Andrew Ward > Watson Farley & Williams LLP > London, England > Lawyer Profile

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.

‘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‘.

Watson Farley & Williams LLP offers clients ‘extraordinarily broad experience’ in the aviation sector, advising on the spectrum of commercial issues, restructuring and insolvency and regulatory matters in addition to handling major disputes. The firm has also acted for clients in relation to Russian aircraft seizures and sanctions. Jim Bell heads the practice, acting for financiers, lessors and operators on structured finance transactions, while Andrew Ward, who co-heads the dispute resolution team, acts for banks, investors, airlines and lessors. Patrick Moore focuses on restructuring matters, handling matters ranging from lease arrangements to Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. A number of arrivals have augmented the practice, with Jeffrey Wool, on secondment as secretary general of the Aviation Working Group, arriving from Holland & Knight LLP as a senior global advisor in January 2023 and aviation disputes specialist Tim Murray following in June. Alison Weal arrived from Winston & Strawn LLP in May 2022, taking up a position as head of aviation knowledge management.