Christopher Ennis
Mediator & Chartered Quantity Surveyor
Short Introduction
Disputes that drag on for months, even years, can take over peoples' lives, the first thing they think about every day. This affects not only private individuals, but also company directors, officers in public authorities and others having to spend precious time on their dispute rather than on productive work. Enabling disposal of this worry, lifting that burden through communication and exploration of the parties' needs, sometimes finding solutions that are not purely monetary, is hugely rewarding to me personally.
Testimonials
About Work
My specific area of expertise is construction and engineering disputes. In addition to smaller value disputes between private owners and contractors, I have also mediated high value commercial disputes between employers, main contractors and subcontractors, matters involving professional negligence, and partnership disputes. Aside from obvious issues of defects, valuation and other matters commonly arising in construction disputes, I have also mediated disputes where the central issues have involved insurance, shipping, petrochemical installations, and more esoteric matters such as experimental atomic fusion and intelligence gathering!
I have mediated disputes involving three or four separate commercial parties, and in one such dispute a key stakeholder consisted of multiple leaseholders in an apartment complex.
My style has been described as "pragmatic, empathetic and sensitive". Whilst i am facilitative rather than evaluative, my background as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, arbitrator, adjudicator and expert witness means I am able to offer informed perspectives when needed, especially in technical disputes.
Other feedback has included:
"...maintains impartiality while guiding parties toward resolution, often in high-stakes or emotionally charged situations."
"...skilfully removing feelings of animosity so that a deal could be done, showing a strong ability to manage interpersonal dynamics and diffuse tension."
"His mediations have included time-limited sessions (e.g., half-day formats) and cases requiring particular sensitivity—such as those involving aggression, emotional complications, or disadvantaged parties."
"...effectiveness in enabling agreements, even in challenging circumstances: “Not an easy process but made less painful by your management of the day”."
Expertise
- Commercial & Corporate
- Construction, Property & Planning
- Banking, Finance & Insurances
- Public Sector & Governance
- Industry, Energy & Environment
- International Trade & Competition
Languages
- English
- German
- French
Publications
-
“Entitlement to Time-Related Costs in Prolongation Claims – What Needs to be Considered?” Paper D216, Society of Construction Law, December 2018.
-
“Security of Payment in the Construction Industry: Does International Experience Provide a Crystal Ball for North America?”, September 2018 – joint paper with Matthew Bell, Anand Juddoo, Sundra Rajoo, Bruce Reynolds and Sharon Vogel for 8th International Society of Construction Law Conference, Chicago, USA, (2018) 34 Const. L.J. 601.
-
“Hot-Tubbing, Presentations and other Gimmicks: How Not to Manage Expert Evidence”, Paper D193, Society of Construction Law, October 2016.
-
“Prospective Claims for Variations under FIDIC and NEC 3: Evidential and Procedural Issues”, Paper D182, Society of Construction Law, October 2015, republished (2016) 32 Const. L.J., Issue 3.
-
“Claims for Extensions of Time and Compensation under the FIDIC Red Book: Civil Law and Common Law Approaches Compared”, Paper D162, Society of Construction Law, November 2013 – joint paper with Dr Wolfgang Breyer, Breyer Rechtsanwälte, Stuttgart, and also (2014) Const L.J. 30.
-
“Experts: When They Should Be Brought in and How They Can Best Save Time and Cost”, (2013) 79 Arbitration 80.
-
“Arbitration of Disputes in UK Construction Projects: What is Left After Adjudication?” (2012) Const L.J. 8.
-
“The Expert in International Disputes”, Paper 177, Society of Construction Law, August 2012.
-
“Evaluating Disruption Costs on Major Construction Projects”, Paper D125, Society of Construction Law, July 2011. “Issues to be considered in evaluation of disruption costs on major construction projects”, paper for TECBAR Conference January 2011.
-
“Financial Claims under NEC3 Contracts: An Overview”, Paper D117, Society of Construction Law, December 2010.
-
“What degree of proof is required in ‘ascertainment’ of loss and/or expense?” (2009) Const L.J. 7 (Published simultaneously in China Construction Law Review).
-
“Credit for Betterment in Quantum Arguments” (2000) 16 Const. L.J. 31.
-
“How Soon Should Claims in Multi-Party Disputes be Settled?” (1997) 13 Const. LJ 35