Ben Williams

Commercial Arbitration

• Acting for a major European oil and gas exploration and production company in respect of two multi-billion dollar LCIA arbitrations concerning an asset in Kurdistan.
• Acting for a multinational payment transfer service provider in relation to a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration to recover debts from an agent in the UAE and Bahrain.
• Acting in LCIA arbitration proceedings for a leading European low fares airline against an Italian airport owner concerning unpaid contractual bonus fees.
• Acting for an insured (a US Government Agency) in three separate Bermuda form arbitrations relating to a US$ 1 billion loss (involving successful coverage recovery exceeding US$ 250 million) following an environmental incident.
• Acting for an insured (a US utility company) in a Bermuda form arbitration relating to a US$ 200 million loss following an environmental incident.
• Multi-jurisdiction litigation acting for an English online gaming company in connection with court proceedings in Malta and SCC arbitration proceedings in Sweden relating to a fraud committed against the company.
• Construction Arbitration
• Acting for a major European oil and gas exploration and production company in respect of a multi-million dollar ICC arbitration against a contractor relating to the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of a gas treatment facility and pipeline in North Africa.
• Acting for a joint venture consortium, comprising major European and U.A.E. energy companies, in relation to a large wind farm project in Saudi Arabia, involving multi-million dollar extension of time and increased costs claims
• Acting for an eastern European oil and gas exploration and production company in US$ 100 million UNCITRAL proceedings against a major multinational in relation to a joint venture for the construction and operation of an LPG plant located in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Acting for a major US oil and gas exploration and production company in LCIA proceedings against an oil field owner in relation to an EPC contract for the construction and operation of a gas processing facility in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
• Acting in LCIA proceedings for a South African engineering company in connection with a dispute concerning a railway consortium in two African countries.
• Acting in ICC proceedings for an Israeli engineering company and a public utility company in connection with a dispute involving a major water and sewerage project in the Caribbean.

Investment Treaty Arbitration

• Acting for an AIM listed oil and gas exploration and production company in a multi-million dollar ICSID claim against Italy under the Energy Charter Treaty.
• Acting for the Republic of Turkey in two separate ICSID arbitrations brought by UK and Belgian investors under bi-lateral investment treaties.

Litigation (reported cases)

• Rassmal Investments LLC v Mubarak Abdullah Al Suwaiket & Sons and Others (Royal Court of Jersey - claim involving a multi-million pound real estate development project in London, England).
• Calvin E. Jungquist v (1) Michael H. Corbin (2) Navistar Defense LLC CFI-025-2021 (DIFC Court of First Instance Judgment - claim involving a consultancy agreement in the defense sector)
• Hexagon Holdings (Cayman) Limited v (1) DIFCA (2) DIFCI (CFI-013-2019 and CA-003-2020) (DIFC Court of Appeal and Court of First Instance Judgments - claim relating to a multi-million dollar real estate development project in the DIFC).
• Luxury Concepts Inc. v Bateel International LLC: acting for a Middle-East based food and beverage provider in relation to a franchise dispute in the US and UAE courts (Civil Case No. 2:22-CV-10793-DPH-APP; and Case No. 435/2022/20, respectively).
• Anatolie Stati, Gabriel Stati, Ascom Group S.A., Terra Raf Trans Traiding Ltd. v The Republic of Kazakhstan [2018] EWCA Civ 1896 and [2015] EWHC 2542 (English Court of Appeal and Commercial Court Judgments – enforcement proceedings relating to a US$ 500 million arbitration award under the Energy Charter Treaty).
• Secretariat v A Company [2021] EWCA Civ 6 (English Court of Appeal Judgment - conflicts of interest preventing litigation support/ expert services firms from acting).
• Catalyst Managerial Services v Libya Africa Investment Portfolio [2018] EWCA Civ 1676 and [2015] EWHC 2044 (English Court of Appeal and Queen’s Bench Division Judgments – summary judgment proceedings relating to a multi-million dollar management consultancy services agreement).
• Samir Arab v Raghida & 5 Others [2015] EWHC 1244 (English Commercial Court Judgment – summary judgment proceedings relating to fraud claims concerning a multi-million dollar Iraqi mobile telecommunications project).
• Ryanair v The Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs [2013] FTC/20/2012 (English Upper Tribunal (Tax Chamber) Judgment – proceedings concerning taxation overpayments in the aviation sector).
• Ryanair Limited -v- Gatwick Airport Limited (English Civil Aviation Authority Decisions 2013 & 2011 – Regulatory proceedings concerning airport charges).
• Ryanair Limited -v- Esso Italiana S.r.l. [2013] EWCA Civ 1450 and [2012] EWHC 200 (Comm) (English Court of Appeal and Commercial Court Judgments – Jurisdiction challenge in relation to Anti-trust proceedings).
• Sir Martin Broughton & Others -v- Thomas O. Hicks; George N. Gillett & Others (Liverpool Football Club litigation) [2012] various (English Commercial Court and Court of Appeal Judgments – fraud proceedings).
• Etihad Airways P.J.S.C. and Aldar Properties P.J.S.C. -v- Force India Formula One Team Limited [2010] EWCA Civ 1051 (English Court of Appeal Judgment in relation to sports sponsorship agreement dispute).
• Ryanair Limited -v- SR Technics Ireland Limited [2007] EWHC 3089 (QB) (English Queen’s Bench Division Judgment in relation to hangar licence agreement).

Ben Williams helps clients resolve complex high-value commercial and construction disputes in the energy, financial services, aviation and real estate sectors. With twenty years' experience, he has regularly appears as first and second chair advocate in the English, DIFC and ADGM courts, as well as in commercial and investment arbitrations under the main institutional rules, including LCIA, ICC, DIAC, SCCA, UNCITRAL and ICSID. 

Ben obtained his LLB (with honors) from the University of Bristol and his LPC (with distinction) from BPP, London. He is qualified as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales and holds Higher Rights of Audience (Civil Proceedings). Ben is also an Attorney and Counselor at Law in New York State and is licensed to practice as an advocate in the Courts of the Dubai International Financial Centre (Parts I and II).