James Williams, Partner at Acuity Law
About
Expertise
Work

James is an experienced construction lawyer and partner and joined the firm after relocating back to the UK in 2014.

He began his legal career at Wragge & Co in Birmingham when qualifying in 1999.

In September 2003, James emigrated to Australia and worked at Minter Ellison in Brisbane and Sydney, as well as Carter Newell. In October 2007, he relocated to the Middle East and joined Trowers & Hamlins in Dubai. James joined Al Tamimi & Company as their Head of Construction in Abu Dhabi in 2009, before joining one of Dubai’s leading master developers in 2011.

James’ experience covers drafting and negotiating building contracts, consultancy agreements, warranties and also ancillary documents. He is also a specialist in regeneration and development.

  • Acting on all aspects of non-contentious construction work
  • Drafting and negotiating building contracts and amendments to the most commonly used standard form contracts including the JCT, the NEC and the FIDIC suites of contracts
  • Drafting and agreeing consultancy agreements and associated warranties for all consultants engaged in the construction process
  • Advising on the provision of construction finance and security documents, and acting for banks’ lending funds for construction projects
  • Advising a developer on all aspects of the construction of a new Wales headquarters for HMRC in Cardiff, with a contact value of circa £65,000,000
  • Advising the developer on all aspects of the construction of Wales Broadcasting House, with a contract value of circa £65,000,000
  • Advising the developer on all aspects of the development of The Cardiff Interchange comprising of a new bus station with separate commercial, residential and retail sections with a contract value of circa £85,000,000
  • Advising the professional team on all issues, including drafting and negotiating the construction contract in relation to the second partnering project ever undertaken in the UAE, involving the construction of a new business park comprising of 9 high rise towers, a retail mall, central podium and car park with a contract value of circa $US2 billion
  • Advising a consortium in the tender process in relation to the submission of a tender for a multi-billion dollar project for a Saudi Arabian Government department. This involved attending a 3 day negotiation in Paris to agree on the main terms of back to back subcontracts with American and European subcontractors
  • Acting on behalf of a major Australian contractor in undertaking a risk analysis and negotiating the building contract for the construction of the first building in Queensland to achieve a five star green star rating, comprising of a new office tower in Central Brisbane with a contract value of approximately $AU 80,000,000
  • Acting for a sub-contractor and advising on the sub-contract terms and conditions in relation to a sub-contract package for the construction of the new national stadium for the English Football Association in Wembley

Accolades

  • James is listed as a Leading Individual in Legal 500.

  • James is ranked Band 2 by Chambers & Partners.

  • The Construction Team is ranked Band 2 in Chambers & Partners.

  • The Construction Team is ranked Tier 2 in The Legal 500.

Words from our clients

  • “James Williams was not only deeply knowledgeable but also very personable, and able to make the often complex areas of contract law accessible to a non-legal professional. He was also very commercially minded and able to take a big picture view of risk and reward.”

  • “James Williams works through the tasks at hand and delivers on programme even to ridiculously tight timelines.”

  • “He has significant expertise and is very knowledgeable in his field. He is also very personable and able to explain matters in areas where the client’s understanding might not be extensive.”

  • “James Williams has a superb combination of legal knowledge and practical experience.”

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