Specialist construction set Atkin Chambers has added commercial and insurance silk Catherine Piercy KC from rival set Gatehouse Chambers.
Piercy’s practice focuses on construction and engineering disputes, property damage and professional liability. She regularly appears in the Technology and Construction Court in important cases, particularly those involving cladding, as well as encompassing insurance, infrastructure and construction-related professional negligence.
Alongside her court work, Piercy has a strong adjudication practice, acting for insurers, contractors, employers, construction professionals and insolvency practitioners, as well as in arbitrations and mediations, all of which focus on significant construction work.
Chantal-Aimée Doerries KC, head of Atkin Chambers, welcomed Piercy, calling her an “outstanding silk with an excellent reputation and impressive practice”.
Piercy said she had chosen to join Atkin to continue growing her construction, engineering and insurance practice.
She added: “I have been fortunate to work with some of the best legal and expert firms in the business, and their reaction has been wholly positive to my move. Whilst I will be sad to leave my Gatehouse friends who have shown me incredible support over the last 15 years, the move to Atkin Chambers represents an exciting new stage in my practice.”
Piercey joined Gatehouse in 2010, having completed her pupillage at Keating Chambers. She previously worked as a paralegal at Mayer Brown for 18 months.
She was called to the Bar in 2007 and took silk in 2023. She is also called to the Bar of Northern Ireland, which operates a library system as a referral Bar. Piercey was shortlisted for ‘Best Woman in Construction Law’ by the Women in Construction and Engineering Awards, having been recognised for her work in this field as a junior.
David Barnes, Atkin’s chief executive, said: “Catherine’s commercial and insurance expertise, across Atkin Chambers’ core practice areas, will further enhance the service that chambers is able to offer clients.”
Amanda Illing, chief executive of Gatehouse Chambers, said: "We have enjoyed working with Catherine over the last 15 years and supporting her as her professional life developed and flourished, including into silk. We wish her well on her onward journey."
Piercy's arrival at Atkin follows that of Karim Ghaly KC, who joined from 39 Essex Chambers in September. The addition of both Ghaly and Piercy takes the set’s number of King’s Counsel to 26.
Other construction sets that have boosted their ranks include Crown Office Chambers, which last week announced the arrival of former White & Case partner Rebecca Shorter, the current chair of the Society of Construction Lawyers.
Gatehouse itself saw the arrival of experienced clerk Elliot Langdorf as practice director in March from Cornerstone Barristers, and experienced county court advocate Mark Erridge in June. It also welcomed Emma Zeb KC’s elevation to silk earlier this year.
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