Mr Ben Williams > Kings Chambers > Manchester, England > Barrister Profile
Kings Chambers Offices
36 YOUNG STREET
MANCHESTER
M3 3FT
England
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Mr Ben Williams
Position
A specialist in Employment and Regulatory Law (with a particular focus on Disciplinary, Environmental and Licensing work).
In respect of Ben’s employment law practice, he has vast experience in the healthcare, retail and education sectors. He appears regularly in Tribunals and has an extensive client base, representing a large number of NHS Trusts throughout the country as well as some well-known retailers.
He has extensive experience in associated High Court litigation in all aspects of his work.
He is particularly well regarded in respect of his taxi licensing work where he appears for both local authorities and appellants involving hackney carriage and private hire vehicles. He has advised extensively on the formulation and implementation of local authority taxi licensing policy with a keen emphasis on safeguarding. He has advised extensively on the implementation of CCTV into licensed vehicles throughout the country, as well as licensing fees and cross-border hiring.
In the context of entertainment licensing, he acts for the industry (nightclubs, bars, pubs, festivals and restaurants), Local Authorities, interested parties and the police, both in terms of representation at licensing hearings (including appeals) and in an advisory capacity. Has considerable experience in respect of zoo licensing and in hearings before the Traffic Commissioner.
He acts for defendants and Regulators in Health and Safety, Environmental and Consumer law regulatory prosecutions. His Environmental practice means he advises a number of private clients in respect of noise nuisance matters which has particular importance with his associated licensing work. He regularly acts in appeals against abatement notices and is currently acting a number of cases involving animal nuisance.
Has appeared in a number of high profile cases including; Rehman v Wakefield (2018); Hull CC v Greggs and others (2016) and Leeds CC v Shell UK (2013).
Ben sits on the recruitment committee and was the ED&I officer for a number of years.
Career
Called to the Bar in 2001, joined Kings Chambers in 2006.
Memberships
Road Transport Lawyers Association
Northern & North Eastern Circuits
Member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers
Employment Lawyers Association
Employment Law Bar association
Lawyer Rankings
Regional Bar > North Eastern Circuit > Employment
(Leading Juniors)Ranked: Tier 2Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Licensing
The ‘strong‘ team at Kings Chambers handles a wide range of licensing work, including gambling, taxis, firearms, street trading and alcohol and entertainment matters. Sarah Clover has an excellent track record in representing hospitality and leisure industry clients in licensing matters. Ben Williams regularly acts for licensees, the police and local authorities, and is representing a council in an ongoing taxi licensing dispute. In another matter, Constanze Bell advised Liquid Light Brewing Company on its application for a license to open a tasting room attached to a brewery; the application was approved.
Regional Bar > Northern Circuit > Employment
Kings Chambers is praised as ‘a great set of chambers with great local barristers’ and its employment team acts for employers of all sizes. It also has a thriving High Court practice, with its members representing high-profile clients on complex breach of contract and restrictive covenant claims. Head of the employment group James Boyd predominately represents employers in his national practice. The set also houses employment law specialist Anisa Niaz-Dickinson, who acts for claimants and respondents in the Employment Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal, and Ben Williams, who is highly adept in cases in the health care context. Martin Budworth is skilled in restrictive covenant cases, as well as matters in the sports context ; he also represented the claimant in Cohen v Leicester Football Club, a case concerning the departure of the Leicester Tigers’ former CEO. Rosie Kight is another notable name – she acted for the respondent Allen v Primark Stores, a discrimination case concerning flexible working upon maternity leave – at issue was constructing the correct pool of comparators.