Laura Williamson
Laura.Williamson@kennedyslaw.com
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Profile
Laura is a partner in Kennedys’ Bermuda office and a member of the commercial litigation team, handling matters involving financial services, insurance, professional negligence, insolvency and trusts. She has recently been recognised in the Legal 500 Caribbean as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in the field of dispute resolution, having previously been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’.
Laura has a broad commercial practice with a particular focus on trusts disputes and on litigation and arbitration involving the financial services and insurance industries. Many of her cases have a multi-jurisdictional element, including in relation to the UK, US, Singapore, Hong Kong and others.
Laura is a full member of the Society of Trusts and Estate Practitioners (“STEP”). In 2024, Laura was the winner of not one but two STEP Excellence Awards. She is also a member of the Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists Association of Bermuda (“RISA Bermuda”) and an honorary overseas member of the English Commercial Bar Association (“COMBAR”).
Prior to joining Kennedys, Laura practised as a barrister in London for five years, during which time she was regularly instructed as sole counsel at every stage from pre-action advice through to final determination at trial or on appeal, as well as acting as junior counsel alongside leading counsel.
Laura is a particularly strong advocate and has been consistently praised by clients and judges alike for her outstanding advocacy skills, for which she has won various awards and prizes.
Laura Williamson is outstanding. She’s smart, responsive and incredibly hard-working.
Market recognition
- Next Generation Partner and Recommended Lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution (Bermuda)'
"Laura Williamson is a highly talented and up and coming new partner at Kennedys"
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2025 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance/Reinsurance (Bermuda)'
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2025 - Next Generation Partner and recommended lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution (Bermuda)'
"We also work with Laura Williamson who has recently been made up and who we think very highly of. We think she is a future star in Bermuda."
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2024 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance/Reinsurance (Bermuda)'
"Laura Williamson is outstanding. She’s smart, responsive and incredibly hard-working."
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2024 - Rising Star and recommended lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution (Bermuda)'
"Laura Williamson is reputed for her 'enviable sense of judgment' in insurance arbitrations and professional liability matters."
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2023 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance/Reinsurance (Bermuda)'
"Laura Williamson is hard-working, thorough and committed in her work and shows an enviable sense of judgment in her practice."
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2023 - Recommended lawyer for 'Dispute Resolution (Bermuda)'
"Laura Williamson plays a key role in the department."
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2022 - Recommended lawyer for 'Insurance/Reinsurance (Bermuda)'
The Legal 500 Caribbean 2022
Work highlights
- Representing a fund administrator in a claim alleging dishonest assistance and breach of duty in relation to the apparent misappropriation by the investment manager of a $10 million investment
- Advising a trustee in relation to the potential misuse of trust assets held under a related charitable trust and recovery of the same from a rogue trustee
- Representing a former director in relation to a claim concerning the alleged misuse of the company’s confidential information
- Representing a law firm in a high value claim for professional negligence in relation to a high-profile property development scheme
- Advising and representing a trust protector in relation to contentious proceedings to replace the trustee of a Bermuda trust worth billions of dollars
- Representing shareholders in the largest appraisal action to be brought in Bermuda to date
- Representing an insurer in a Bermuda Form arbitration concerning a coverage dispute with a major pharmaceutical company
- Representing various beneficiaries to three discretionary trusts in relation to a contentious “momentous decision” application by the trustee
- Advising a big four accountancy firm on sensitive regulatory matters involving different Bermuda regulators
- Representing a former director of a failed investment fund in an appeal against a prohibition order made against him by the Bermuda Monetary Authority
- Advising an insurer on the prospects of avoiding the policy for material non-disclosure and misrepresentation
- Various applications for anti-suit injunctions (including non-contractual anti-suit injunctions) to enforce compliance with arbitration agreements
Presentations and publications
- Sham v illusory trusts: what’s in a name?
- Part one: An introduction to sham and illusory trusts;
- Part two: The unholy trinity of recent cases: Clayton, Pugachev and Webb;
- Part three: The effect of reserved powers legislation;
- Part four: The idea of emerging validity;
- Part five: The nomenclature for the future.
- Women in Law: women in leadership (COMBAR North America conference)
- Trust protectors: watchdogs or independent decision makers?
- Part one: An introduction to the use of protectors;
- Part two: Protector consent provisions as they have been interpreted in recent case law;
- Part three: An analysis of the arguments in favour of the wide and narrow view of protector consent provisions:
- Part four: The possibility of drafting to remove any uncertainty;
- Part five: The consequences for the protector who oversteps his role.
- “Your wish is not my command”: letters of wishes and their use in discretionary trusts
- Part one: The status of letters of wishes
- Part two: Amending a letter of wishes
- Part three: Beneficiaries’ access to the letter of wishes
- Removal of an arbitrator for bias in a Bermuda arbitration (according to a New York court)
- Bermuda: Restructuring & Insolvency 2021 (International Comparative Law Guides)
- Bermuda: Private Client 2021 (International Comparative Law Guides)
- Bermuda: International Arbitration 2020 (International Comparative Law Guides)
- Investment fund administrators: liability for ‘gross negligence’
- Piercing the privilege: beneficiaries’ right to obtain legal advice provided to a trustee
Banking and finance
Insurance and reinsurance