James Williams

Practice Areas

James is a partner in Acuity’s Construction team.

His advice is regularly sought on complex construction projects by local authorities and major companies due to his breadth of knowledge.

James specialises in non-contentious construction law, regeneration and development and acts for contractors, developers, consultants, and funders on various projects in the UK, the Middle East and Australia.

He has extensive experience covering the drafting and negotiating of building contracts, sub-contracts, professional team appointments, consultancy agreements and warranties. He also specialises in the production of ancillary documents such as performance bonds, parent company guarantees, supply contracts and facility management contracts.

James has worked extensively in the MENA Region and in Australia, and is experienced in using the FIDIC and AS forms of contracts, as well as those contracts more readily found in the UK, including the JCT, NEC and ICHEME forms. More recently, James has worked on some of the most significant recently developed Welsh construction projects, including over one million square feet of design and build projects in Central Square Cardiff.

He and his team have also completed extensive work on modern methods of construction, off-site manufacture and in advising on the consequences of Brexit and COVID-19 on supply chains and performance.

James is ranked as a Leading Individual in The Legal 500 and in Band 2 by Chambers and Partners.

After beginning his legal career at Wragge & Co, he has also practised at Minter Ellison and Carter Newell in Australia, Trowers & Hamlins in Dubai, and Al Tamimi & Company in Abu Dhabi.

Expertise:

- 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