Andrew Williams
Andrew is a Principal Associate in our Commercial Disputes team and heads up our Public Sector department.
Andrew trained in Australia and has been working in the UK for over 20 years. He is skilled in Public and Administrative Law, Government Advisory, Litigation and Legal Research.
Andrew joins us from the Government Legal Department where he provided public law advice to Ministers in various Departments on a number of high priority, high profile and/or complex matters with significant impact across the country and internationally.
Most recently he was Deputy Director (SCS1) in the Roads Group within the Department of Transport Legal Advisers (DfTLA), where he led a team covering Road Safety & Insurance, the Accident Investigation Branches, Connected & Autonomous Vehicles, Future Transport Systems & Environment, and the Driver Agencies (DVSA/DVLA). Previously, throughout the COVID pandemic, he was a Senior Lawyer leading on advising Ministers and senior officials regarding international COVID travel measures (international travel restrictions (including the “traffic light” system), vaccine certification).
Andrew also has extensive public litigation experience, in particular (i) acting for the Ministry of Defence in civil claims brought by foreign claimants alleging mistreatment by British troops in Iraq, and (ii) defending numerous government Departments (including the Home Office and Security Services) in private law claims brought by former detainees at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Al Rawi v The Security Service & Others).
- Advising the Gambling Commission regarding to the 4th National Licence Competition, and ongoing litigation arising from the competition.
- Advising the Gambling Commission regarding general regulatory matters, including responses to complaints against gambling businesses and FOI queries.
- Advising the British Medical Association (BMA) on general regulatory issues and in litigation, including appeals before the Court of Appeal.
- Advising the Solicitors Regulation Authority regarding general regulatory matters including Sanctions.
Andrew joins us from the Government Legal Department where he provided advice to Ministers in various Departments on a number issues including:
- Senior Lawyer within Department for Transport Legal Advisors, leading on advising Ministers and senior officials regarding international COVID travel measures (international travel restrictions (including the “traffic light” system), vaccine certification).
- Advising the Secretary of State for Transport with respect to the Government response to the Volkswagen emissions scandal, including defending potential legal claims by Volkswagen.
- Advising the Department for Transport on Op Yellowhammer (contingency planning for a “no deal” Brexit”) – including supporting various strands of the Kent Traffic Management plan, facilitating the deployment of Operation Brock, and legal support for the freight prioritisation programme to ensure the supply of category 1 goods into the UK.
- Defending the Home Secretary in multiple challenges brought against the policy of detaining asylum seekers whose claim is capable of a quick decision (the “Detained Fast Track).
- Acting for the Home Secretary in a challenge brought by London Metropolitan University (LMU) against the revocation of its Tier 4 sponsor licence on the basis that it had failed to meet its screening obligations and was a risk to immigration control. LMU was the first university to face revocation.
- Conducting litigation for the Ministry of Defence (particularly the “Camp Breadbasket” litigation) defending civil claim brought by foreign claimants alleging mistreatment by British troops in Iraq – including a successful mediation outside the UK.
- Defending numerous government Departments (including the Home Office and Security Services) in private law claims brought by former detainees at the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (Al Rawi v The Security Service & Others).
- Administrative and constitutional law
- Equality and human rights
- Judicial review
- Regulatory law
- Public inquiries and investigations
Career
- Principal Associate, Capital Law Limited (Sep 2023 – present)
- Senior Associate, Capital Law Limited (Mar 2023 – Sep 2023)
- Government Legal Department (Department for Transport), Deputy Director (SCS1) (Oct 2022 – Mar 2023)
- Government Legal Department (Department for Transport), Senior Lawyer (Grade 6) (Jan 2016 – Sep 2022)
- Government Legal Department (Department for Transport), Acting Deputy Director (Jun 2019 – Oct 2019)
- Government Legal Department (Home Office Public Law Team), Senior Lawyer (Grade 6) (Apr 2012 – Jan 2016)
- Treasury Solicitor’s Department (MOD), Lawyer (Grade 7) (Dec 2007 – Mar 2012)
- London Borough of Sutton, Lawyer (Sep 2002 – Nov 2007)
- Philips Fox Solicitors, Solicitor (May 2001 – Mar 2002)
- Ken Cush & Associates, Solicitor (Feb 1999 – May 2001)
Education
- The Australian National University: Graduate Diploma; Legal Practice (1998)
- The Australian National University: LLB/BEc, Law and Economics (1993 – 1998)
Memberships / Trustee positions
- The Law Society of England and Wales