Alistair Williams > Bates Wells > London, England > Lawyer Profile

In addition to being regularly instructed on significant public inquiries and judicial reviews, Bates Wells has particular expertise in advising audit bodies and local government on public sector finance, as well as acting for major charities on regulation, public law challenges and duty spin-outs. Former practice head Melanie Carter moved to Bevan Brittan LLP in July 2022 but the team was bolstered by the addition of co-head Matthew Smith, who has a strong track record on judicial reviews concerning human rights before domestic and European courts, from BDB Pitmans in April 2023. Senior associate Alistair Williams handles matters in the local audit sector, including financial investigations. Claire Whittle has moved to DLA Piper.

Bates Wells‘ professional discipline practice routinely acts for statutory regulator, Social Work England, as well as representative bodies (Royal Colleges and Institutes); and membership organisations with professional discipline functions, such as the Market Research Society, College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists, and the Royal Astronomical Society. At senior associate level, Amrita Hurst is an experienced public law lawyer, while Alistair Williams acts for statutory regulators and membership bodies with disciplinary functions. Former practice leader Melanie Carter departed the firm for Bevan Brittan LLP in July 2022 and Claire Whittle for DLA Piper.

Bates Wells specialises in advising auditing bodies on a range of activities, providing governance and regulatory advice and representing audit firms in judicial reviews and claims. The team also exhibits notable expertise in matters related to charity law and has a record of advising local councils on their relationships with charitable trusts. The team is led by Augustus Della-Porta, who has extensive experience advising local authorities on service spin-out initiatives. Subsidy control and procurement expert Lindsay Draffan, charity and spin-out expert Erica Crump, and regulatory expert Alistair Williams are also recommended. Former co-head Claire Whittle left for DLA Piper.