Paul Newman is primarily a construction law barrister. He also accepts instructions in personal injury claims and property disputes. Paul is a recommended counsel for construction law in Chambers UK 2026 and Legal 500 2026. He is a member of the Bars of England & Wales and of Northern Ireland. Paul also works as a construction industry adjudicator, a mediator and an arbitrator. He is an RIBA trained construction industry adjudicator and accredited by TecBar and UK Adudicators.

 

Paul is an ADR Group trained mediator and accredited by ADR Group and TecBar. He was recently appointed as a contributing editor to Knights Guide to Building Control Law and Regulations, published by LexisNexis.

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Typical areas in which Paul receives instructions include:

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Construction & engineering

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• Professional negligence (including architects, designers, engineers, M&E and project managers)

• Bringing and defending construction claims

• Dangerous structures and defective premises

• Payment and final account claims

• Adjudications and their enforcement

• Advice and disputes under common-form contracts

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Personal Injury

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• Advice on liability and quantum

• Claims in which a finding of fundamental dishonesty (FD) is sought.

• All litigation stages from CCMC to Trial

• Preparation of pleadings and schedules of loss 

• Attendance at settlement meetings

• Credit Hire (including MT and PAD applications)

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Property Law

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• Boundary and rights of way disputes

• Statutory appeals to the County Court under The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996

• Injunctions to prevent building work being undertaken in breach of The Party Wall Etc. Act 1996

• Property damage claims

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After reading modern languages (French and Spanish) at Clare College Cambridge Paul completed the Diploma in Law at City University and then studied at the Inns of Court School of Law.

 

Ongoing / Recent Work

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• True value adjudication relating to a sub-contract dispute in which £246,000 approx. was claimed.

 

• Land slippage where extensive building work was being carried out on a neighbouring property to create a subterranean leisure complex.

 

• Remedial work alleged to have been undertaken negligently to a Grade II listed building

 

• Advice to a local authority on the operation of a JCT 2016 Term Maintenance Contract.

 

• Settlement of a claim for approx. £250,000 in which the claimant suffered significant injuries in a motorway accident.

 

• Maintenance work at a major UK airport that resulted in personal injury claims.

 

Cases of Note

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Boardwell v K3D Partnership Property [2006] Adj.C.S. 04/21  

Lovell Projects Ltd v Legg & Carver (2003) 89 BLR 452 (TCC)

Rankilor (1) / Perco Civil Engineering Ltd v M Igoe Ltd [2006] EWHC 3413 (TCC) 

David & Teresa Bothma (T/A DAB Builders) v Mayhaven Healthcare Ltd [2007] EWHC 527 (TCC) {Court of Appeal}

Melhuish & Saunders Ltd v Hurden & Hurden [2012] EWHC 3119 (TCC)

Wycombe Demolition v Topevent [2015] EWHC 2692 (TCC)

McLellan v Pudsey (Lawtel 2016)

Baldwin & Another v JR Pickstock Ltd [2017] EWHC 2456 (TCC)

PFG Ltd v Masma Ltd HT-2017-000263 (TCC)

 

Endorsements

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Paul has been featured in Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners where endorsements have included –

‘'He has a cool head and a precise eye’ …

‘Commercially astute and sharp on his feet.’… ‘…  

 “He is efficient and as knowledgeable as they come, with commercial-based reasoning and client-friendly conclusions.”

 “Paul Newman is flexible and willing to assist, especially on urgent matters with deadlines, whilst still being able to apply an excellent attention to detail.”

‘Paul Newman is an excellent barrister who focuses on handling construction disputes. He is sought out by both developers and contractors for his adept handling of cases concerning defective works and damages on both residential and commercial developments. He has extensive experience in mediation.’ "He is one of the go-to people for effective work in construction cases."

 

Affiliations

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Member of Gray’s Inn

Wales & Chester Circuit

Member of the Bar of Northern Ireland

CMC (Civil Mediation Council)

Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Fellow)

Society of Construction Law

Adjudication Society

Civil Mediation Council (CMC)

Personal Injury Bar Association

Professional Negligence Bar Association

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Appointing Paul as a Mediator, Adjudicator or Arbitrator? Paul’s appointment terms are available on request.

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Paul Newman is a barrister registered with Bar Standards Board of England and Wales. He is a sole practitioner and has professional liability insurance provided by the Bar Mutual Indemnity Fund Ltd., Bar Mutual Management Company, 90 Fenchurch Street, London EC3M 4ST www.barmutual.co.uk. Bar Mutual provides cover for claims brought anywhere in the world.

 

All members of Pendragon Chambers provide legal services on a contractual basis pursuant to the Bar Council’s Standard Terms and Conditions unless expressly agreed, or otherwise varied, in writing.

 

Complaints procedures. Our complaints procedures are available to the lay client as well as those organisations directly instructing a member of Pendragon Chambers. If a lay client wishes to complain, they may do so directly to Chambers without going through their solicitors. Please click this here for fuller details Complaints Procedure.

 

VAT details are available upon request and are provided on our initial acknowledgement letter which is generated upon receipt of your Brief or instruction to Counsel. It is also provided upon our fee note to our client.