Chris Utton

• Acting for a major European contractor in an arbitration under the IChemE arbitration rules against the project owner. The project is a GBP 800 million waste-to-energy facility in the UK. Circa GBP 500 million is in dispute.
• Acting for a major European contractor in an ICC arbitration with USD 1 billion+ in dispute. The dispute concerns a significant Algerian gas-field development and central processing facility.
• Acted for the owner of the world's largest new build petrochemical complex in an ICC arbitration against one of its EPC contractors. Circa USD 400 million was in dispute.
• Acted for a major Korean contractor in an ICC arbitration with circa USD 200 million in dispute. The dispute was against the contractor's consortium partner on the project, a combined cycle power plant in Malaysia.
• Acted for a major global contractor in an AAA arbitration with circa USD 180 million in dispute. The client engaged an EPC contractor to complete the project, a CHP plant in the U.S., but had to terminate the contract because of the contractor's delay and defective work.
• Advised a major Korean contractor in respect of disputes with its joint venture partners and the owner of a highly significant petrochemical project in Thailand. The project experienced major delay and cost overruns of USD 1 billion+, which our client sought to recover in a SIAC arbitration.
• Advised the owner of a USD 800 million ammonia/urea plant in Brunei on numerous pre-completion disputes with the EPC contractor. The disputes included issues in respect of delay and disruption of the works, defects, and liquidated damages.
• Acted for a major Filipino conglomerate in a SIAC arbitration with over USD 1 billion in dispute. Our client engaged the contractor on a land reclamation project near Manila and subsequently had to terminate the contract.
• Advised a major Korean EPC contractor in respect of a dispute with the owner of a desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. We provided advice on various issues including force majeure, delay and disruption of the works resulting from disputes down the contractual chain with sub-contractors, and changes in local law.
• Acted for the operator of a CHP plant in an ICC arbitration against the owner, a major global agrichemical company . A fire occurred during upgrade works and disrupted the supply of heat and high-pressure steam required for the manufacturing processes. Circa GBP 100 million was in dispute.

Chris Utton focuses on construction and engineering disputes and has gained experience in a range of forums including international arbitration, court litigation, mediation and adjudication. Chris advises clients on disputes globally but has a particular focus on the APAC region. Chris acts for both employers/owners and contractors and has advised clients on a wide variety of issues, including loss and expense claims arising out of delay and disruption, defects, retention, liquidated damages and termination.

Since joining King & Spalding in early 2022, Chris has worked exclusively on international construction arbitrations and has represented clients in some of the largest and most complex construction arbitrations globally.

Recent highlights include representing the owner of the world's largest new build petrochemical complex in an ICC arbitration against one of its EPC contractors, advising a major South Korean contractor in an arbitration against its consortium partner, and advising a major European EPC contractor in a USD 1 billion+ ICC arbitration.

Chris has gained experience across a range of sectors including energy, renewables, petrochemical, residential/commercial development, utilities and infrastructure projects.

Before joining King & Spalding, Chris was based in London at one of the UK’s most prestigious law firms and split his time between international arbitration matters and adjudication proceedings. Chris continues to advise clients on construction disputes in the UK and spends a significant amount of time each year working from the firm’s London office.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Chris lived in Seoul from 2007 to 2013 and retains a keen interest in South Korea. At King & Spalding, Chris has acted for some of South Korea’s most well-known contractors on projects in the Middle East and APAC regions, and travels to Seoul and Busan on a regular basis.