Tom Asquith

Tom has extensive experience of construction disputes, in adjudication, arbitration and litigation. He has acted in employer-contractor disputes and in cases involving a variety of construction professionals, including approved inspectors, architects, engineers of various types, monitoring surveyors and warranty surveyors. He has significant experience of TCC advocacy, including undertaking a four week trial as sole counsel.

Tom is recommended by Chambers & Partners, Legal 500 and Lexology as a leading construction barrister. He is also recommended by Chambers & Partners for construction professional negligence. The 2026 directories report that:

• “Tom is very charming, capable, gets the work done and is very talented.”
• “Tom is unflappable and will roll his sleeves up and get stuck in on big pieces of litigation.”
• “He is able to jump to the crux of something and is a go-to senior junior.”

• “Tom Asquith is a stylish advocate who is persuasive and good at getting to the nub of the arguments.”

Featured Construction & Engineering cases

• Vitsoe Limited v Waugh Thistleton Architects Limited [2025] EWHC 850 (TCC). Trial of claim against architectural practice.
• Avantage (Cheshire) Limited and ors v GB Building Solutions Limited (in administration) and ors [2022] EWHC 171 (TCC). Resisting application by fire engineer for summary judgment based on alleged lack of duty owed.
• The Front Door (UK) Ltd v The Lower Mill Estate Ltd [2021] EWHC 2324 (TCC). Application to join proposed defendants, in a claim by an architectural practice arising out of the development of a holiday village.
• Curtiss & Ors v Zurich Insurance Plc & Anor [2021] EWHC 1999 (TCC). Guidance on the disclosure pilot scheme. The claim was brought by more than 100 claimants in relation to a residential development in Swansea.
• Beverley Goldman & ors v (1) Zurich Insurance Plc (2) East West Insurance Co Ltd [2020] EWHC 192 (TCC). Claim relating to inspections by building guarantee inspectors and subsequent cover notes.