Sarah Williams is a specialist in construction, engineering and energy disputes, appearing both in the High Court, in international arbitrations and in adjudications. She has recently been involved in on-shore oil and gas international arbitration disputes in the Middle East, litigation involving complex infrastructure in the UK, and fire-related cladding litigation.
Sarah is recognised for the quality of her oral and written advocacy, and her approachable, straightforward style.She is recommended in the directories as one who “ punches above her weight in seniority and is certainly a junior to watch“. She “provides both excellent legal representation and commercial advice and is able to quickly and effectively develop a case strategy”, “her cross-examination has been precise and incisive” and “she is completely on top of the detail”.
Sarah’s practice encompasses a diverse range of disputes, centred on construction, engineering and energy and often on repeat instruction.Recently she has been instructed in an ICC arbitration in respect of issues of termination arising from an oil and gas facility in the Middle East, throughout an LCIA arbitration to final hearing concerning an EPF in the Middle East, and in respect of a Section 68 challenge arising out of that dispute; and in a multi handed TCC dispute regarding defects and consequential losses in a new NHS hospital in the NE of England.
Alongside her practice, Sarah is a Councillor for the Society of Construction Law, in which she chairs the SCL sub-committee on Ethics, Equality and Diversity,and takes responsibility for ‘SCL Astra’ – the branch of SCL for those in their first 10 years in the industry.
In chambers, Sarah sits on the pupillage committee, is a pupil-supervisor, and is the Environmental and Ethical officer for chambers.
Public Access Training, 2015Barrister, Keating Chambers, 2009Pupillage, Keating Chambers, 2008-2009Called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) 2008
COMBAR; SCL; TECBAR.
Keswick School, Keswick; Jesus College, Cambridge (2004 MA Natural Sciences 1st honours); Nottingham Law School (2008 LLB 1st honours).