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Andrew Williams

Andrew Williams

Partner

Andrew applies a depth of experience and skill in assisting clients with risk management and dispute resolution representation and advice. He acts for individual, corporate, listed and not-for-profit clients across a range of commercial and industry areas.
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Background

A senior disputes lawyer and commercial litigator, Andrew draws  on technical legal knowledge and practical experience to protect and enforce his clients’ legal rights and their commercial interests.  He is keenly focussed on developing and implementing legal strategies centred on the best commercial outcome for his clients, maximising the strength of their legal positions, and accommodating practical time, cost and business considerations.

Experience

Andrew heads the Dispute Resolution & Litigation team, and has oversight of the firm’s liquor licensing practice.

His practice in advising and assisting clients in risk management, urgent disputes work, and litigation, has included, by way of example:

  • advising on and managing the conduct of complex and high value litigation matters, including in the Supreme Court of South Australia, and in the Federal Courts;
  • acting on urgent matters in seeking or defending injunctive relief and protection and preservation of assets and entitlements, in the State and Federal Courts
  • providing risk management and alternative dispute resolution advice and representation for clients in the “early stages” of disputes, including in consultation and co-ordination with the client’s other professional advisors;

  • advising on and conducting claims and proceedings in specialist jurisdictions and Courts and Tribunals;
    assisting clients to resolve disputes and potential claims structured negotiations, mediations, and arbitration, adjudication and expert determination processes;
  • acting in relation to professional liability claims, including in accounting, advisory, audit liability and engineering matters, including for and against “big 4” accounting firms;
  • managing and resolving corporate and commercial disputes matters, including “business to business” claims, and shareholders’ and directors’ disputes;
  • acting in regulatory and commercial matters in the energy, mining and resources industries, including joint-venture disputes and litigation, major plant and equipment design, construction, commissioning and operating disputes and claims, and land access and tenure disputes (including native title issues);
  • advising on and acting in commercial property and development matters, including engineering and ancillary services claims, sale and purchase disputes and lease-related litigation;
  • representing clients and assisting in the resolution of disputes across wine and agribusiness sectors, including for substantial private companies, ASX-listed clients, and SME businesses, and including on vineyard and crop damage claims, winemaking and contract services disputes, product liability, distribution and export disputes, and regulatory compliance and investigation matters;
  • acting in building and construction claims matters, including principal – head contractor and head contractor – sub-contractor claims, “security of payment” advice and claims (including in insolvency contexts), and in design and engineering liability claims;
  • advising and acting for clients in in Competition and Consumer Act and Australian Consumer Law matters, including in regulatory, business to business, and consumer liability matters;
  • advising on and conducting administrative review, appeal and judicial review processes and proceedings;
  • undertaking risk assessment, policy and procedure reviews, and staff training for clients in relation to key business and operational risks and critical incident and regulator-initiated actions;
  • acting and advising in high net worth individual wills & estates disputes matters; and
  • advising on liquor licensing application and compliance matters in South Australia and across other Australian jurisdictions, including in relation to novel business structures, redevelopment and expansion of existing businesses and licensed premises, and stakeholder issues
    advising on and assisting with liquor licence portfolio maintenance, acquisition and divestment advice, and due diligence (including for ASX-listed companies and major private companies with multiple jurisdiction multiple licence holdings).

Andrew's Expertise