Ben Williams

Practice Areas

A specialist in Employment and Regulatory Law (with a particular focus on Disciplinary, Environmental and Licensing work).

In respect of Ben’s employment law practice, he has vast experience in the healthcare, retail and education sectors. He appears regularly in Tribunals and has an extensive client base, representing a large number of NHS Trusts throughout the country as well as some well-known retailers.

He has extensive experience in associated High Court litigation in all aspects of his work.

He is particularly well regarded in respect of his taxi licensing work where he appears for both local authorities and appellants involving hackney carriage and private hire vehicles. He has advised extensively on the formulation and implementation of local authority taxi licensing policy with a keen emphasis on safeguarding. He has advised extensively on the implementation of CCTV into licensed vehicles throughout the country, as well as licensing fees and cross-border hiring.

In the context of entertainment licensing, he acts for the industry (nightclubs, bars, pubs, festivals and restaurants), Local Authorities, interested parties and the police, both in terms of representation at licensing hearings (including appeals) and in an advisory capacity. Has considerable experience in respect of zoo licensing and in hearings before the Traffic Commissioner.

He acts for defendants and Regulators in Health and Safety, Environmental and Consumer law regulatory prosecutions. His Environmental practice means he advises a number of private clients in respect of noise nuisance matters which has particular importance with his associated licensing work. He regularly acts in appeals against abatement notices and is currently acting a number of cases involving animal nuisance.

Has appeared in a number of high profile cases including; Rehman v Wakefield (2018); Hull CC v Greggs and others (2016) and Leeds CC v Shell UK (2013).

Ben sits on the recruitment committee and was the ED&I officer for a number of years.

Career

Called to the Bar in 2001, joined Kings Chambers in 2006.

Professional Memberships

Institute of Licensing;

Employment Lawyers’ Association;

Employment Law Bar Association.

Publications

Contributing Author to ‘Judicial Review : Law and Practice’– Licensing chapter. Regular contributor to the IOL publication.

Personal

He is a keen sports fan, in particular football, golf and the NFL.