Year of Call
2018“William was a skilled advocate who was clearly incredibly well prepared, in addition to being pragmatic on his feet at Trial. His cross-examination was high class... All in all, both the client and I could not be more pleased with William.”
Instructing solicitor
Biography
"From instructing solicitors’ perspective, William’s involvement on this brief exceeds expectations... His cross-examination was high class, and that was reflected in the Judge’s judgment on the evidence provided by D. His closing submissions were thorough and I believe a massive factor in the Judgment awarded in our client’s favour – along with the well-researched authorities for this case. All in all, both the client and I could not be more pleased with William" - Instructing Solicitor
"Credit where credit is due – [our client] called to say that she was very happy with outcome of hearing and that you were excellent!" - Instructing Solicitor
William has a successful practice in civil and commercial law (including insolvency), and is instructed by claimants and defendants in a wide range of cases. He acts for individuals and businesses. He undertook a mixed pupillage within Chambers and uses the skills and knowledge which he acquired from criminal and family practice in aspects of his civil work. He is personable and instils confidence with the ability to quickly build good working relationships.
He has a lot of experience in property cases, including TOLATA cases where his experience of family law is particularly valuable. He frequently acts in landlord and tenant disputes, applications relating to anti-social behaviour and breach of injunctions, and litigation relating to residential and commercial property including building disputes. He also has experience in contested probate litigation.
William is also instructed in other commercial and civil litigation, including breach of contract, debts and other disputes between companies. He enjoys insolvency litigation and is quickly building up his practice in this area. He also accepts instructions in public law cases including civil injunctions, defamation cases and professional negligence.
Prior to pupillage, William was a paralegal at Simpson Millar Solicitors working with the civil litigation and professional negligence team. He also worked as a researcher and writer for Thomson Reuters and Curated Media and is very good at written advocacy. William represented clients in County Courts through LPC Law in mortgage possession proceedings, landlord and tenant matters, return of goods, various interim applications and disposal hearings, both defended and undefended. He has lectured in advocacy and mooting at Westminster University and is confident in court, and good at working with clients to achieve their aims.
Commercial
William enjoys working for businesses, and is chosen because of his legal knowledge combined with pragmatic and approachable style. He has experience of drafting pleadings in breach of contract and commercial debt claims; advice in a range of commercial matters including a proposed claim for repudiatory breach of contract that involved an international element in that a party to the contract was a factory in China; advice on a Part 36 offer in a claim for building defects; and drafting pre-action correspondence in claims for money had and received based on undisclosed commissions paid by lenders to brokers.
Property
William has experience in a range of property work. From the beginning of his career, he has acted in a variety of property cases including those involving HMO regulations and homelessness appeals.
He has experience of TOLATA cases, and in April 2025 was successful on behalf of a Claimant who was seeking a share of the beneficial interest in a property which was jointly legally owned with his mother.
William acted in a multi-track trial in which he was successful in obtaining a full mandatory injunction to carry out repair and reinstatement works as outlined by a joint expert, as well as a substantial sum in damages and costs. The case was further complicated by the fact that the original defendant had been made bankrupt and so was proceeding against a second defendant who disputed that they should have been a party.
William was successful in obtaining an injunction to require a housing association to replace a faulty boiler. His disabled client had suffered for many months with a boiler which kept breaking down despite repairs, and the housing association argued that their only obligation was to repair not to replace. The case is reported here.
William accepts instructions in all aspects of property litigation and TOLATA work.
Civil
William accepts instructions in all areas of civil litigation including commercial and business; property and construction as well as TOLATA cases; insurance; regulatory; contested probate; public law; personal injury, clinical negligence and inquests; and employment/discrimination.
Prior to coming to the Bar he gained a lot of experience as a County Court Advocate undertaking non-PI RTA trials; flight delay claim trials; breach of contract trials; and residential possession applications for both landlords and mortgagees. He also dealt with associated court hearings including interim applications for set aside; applications for relief from sanctions; strike out applications and costs hearings. William was a paralegal for a national law firm dealing with property and professional negligence cases.
William is confident on his feet, and able to pick up and grasp the key points of a brief very quickly.
Instruct
To instruct William, please contact Rob Johnstone.
Education
- 2018: University of Law Bar Professional Training Course – very competent
- 2018: University of Law Master of Laws in Bar Practice – distinction
- 2014: University College London LL.M Master of Laws - merit
- 2013: University of Brighton LL.B Hons Law with Business
Memberships
- Commercial Bar Association
- Property Bar Association
- Chancery Bar Association
Prizes
- 2018: Winner of the LPC Law advocacy competition
- 2018: Finalist in the FTB Kings Cup Moot representing Inner Temple
- 2018: Finalist in the 25 Bedford Row Plea in Mitigation competition representing University of Law
- 2014: Semi-finalist of the Annual ELSA Human Rights Moot Court competition representing UCL
- 2013: Finalist in inter-varsity moot against Sussex representing Brighton University
Notable Cases
KR v SP (2024): William represented the Defendant in High Court proceedings for a petition on the grounds of unfairly prejudicial conduct under s.994 of the Companies Act 2006, and was successful in resisting an application for an interim injunction that would have stopped his client trading.
NH v AI: William was successful in having a £100,000.00 multi-track claim for damages for diminution in value struck out by resisting an application for relief from sanctions because of the other side’s failure to comply with an unless order.
MAE v BJN: Multi track trial in which William was successful in obtaining a full mandatory injunction to carry out repair and reinstatement works to property plus substantial damages and costs.
Hastings Borough Council v Linda Turner [2021] UKUT 258 (LC): William was led for the Respondent before the UT in this case which provides important guidance on the proper approach by the FTT to a rehearing of a licence application made by a relevant person, including clarification on the burden of proof and the weight to be given to the local housing authority’s decision.
E v C: Acting in the High Court, William was successful in applying to have a derivative claim under the Companies Act 2006 struck out and obtained a costs order for his client.
SW v LBWF: William represented a client in an appeal to the County Court on a homelessness application.