Peter Coulson - Keele University

Sir Peter Coulson

Peter joined Keele in 1976 to begin his Foundation Year before transferring to study Law as part of his Dual Honours degree in English and Law. After graduating, Peter moved to London to take his Bar Finals. He undertook his first 6 months pupillage in Construction Law and this is the area of Law within which he has forged an enviable reputation as one of the leading authorities in the country.

He developed his junior practice at Keating Chambers in London and enjoyed some heady days in the late 80s, early 90s as a leading junior appearing in cases including Ashville v Elmer [1989], which confirmed the power of arbitrators to grant rectification, and McAlpine v McDermott [1992] which established important principles relating to the frustration of contracts. In 2002 he was appointed a QC and added to his reputation in the field with the publication of his book Construction Adjudication, which is in now in its Second Edition. This book has quickly become the definitive work in the field.Shortly after his appointment as a QC, Peter was appointed a Recorder (a part-time Circuit Judge in the Crown Court). 

His career as a Judge has progressed rapidly. After 18 months as a Recorder, he was appointed as a full-time judge in the Technology and Construction Court and shortly after that to the High Court. He is the first Keele graduate, in fact, to be appointed to this position. He is the Director on the Board of three Charitable Trusts, addressing needs as diverse as the Arts to supporting young people with learning difficulties. He has also been heavily involved in supporting the development of the Law Rocks! charity. Peter is a regular visitor to Keele and an enthusiastic suppporter of our students. We were delighted that he returned to Keele in the Summer of 2012 to accept an honorary doctorate and to award prizes to our own graduating finalists.