Alistair Williams

Experience

I’m a solicitor in the Public & Regulatory team. I help with the full range of public law issues that our clients bring to us. I work with public bodies, regulators, charities and social enterprises, and private sector bodies.

I advise on the powers and duties of public bodies, and on issues of statutory interpretation. I regularly assist with public law litigation, particularly judicial review, and can offer guidance on substantive and procedural issues. I work with both claimants and defendants, so understand both sides of the argument.

I have a particular interest in local audit law, and work as part of a team advising a number of key organisations in this field. I have a good knowledge of local government law as a consequence. I also advise on public rights of way, including rights of way litigation.

I work with regulators, membership organisations and professional disciplinary bodies. This can involve advice on complaints and the fair conduct of disciplinary procedures. I also review policies and procedures.

I often advise on information law issues, and worked with a large number of clients to help them prepare for the implementation of GDPR and the new data protection regime. I also provide advice on rights and obligations under Freedom of Information law.

I drafted updates to a public authority’s statutory guidance.

The updates addressed developments in the sector and law. It helps the audience (who also exercise statutory powers) navigate tricky issues in the sector.
I helped an international membership organisation with disciplinary proceedings concerning serious allegations about three of its members.

The case raised difficult jurisdictional issues about which organisation should deal with the complaints. I advised on procedure, drafted key documents, and instructed lawyers in the jurisdiction where the members were based to run the proceedings.
I worked with a charity that wanted to challenge the decision of a public authority it felt was unlawful.

We asked the authority to acknowledge the point, and issued judicial review proceedings when it did not. The authority then agreed to settle the matter, so the court quashed the decision for it to be taken again.

Acting for public bodies in two sets of judicial review proceedings, including preparing advice on procedural matters, such as the admissibility of expert evidence
Working with public bodies and auditors involved in the audit of local government bodies, both in connection with the local audit statutory framework and substantive issues arising from local government decision making (such as borrowing and investment powers)
Assisting in the preparation and drafting of a section 73 Charities Act 2011 scheme to consolidate and amend five sets of legislation governing a charity, including advice on statutory powers and duties
Advice to a public body on constitutional law relating to the interaction between the Royal Prerogative and legislation
Responding to an interim injunction granted against a professional membership body
Advising a number of clients on data protection queries, including in relation to subject access requests, data breaches, and drafting or reviewing data protection policies and privacy notices
Advising on Freedom of Information, including whether information is exempt and clauses in contracts
Delivering briefings to auditors of local authorities on their statutory powers
Providing training on the use of Public Spaces Protection Orders in relation to face to face fundraising
Advising a number of clients on the application of the reporting requirements under the Modern Slavery Act 2015
Providing training on judicial review

Freedom Of Information

Public & Regulatory

Public

University of Cambridge, BA (Erasmus) Law, 2011
Intern, South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional Law, 2011
Kaplan Law School, Bar Professional Training Course, 2012
Case Officer, Bar Standards Board, 2012
Paralegal, Bates Wells, 2012
BPP University, Legal Practice Course, 2015
Trainee solicitor, Bates Wells, 2015
Admitted as a solicitor in 2017
Associate, Bates Wells, 2019

Volunteer Case Worker, Brent Private Tenants’ Rights Group, 2011-12
Member of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple (called July 2013)
Member of the Administrative Law Bar Association, the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers and the Young Public Lawyers Group
Advisor at the South West London Law Centre