“David
Cornes’ clients get ‘two for the price
of one’: with an engineering degree and construction
law background, Cornes is swift to gain the confidence
of the parties in technical matters. Described as ‘sensible’ and ‘robust’ he
is a safe choice. Clients admire his ability to knock
heads together constructively. While offering a ‘gentle
reality check’, he is not afraid to give a view
on the law if required.” Legal 500, 2006
“He is an active
mediator who takes a flexible approach”
Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession,
2007
David Cornes
was accredited by CEDR as a mediator in 1993. Up to the end of 2004,
he was Senior Partner in Winward Fearon, Solicitors. Since January
2005, he has been a full-time independent commercial mediator and
is listed by Legal 500 as one of the top ten mediators in the UK.
He is on the Panel of the Court of Appeal, the Panel of Independent
Mediators, the Panel of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, the
Civil/Commercial Panel of the Law Society, the panel of CPR (New
York), and the Mediator Panel of the Railway Industry Dispute Resolution
Rules.
He has been mediator in disputes up to £80 million in
value and in very many multi-party disputes. His mediation experience
has involved parties from overseas (including China, Finland, France,
Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Malta, Monrovia,
The Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,
Venezuela and the USA). He has good experience of mediations where
a Government department is a party.
His mediations have covered almost
every aspect of construction projects, including EU procurement issues,
delay, disruption, liquidated damages, defects, PFI Projects, professional
negligence (Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors and Project
Managers), project insurance and the cost of construction, including
varied work.
He has mediated disputes in business (both partnerships
and family controlled companies), commercial contracts, defamation,
electronics, environmental, fee disputes, insurance and re-insurance,
intellectual property, IT (both software and hardware), mechanical & electrical
engineering, mechanical handling, nuisance, offshore construction,
petrochemical plants, power stations, product liability, professional
indemnity insurance, professional negligence, railways & railway
maintenance, robotics, serious damage to an oil-rig, ship collision,
ship collision with a jetty, repairs to ships, and real property
(including valuation disputes).
