Sarah Williams was called to the bar in 2008. Following successful completion of pupillage at Keating Chambers, Sarah became a tenant in September 2009.
Since that time, Sarah has been instructed on matters ranging from domestic construction disputes and lower value commercial claims through to instruction as part of the counsel team in multi-million pound litigation in the TCC and arbitration proceedings.
During pupillage, Sarah completed a wide range of building and construction work typical of that undertaken at Keating Chambers. This included working with the standard form contracts (such as JCT and RIBA standard forms of appointment), adjudications under the Housing Grants etc Act 1996 and arbitrations both internationally and under the Arbitration Act 1996. Work included subject areas such as defects claims, professional negligence, delay and disruption, limitation and procurement.
Sarah has represented her clients in multiple court hearings in London and the regions, often on repeat instruction, both in the County Court and High Court, and in all three tracks. These have included trials, adjudication enforcement, preliminary hearings, possession hearings, allocation hearings and various other applications including strike out, summary judgment and final charging orders.
Recent Work
Professional negligence
- Instructed in the Wembley Stadium litigation as part of the counsel team for Brookfield Construction (UK) Limited (formerly Multiplex) in a professional negligence claim against the consultant engineers.
- Instructed as part of the counsel team acting for the architects in litigation arising out of the Thermae Bath Spa development.
- Drafting proceedings in domestic disputes including professional negligence allegations including, for example, of defective design.
Construction
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Instructed by the Treasury Solicitor as part of the counsel team in a multi-million pound arbitration relating to marine and terrestrial construction disputes.
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Drafting proceedings in domestic claims including defects claims, misrepresentation and the Defective Premises Act 1972.
- Advice on the construction of the ICE Conditions of Contract in relation to a Scottish railway project.
- Drafting court proceedings on behalf of architects against the trustees of a sports club in relation to a claim for unpaid fees and infringement of copyright.
- Advising parties and drafting court proceedings in various other contractual and tortious construction disputes.
Adjudication and arbitration
- Acting in various adjudication proceedings including in, for example, final account disputes and claims relating to defects, repudiation and delay.
- Instructed as junior counsel by a major London transport provider to advise in proposed adjudication disputes regarding inter alia listed building consent and PPG15.
- Drafting adjudication proceedings for an architect fee claim relating to new research laboratories and teaching facilities for a London-based university.
- Advising an Italian client regarding the applicability of an arbitration clause and in a proposed final account claim.
Seminars and Papers
- Good Faith in Construction Contracts (Spring 2010)
- ‘The E. M. Forster talk – a Room with a View?’ (An Introduction to Rights to Light) 2010
- Researcher, update to Keating on Construction Contracts (8th Ed) (2008)
Education and Professional Career
Keswick School, Cumbria
Cambridge University, Jesus College – Natural Sciences M.A (1st Class Hons)
Sustainable Development Officer, International Aluminium Institute, London
Nottingham Law School - Graduate Diploma in Law (Distinction)
Nottingham Law School – BVC (Very Competent) L. LB (1st Class Hons)
Called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn)
Pupillage, Keating Chambers
Keating Chambers |
1994 - 2001
2001 - 2004
2005 - 2006
2006 - 2007
2007 - 2008
2008
2008 - 2009
2009 |
Awards
Exhibitioner, Jesus College, Cambridge
Scholar, Jesus College, Cambridge
Bedingfield Scholar, Gray’s Inn |
2001 - 2002
2003 - 2004
2007 - 2008 |
Membership
Commercial Bar Association (COMBAR)
Other Information
Sarah enjoys sailing, particularly in British waters, and has completed the shore-based RYA Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster Offshore exams with Cambridge University Yachting.
She is also a keen amateur artist and was Treasurer to the Cambridge University Visual Arts Society.
Contact Us
If you would like to discuss ways in which Keating Chambers can assist you or your organisation, please contact Senior Clerk,
Nick Child, in the first instance, on +44(0)20 7544 2600. The teams of Clerks will be pleased to advise you on the member of Keating Chambers appropriate to your requirements.
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