity with precision and clarity.  Members of Chambers advise and represent clients in commercial litigation and international arbitration, as well as acting in mediations, adjudications and Dispute Boards.

Members of 4 Pump Court work with clients in the major global arbitration centres on projects undertaken in the key jurisdictions as well as emerging markets. They are regularly instructed to act for major energy companies, national oil companies, international engineering contractors, governments and state-owned entities, financiers, and insurers.

Our reputation as market leaders for such disputes led to our recognition as ‘International Arbitration Set of the Year’ (Chambers & Partners UK Bar Awards 2022).

We have true strength in depth – the number of specialist barristers at 4 Pump Court with expertise in this sector enables us to provide teams of counsel for large and complex disputes including those relating to commercial matters, construction projects, infrastructure, supply and distribution, contractual disputes and insurance.

Our experience within the energy sector includes, but is not limited to:

• Construction, infrastructure and engineering
• Energy Transition (incl. climate, decarbonisation, and sustainability)
• Nuclear
• Offshore, Marine and Shipping
• Oil & Gas
• Power and Utilities
• Renewables (incl. Solar, Wind & Hydropower)
• Water

Recent instructions include:

Oil and gas

We are acting in disputes arising from the construction of some of the largest oil and gas infrastructure projects in the world, including onshore and offshore oil field developments, transcontinental pipelines, marine terminals and strategic oil and gas storage facilities. Those disputes include projects in Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and South America.

We have specific expertise in disputes relating to LNG plants, refineries and pipelines as well as the construction and hire of drillships, rigs and offshore supply vessels.

We also act regularly in joint venture disputes relating to the oil and gas sectors and have acted in major disputes relating to Joint Operating Agreements, Production Sharing Agreements and other joint venture agreements in the oil and gas sectors.

Renewables

We continue to be heavily involved in disputes concerning windfarms, biomass fired furnaces, waste power generators, hydroelectric schemes and solar power plants in the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region.

Power production

We have a wealth of experience in disputes covering all aspects of power production across the globe, including disputes over mining and fuel supply agreements, the construction of all types of power plant and power purchase agreements.

Energy related work includes in particular international contracts for the construction and operation of power stations, wind-farms, oil and gas platforms and pipelines, under FIDIC and other terms.

In recent years, the increase in terrorism and piracy in resource-rich areas of the world has also meant that members of chambers have acted in energy related cases where national security risks have also played a role in energy disputes.