Find a Barrister  Search site
Download/Print CV
  • What the Directories Say

"Rob Williams is well known for his tenacity when handling public procurement work." Chambers UK, 2013

Under Competiton / European Law: ""Thorough, practical and user-friendly," Rob Williams is steadily increasing in market prominence, and has respected public law, commercial and regulatory expertise. His "unimpeachable analytical skills" were particularly highlighted by sources, as was his "ability to think creatively about new issues."" Chambers UK, 2013

"Rob Williams has had a busy year, being involved in the high-profile case of Alstom v Eurostar Project and also acting for Mehler in a successful challenge concerning the procurement of armoured vests by the Metropolitan Police. He is "an excellent analyst and a sensible advocate who always has his feet on the ground," say commentators." - Chambers UK, 2012

Recommended in Public Procurement Law Rob Williams is considered "a fine procurement lawyer who is very approachable and great to work with." He recently acted for Baxter Healthcare Limited in its challenge to a procurement conducted by PASA for a new framework agreement under which UK hospitals would obtain blood clotting drugs used to treat haemophilia.'" - Chambers UK, 2011

Chambers UK, 2010 state that "the "thoroughly reliable, sensible and user-friendly" Rob Williams, whose "encyclopaedic knowledge of the EU rules" fits well with a balanced competition, procurement and regulatory workload." 

Rob Williams, a lawyer who has "strong, analytical skills and a down-to-earth practical approach." A "real team player who engages well with clients," Williams was recently led by Michael Bowsher QC in Lion Apparel Systems v Firebuy." - Chambers UK, 2009

Click here for full details.

ROB WILLIAMS

MA (Oxon), BCL
CALL DATE: 2000

SUMMARY

Rob is an experienced barrister and litigator whose practice spans a range of commercial, European, and public law work.  He is recommended in Chambers and Partners in both competition law and public procurement law, and has extensive experience of commercial regulatory work of all kinds.

Rob's clients include public, private and multinational companies, central and local government, regulators and a wide range of other public sector bodies. He has particular expertise in a number of industry sectors, including  transport, telecommunications, energy, financial services and construction. 

Rob appears regularly as advocate, particularly in the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal, and is a member of the Attorney General's B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown.

Before joining Monckton Chambers, Rob was a member of the Advocacy Group at Denton Wilde Sapte.  His experience has given him a particular insight into the needs of both solicitor and lay clients at all stages of the litigation process.

 Rob's recent and major cases include:

  • WH Newson v IMI Plc and Ors - (damages claims and contribution proceedings arising from copper tubes and fittings cartels)
  • Akzo Nobel v Competition Commission  (judicial review of merger decision)
  • Alstom Transport v (1) Eurostar (2) Siemens (claim under Utilities Contracts Regulations 2006; acted for Siemens in injunction proceedings and claim for ineffectiveness)
  • Deutsche Bahn AG and others v Morgan Crucible v Others (follow on damages claim before the CAT; appeal to the Supreme Court pending on limitation issues).
  • Appeals against LLU and WLR Charge Control decisions in 2009 and 2012
  • Sky v Competition Commission and BERR; Virgin Media v Competition Commission and BERR (Court of Appeal, judicial review on competition and media plurality issues)
  • Enron Coal Service Limited v EWS Railway Limited (follow-on damages action before CAT
  • Lion Apparel Systems Ltd v Firebuy Ltd (injunction proceedings and damages action)

COMPETITION LAW

Rob is recommended as a leading junior in competition law in Chambers and Partners, where he is said to be "steadily increasing in market prominence". Rob's experience includes:

  • WH Newson v IMI Plc and Ors (damages claims and contribution proceedings arising from copper tubes and fittings cartels)
  • Akzo Nobel NV v Competition Commission  (judicial review of merger decision)
  • Sony v AUO Optronics and Ors  (damages claim arising from  LCD cartel)
  • Deutsche Bahn AG and others v Morgan Crucible v Others (follow on damages claim before the CAT; appeal to the Court of Appeal on limitation issues). 
  • Advising the OFT in relation to its investigation under Article 101 and Chapter I concerning Online Travel Agents
  • Competition Commission market investigation into Aggregates, cement and ready mix concrete
  • Acting for the OFT in the Tobacco appeals
  • Competition Commission market investigation into Pay TV Movies
  • CTS Eventim v Competition Commission (judicial review of merger decision)
  • Sky v Competition Commission and BERR; Virgin Media v Competition Commission and BERR (CAT; Court of Appeal - judicial review on competition and media plurality issues
  • Advising the OFT in relation to its investigation under Article 102 and Chapter II concerning Gaviscon products
  • Enron Coal Service Limited v EWS Railway Limited (follow-on damages action in the CAT arising from price discrimination infringement)
  • Advising the OFT in relation to its investigation under Article 101 and Chapter I concerning RBS and Barclays
  • Advising a party to the OFT's investigation in relation to bid rigging in the construction industry
  • Competition Commission investigation into SvitzerWijsmuller /Adsteam merger relating to harbour towage services in the UK
  • Competition Commission investigation into the merger of South East Water and Mid Kent Water, the first water merger to be considered by the Commission under the Enterprise Act 2002

PUBLIC LAW & HUMAN RIGHTS

As junior counsel to the Crown, Rob regularly advises and acts for central government departments on a range of public law and human rights matters including the Home Department, the Department of Work and Pensions, the Department for Transport and the Department of Food and Rural Affairs.  As part of this work, Rob regularly appears in the Administrative Court and other courts and Tribunals.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT

Rob has been recommended by Chambers and Partners as a leading junior in Public Procurement Law since 2009.  He has advised public authorities, utilities and contractors on a variety of contentious and non-contentious matters and has appeared in a number of the most well know procurement cases of recent years.  His clients include works, goods and services contractors, central government departments, non-departmental public bodies, regional and local government bodies, utilities, universities and housing associations. 

Rob's current and recent major cases include:

  • Newcastle upon Tyne Hospital NHS Foundation Trust v Newcastle Primary Care Trust (successful application to lift suspension under regulation 47G)
  • Breyer Group Plc v Circle Housing (acted for claimant in claim for damages arising from procurement of housing works contract)
  • Chigwell (Shepherd's Bush) Ltd v LHA ASRA (successful application to lift suspension under regulation 47G)
  • Alstom Transport v (1) Eurostar (2) Siemens (acted for Siemens in successfully resisting Alstom's application for interim relief and in striking out its claim for ineffectiveness)
  • Lion Apparel Systems Ltd v Firebuy Ltd (acted for Firebuy in both injunction and damages proceedings)
  • Mouchel Limited v City of Westminster (claim for damages in the Queen's Bench Division arising from procurement of contract for parking and related services).
  • Baxter v Department of Health (acted for the Claimant on claim for damages for a breach of confidence by NHS PASA in a procurement concerning treatments for blood clotting factors).
  • FWA West vs LHA-ASRA (claim relating to termination of a process for the provision of repair works to housing association stock).
  • Montpellier Estates Limited v Leeds City Council (claim relating to the procurement of a new Leeds Arena through the competitive dialogue procedure).
  • Central Tree Services Limited v Birmingham City Council (acted for the Council on the Claimant's application for an interim injunction and in damages proceedings).
  • Partenaire Limited v Department for Finance and Personnel (junior counsel for the Department in proceedings in the High Court of Northern Ireland concerning a substantial PFI contract for the management and refurbishment of the office estate of the Northern Ireland Civil Service).

REGULATORY

Rob has significant experience of commercial regulatory work generally, including:

  • Advising the Office of Rail Regulation in connection with DfT's application for a track access option for the Crossrail project , and more recently in relation to the application of the Railways Infrastructure (Access and Management) Regulations 2005
  • Advising the Civil Aviation Authority in connection with complaints under section 41 of the Airports Act 1986 and
  • Advising Ofgem in connection with issues arising under European legislation
  • Advising Postcomm on issues arising under the Postal Services Directive and the Postal Services Act 2000
  • E.ON UK Plc v Gas and Electricity Markets Association (Competition Commission decision on the first Energy Code Appeal under the Energy Act 2004).
  • Advising an international bank in relation to the OFT's inquiry into unfair terms in credit card agreements (default fees).
  • Advising Ofwat on the regulatory aspects of a potential new infrastructure project
  • Acting for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in relation to claims against product providers arising out of the mis-selling of retail investments

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Rob's experience in telecommunications work includes:

  • BT v Ofcom; Sky and Talk Talk v Ofcom (appeals against LLU and WLR Charge Control decision, 2012)
  • BT v Ofcom (appeal against WBA Charge Control decision, concerning BT's pensions deficient repair payments)
  • Competition Commission investigation into Pay TV Movies
  • Everything Everywhere v Ofcom (appeal to CAT concerning Ofcom's decision on a dispute involving Stour Marine network)
  • Carphone Warehouse v Ofcom (appeals against LLU and WLR Charge Control, 2009)
  • T Mobile and O2 v Ofcom (Administrative Court proceedings concerning auction of 2.6GHz band of spectrum)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Rob has a first class law degree and a postgraduate BCL degree from University College, Oxford.  On graduating, he worked as a research assistant to the Law Commission for two years, following which he was awarded a Jules Thorn Scholarship by Middle Temple. 

In 2000, Rob was called to the bar and started his career at Keating Chambers. After a number of years in practice, he joined Denton Wilde Sapte's Advocacy Group, the first and longest established "in-house chambers" in the City. He joined Monckton Chambers in 2006.

Rob has tutored at University College, London, and has written and lectured on a wide range of legal subjects.  In 2002, he was the judicial assistant to Lord Phillips MR (as he then was).

Rob is a member of the Bar European Group, ALBA and the Procurement Lawyer's Association.