William is an Of Counsel and a Solicitor Advocate in our Disputes practice.
William advises clients on a wide range of disputes, but has a particular focus on civil fraud, private wealth, and banking litigation. He has advised on matters relating to a number of jurisdictions, including England, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Mauritius, Jersey, the CIS, India, and Hong Kong. In England, William has experience of litigation in the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council.
William has been recognised by Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer in each of his core practice areas: Civil Fraud (2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026), Contentious Trusts and Probate (2024, 2025 and 2026), Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate (2025 and 2026) and Banking Litigation (2021 and 2022).
In the field of Civil Fraud, William is ranked as a Leading Associate (2025, 2026) and is said to be "Outstanding" and a "highly capable fraud litigator" whose "technical ability, approachability and responsiveness [are] all very good" (2024, 2025). In the field of Personal Tax, Trusts and Probate, William is said to be "very intelligent, experienced and personable", "genuinely enjoyable to work with", "very knowledgeable, detail-focused and good at getting to the heart of complex issues" and to "provide thoroughly considered and practical advice" (2024, 2025). In the field of Contentious Trusts and Probate, William is said to be "skilled at handling contentious … private client work" (2026).
William has gone on client secondments to Man Group plc (in 2011), Royal Mail plc (in 2015) and JPMorgan Chase Bank (in 2017-18).
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
- Hipgnosis Song Management Limited and Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited in defending high profile High Court proceedings involving allegations of dishonest assistance and knowing receipt in relation to alleged breaches of directors’ duties
- two investment entities in claims brought against the general partner of an offshore investment fund, and related parties, alleging the misappropriation of assets, including legal actions in multiple offshore jurisdictions
- a number of heirs to the estate of an ultra-high net worth individual in relation to a dispute with other heirs regarding the division of the estate's assets
- an ultra-high net worth protector and beneficiary of a multi-million dollar offshore trust in relation to a dispute concerning that trust
- JPMorgan in relation to its defence of high-profile claims brought by the Libyan Investment Authority in connection with a US$200m five year note and an alleged fraudulent and corrupt scheme
- the claimants in claims for dishonest assistance, knowing receipt, unlawful means conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty arising out of the management of an offshore investment fund, for which a worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction was obtained
- a claimant private equity fund in obtaining summary judgment for fraud against its former CEO, for which a worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction was obtained
- the personal representatives of a deceased's estate in their claims to recover assets alleged to be held on trust or alternatively to have been transferred pursuant to transactions procured by undue influence, for which a worldwide freezing order and proprietary injunction was obtained.
Sectors
Background
William has a First Class degree in Law from Durham University and a Distinction on the LPC from BPP Law School. He qualified as a solicitor in 2011 and was granted higher rights of audience in 2013.
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