Nick Williams
Nick.Williams@kennedyslaw.com
+44 20 7667 9777
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Profile
Nick is the head of the insurance division at Kennedys and sits on the firm’s strategy board. Nick qualified in 1980, and was involved in the creation of the first directors’ and officers’ products in the UK.
He has conducted litigation and arbitration around the world. Specialising in insurance coverage disputes in the fields of casualty, financial institutions, directors’ and officers’ liability, environmental risks, professional indemnity, product liability, property damage and Bermuda Form. Nick has represented some of the largest insurers and reinsurers and Lloyd’s syndicates in many of the most high profile disputes of the last 30 years.
Nick has particular expertise in high value multi-jurisdictional disputes (with quantum of £100 million plus) and has mediated on behalf of insurers in multi-party, high profile disputes in Toronto, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Oslo as well as numerous mediations in the UK. He has also been involved in many of the leading Bermuda Form arbitrations and disputes.
His experience extends from the claims emanating from the collapse of the Maxwell Empire in the 1990s to advising on policy disputes arising from ‘Deepwater Horizon’.
Nick is a member of the Forum of Insurance Lawyers (FOIL).
Nick Williams is an excellent negotiator. He is pragmatic and possesses an excellent commercial grasp.
Qualifications and admissions
- Qualified in England and Wales in 1980
Market recognition
- Recognised in Best Lawyers UK for ‘Insurance Law'
Best Lawyers UK 2024 - Senior statesperson and notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
"Nick Williams is a well-respected lawyer".
"Nick Williams is an excellent negotiator. He is pragmatic and possesses an excellent commercial grasp".
"Nick Williams is a clear communicator and articulates himself well".
Chambers UK 2024 - Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
"Nick Williams helped negotiate an excellent result and I would recommend them for this work".
The Legal 500 UK 2024 - Nominated by respondents for delivering outstanding service in the last 12 months
The Gracechurch London Market Insurance Law Monitor 2023 - Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
"Nick Williams pulls everyone in the same direction and when he talks he does so with authority".
Chambers UK 2023 -
Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'"The London team, led by Nick Williams has also developed a strong reputation in product-related defence and coverage litigation".The Legal 500 UK 2023
- Notable practitioner for 'Insurance: Contentious Claims & Reinsurance (UK-wide)'
"He is extremely knowledgeable and has a very detailed understanding of his client's position."
Chambers UK 2022 - Listed in the Hall of Fame and recommended lawyer for 'Insurance and reinsurance litigation (London)'
The Legal 500 UK 2022
Awards
Work highlights
- Played a key role in the disputes which flowed from film finance insurance over the last 10 years.
- Instructed to defend a US$46 million indemnity claim in relation to the 2010 ‘Deepwater Horizon’ disaster.
- Instructed on claims by the captive insurer against European and US reinsurers arising from mass tort product liability claims against insured manufacturer in the US.
- Instructed on multi-jurisdictional disputes arising from the cancellation of a reinsurance contract midway through period of cover and acting for reinsurers on claims arising from alleged breach of terms by a fund management company.
Construction and engineering
Information technology
Insurance and reinsurance
Life sciences