Joanne Williams > Civitas Law > Cardiff, United Kingdom > Barrister Profile

Joanne Williams

0845 0713 007 joanne.williams@civitaslaw.com

Position

Joanne is recommended as leading counsel for personal injury and employment law in both the Chambers UK Guide and Legal 500 directory. Her practice spans instructions from both claimants and defendants. Since her appointment to the provincial panel of the Treasury Counsel in 2007, Joanne has also acted for a number of government departments, defending different types of judicial review claims. Personal injury: Joanne has a substantial personal injury practice acting for both claimants and defendants in employers’ liability, public liability, occupiers liability, product liability and road traffic cases. She has experience in disease cases, including deafness and stress claims. A significant part of her practice involves acting for Local Health Boards across Wales in defending personal injury and contractual claims brought against them by employees. In addition, she acts for many of the major insurance companies in a range of personal injury claims. Since being appointed to the Provincial panel of Treasury Counsel in 2007, Joanne has acted in a number of interesting and high value personal injury actions, including claims brought against the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Defence and the Inland Revenue. She has also been instructed by the Welsh Assembly Government. As well as acting for defendants, Joanne acts for claimants through their unions and under conditional fee arrangements in all variety of claims. Recently, she has been instructed to act in a high value claim involving the interpretation of the manual handling regulations. She also has experience of acting for claimants under the criminal injuries compensation scheme. Joanne has considerable experience in advisory work, settling pleadings, including schedules of special damages and counter schedules and her advocacy experience extends to a high level, including the High Court. Employment law: Joanne acts for both claimants and respondents. However, since being appointed to the provincial panel of Treasury Counsel in 2007, she has acted more regularly for respondents. She has been involved in a number of unfair/constructive unfair dismissal cases at employment tribunal level. Joanne is fully adept at handling the full range of issues that arise in such cases, from the most sensitive to the most straightforward. Joanne has a particular interest in discrimination cases and has successfully acted for a number of government departments in such claims including the Department of Transport, the Inland Revenue and the Ministry of Defence. In addition to her interest in discrimination cases, Joanne has gained significant experience in acting for both claimants and respondents in most aspects of employment law. She regularly acts for local authorities, small and large companies as well as individuals. She has experience of acting in Judicial Mediations. Joanne is a regular attendee at the local employment tribunals. She is also instructed to act for clients further afield. She has experience of appearing in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. Judicial review: since being appointed to the provincial panel of the Treasury Counsel in 2007, Joanne has gained experience in acting for a number of government departments, defending different types of judicial review claims. In particular, Joanne has acted for the Home office in Immigration claims and for the Department of Work and Pensions in claims brought against the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. This area of practice is one in which Joanne is keen to expand. Notable cases: Axa General Insurance Ltd v David Dawe (2005) High Court. Appeal from the county court by the Claimant in respect of a summary judgement application by the defendant. The case was heard before Mr Justice Pitchford. Joanne acted for the defendant and successfully argued that the appeal should be dismissed. The case involved important issues as to the interpretation that should be applied to various parts of the CPR; Rhondda Cynon Taff v Tina Griffiths (2006) (UKEATPA/1477/05/SM) Joanne represented the local authority in an appeal to the EAT on a point of principle regarding when an extension of time should be granted to lodge a notice of appeal to the EAT in circumstances where written reasons were not received by a party until the time period for appealing had lapsed; Parkes v Meridian (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Deafness Test Litigation) (2007) EWCH B1 (QB) Joanne had early involvement as a junior in the preparation of this litigation on behalf of the Claimants; Marjorie Dugan v Department of Transport (2009) Joanne successfully represented the Department of Transport in an interesting indirect sex discrimination case; Stephen John Deakin v Gwynedd County Council & Welsh Ministers (2009). Joanne represented the Welsh Assembly and the local authority in a case involving the extent of the duties owed by a highway authority in respect of skid resistant surfaces; Roger Amos v Gwent Probation Service (2009/2010) This case involved interesting issues about the existence/extent of the duty of care owed by the Probation Service to prisoners whilst under their supervision in prison; Helen Saunders v Denticare Ltd (2010). ET. Joanne represented Denticare in an interesting and sensitive constructive unfair dismissal case; Paula Rogers & Others v Bridgend CBC (2010) ET. This claim was successfully defended by Joanne on behalf of the local authority in respect of alleged unpaid holiday pay. It involved an analysis of whether or not the authority had complied with the recent decisions of the Court of Appeal (following the ECJ decisions) in respect of ‘rolled up’ holiday pay; Sharon Jarvis v HM Revenue & Customs (2010). Joanne acted for the Inland Revenue in a Judicial Mediation regarding maternity related sex discrimination and disability discrimination.

Career

Qualified 1999. Appointed to the provincial panel of Treasury Counsel for employment and litigation in 2007 (reappointed 2012); member of PIBA and Welsh Personal Injuries lawyers Association; entry in the Legal 500 2007/2008 reads: ‘Joanne Williams, at 1999 call, is developing a solid personal injury practice’.

Education

Porth County Comprehensive School, Rhondda Cynon Taf (1988-1995); University of Bristol, LLB Law (1995-1998); Bar Vocational Course, University of Wales, Cardiff (1998-1999); Legal Assistant at Morgan Cole Solicitors, Cardiff (1999-2000); Pupillage at 33 Park Place, Cardiff (2000-2001).