Region Area

Lawyers

Angela Williams

Angela Williams

Work Department

Insurance and Public Risk

Position

Angela is a director in the Technical Claims team based in the Exeter office, specialising in complex employer liability claims and acting extensively for insurers, particularly NHS Resolution, with a focus on large loss claims and those involving key technical points.

Angela has the leading case of Feest v SWSHA & Bay Island Voyages (2015) (The Celtic Pioneer) to her name.  This Court of Appeal case is the only UK authority on the applicability of Article 14 of the Athens Convention to claims for contribution against carriers at sea and the extent of Article 16.

Angela has a particular interest in occupational stress claims and claims involving bullying and harassment.  Notable success in defending these claims include a discontinuance of a high-value and technical stress at work claim (confidential) and the reported case of Bailey v DPT (2014) a High Court claim by a psychiatrist for occupational stress which was dismissed by the Recorder at Exeter District Registry.  Angela is an experienced litigator in this area dealing with many high profile and sensitive claims.

Angela has developed an expanding practice of defending breach of confidentiality and data protection claims.  Advising NHS Trusts and NHS Resolution on this increasingly important area of law, she ahs several cases to her name where Claimants have discontinued.  Angela is a trusted advisor in this area, regularly providing training and advice to her clients.

She has externally published in PIBU, NLJ, Westlaw and Local Government Lawyer.  She also publishes and edits a newsletter to the firm's major clients each month.

Angela provides support to NHS Trusts on risk and health and safety including risk management recommendations arising from claims.

In collaboration with the firm's education department, Angela advises schools and academies on defending personal injury claims to staff and pupils.  Recent cases involve blindness to a pupil and a serious assault to a pupil on a residential school trip.

Career

Angela is the specialist lead for defending stress at work claims with a proven track record of success. She is recognised for her expertise in defending employers’ liability and public liability claims and advising on risk management, strategy, data breaches and cyber liability as well as learning from claims and reputation management.

Having previous been a solicitor at a claimant firm, she has seen claims from both sides. Clients value her insight and approachability. Angela’s clients include NHS Trusts, local authorities, charities and private companies. She works closely with the legal teams within her clients’ organisations to help prevent claims and engage staff in learning from claims.

Angela advises on a range of EL/PL disputes primarily from the Exeter office as well as working across the Birmingham and Nottingham offices with the other team members.

Angela has considerable experience defending and identifying fraud claims, advising on insurance coverage disputes, directors and officers liability and HRA claims. She also has experience of clinical negligence claims, particularly those involving abuse and safeguarding failures, mental health and Court of Protection issues. She has published articles on claims and edits the monthly newsletter to the firm’s major clients. She speaks at ALARM, claims club and bespoke events.

Veitch Penny – 2011 – 2012 Thompsons – 2009 – 2011 Foot Anstey – 2003 - 2009

Education

Solicitor – admitted 2001

Mentions