Rebecca Williams > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Watson Farley & Williams LLP Offices

Watson Farley & Williams LLP
15 APPOLD STREET
LONDON
EC2A 2HB
England
Visit website 020 7814 8000 020 7814 8141

Rebecca Williams

Rebecca Williams photo
0203 036 9805 rwilliams@wfw.com View profile View profile View profile

Work Department

Dispute Resolution

Position

Rebecca has extensive experience in all major forms of dispute resolution in the construction, engineering, process, petrochemical and energy sectors including litigation, arbitration (both international and domestic and under various rules, including ICC and LCIA), adjudication and mediation.

She offers real time advice during project execution and is an expert in all major standard forms of contract including FIDIC, IChemE, NEC, JCT and numerous bespoke contracts. Insurance-related disputes are another area of expertise. Rebecca has acted for owners/developers as well as major EPC contractors and sub-contractors on a wide range of infrastructure and energy projects both domestically and internationally. Rebecca has a particular depth of experience in disputes relating to Offshore Wind projects dating from 2008.

Rebecca and her team have advised in varying capacities on projects comprising approximately 75% of the UK’s offshore wind energy generating capacity. As a result the WFW team are particularly adept at the early and cost efficient resolution of disputes before, during and after construction.

In April 2019, Rebecca led the WFW team that successfully advised Bester in the ground-breaking PBS Energo AS v Bester Generacion UK Ltd matter and as a result of which the team were awarded Legal Week’s Construction and Engineering Team of the Year 2019 and shortlisted for Legal Business’ Commercial Litigation Team of the Year 2020.

Rebecca has been named by leading UK legal weekly The Lawyer as one of its Hot 100 2020, a prestigious list of the lawyers of the moment who are shaping the legal profession. She was shortlisted for “Litigator of the year” at the Women in Law Awards 2020.

Rebecca has been recommended as a leader in her field for a number of years. Legal 500 UK 2021 notes Rebecca “gives everything for her clients in each and every case. She is a real winner, and leads with confidence and tenacity a large team, who all support her completely. That support and loyalty is a real testament to her. Rebecca has great energy and enthusiasm for each case, which drives the team.” She is described as a “savvy operator” and “the epitome of the new generation of leaders in the construction legal industry”, as well as being “completely committed and determined to do the best for her clients.”

Chambers UK 2021 cites “her main strengths are her attention to detail and ability to understand the technical complexities of cases. In her formulation and execution of a strategy, she never leaves any stone unturned and always identifies and addresses the key issues”, as well as “she is exceptionally good tactically and a very good case manager.”

Memberships

  1. Law Society of England & Wales
  2. Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association (TeCSA)
  3. Society of Construction Law (SCL)
  4. National Association for Women in Construction
  5. Australian Women in Business

Education

  1. 2003 · Admitted as a Solicitor of England and Wales
  2. 1997 · Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia
  3. 1997 · College of Law
  4. 1995 · Indiana University ANU Exchange Programme: awarded a scholarship to study at Indiana University and received the Certificate of High Scholastic Achievement
  5. 1990 – 1995 · Australian National University, BA in Political Science, LLB

Leisure

Personal hobbies: travel, cooking, skiing, swimming, yoga and meditation.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Real estate > Construction: contentious

(Leading individuals)

Rebecca Williams – Watson Farley & Williams LLP

Watson Farley & Williams LLP specialises in the energy, transport, and real estate sectors. Practice head Rebecca Williams boasts extensive experience in various dispute resolution forms in the construction, engineering, process, petrochemical, and energy sectors. Ryland Ash has carved a niche in adjudication and litigation proceedings, as well as in dispute avoidance and early dispute resolution through less formal procedures. Barry Hembling offers blue-chip clients construction law advice throughout a project’s lifecycle. Theresa Mohammed and her team of four others joined the department from Trowers & Hamlins LLP during 2022. Mohammed is an authority in handling large-scale infrastructure, landmark heritage, and high-risk residential disputes.

London > Dispute resolution > International arbitration

With ‘excellent instincts when it comes to international disputes‘, Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s practice stands out for its specialist sector expertise in energy, transport and infrastructure across the firm’s international network. Construction and energy disputes expert Rebecca Williams is ‘a fighter that clients want in their corner‘; Rob Fidoe acts in ad hoc and institutional arbitrations under various rules; Mike Phillips is maritime disputes leader; Andrew Ward specialises in heavyweight international arbitration; and Andrew Hutcheon is ‘skilled at securing good outcomes‘. Mark McAllister-Jones is a recently-elevated counsel, while Archit Dhir, Alexander Creswick and Jack Moulder are experienced senior associates.

London > Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: mid-market

‘A well-known commercial litigation firm that is capable of taking on larger firms and winning‘, Watson Farley & Williams LLP fields experts in large-scale, commercial and corporate litigation in the transport, energy and infrastructure sectors. The firm also has enviable aviation, commodities, real estate, and construction and engineering disputes practices; and it is able to leverage the cross-border disputes expertise of its Europe, Asia, US and Middle East offices. The principal figures are Andrew Ward, who ‘deserves to become one of the leading lights in commercial litigation‘; construction and energy sector specialist Rebecca Williams;  Rob Fidoe, who is particularly focused on energy matters; and Charles Buss, who specialises in maritime litigation and arbitration, as well as general commercial and banking disputes. Within the firm’s senior associate ranks, Jemma Dhillon is experienced in a range of dispute resolution forums, including litigation, arbitration and mediation, while Mark McAllister-Jones is ‘an excellent disputes lawyer‘.

London > Projects, energy and natural resources > Power (including electricity, nuclear and renewables)

Watson Farley & Williams LLP‘s power team, described as being ‘a delight to work with’, is well-established and able to handle the array of complex work in the sector, both domestically and internationally. The scope of its workload includes assisting in infrastructure matters regarding both renewables, including solar, wind and energy-from-waste work, and conventional power. Jennifer Charles was notably promoted to partnership in May 2022. Henry Stewart, who has a particular focus on M&A and financings in the renewables space, leads the team. Standout practitioners include Daisy East, who is advising Sequoia as secured creditor regarding the high-profile administration of Bulb Energy Limited. ‘Outstanding disputes lawyer’ Rebecca Williams is another name to note.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

Firm Rankings