About Ciaran

Ciaran Williams is a partner in our Construction & Engineering Group based in our London office.

He has over 15 years’ experience advising on major domestic and international construction projects, with a practice that covers all forms of construction and engineering dispute resolution, including court proceedings, arbitration, adjudication and mediation.

Ciaran’s experience spans the main construction and energy sectors, including urban redevelopment, digital infrastructure, tunnel, rail, road, water treatment, maritime, LNG, nuclear, petrochemical and renewables.

Ciaran is an expert on the standard forms of contract such as FIDIC, NEC and JCT, as well as bespoke contracts and EPC/EPCM contracting. Ciaran’s experience covers the whole life cycle of a construction project. He also advises clients on procurement strategies and contract negotiation, and provides strategic advice to avoid or resolve disputes during the construction phase of projects.

Experience

  • Acting on an ICC arbitration in connection with the design and construction of a major maritime project in Central America.
  • Advising a main contractor on numerous disputes at various stages of maturity from preaction to arbitration on hyperscale data centre projects in Finland and the Netherlands.
  • Acting on ICC arbitral proceedings on behalf of an EPCM contractor arising out of a Middle Eastern world-class petrochemical complex, including issues relating to nonpayment of invoices, delays, and the quality of EPCM services.
  • Acting on an ICC arbitration (Geneva Seat) on behalf of a joint venture arising out of a Middle Eastern petrochemical project. The value of the dispute was over US$250 million and covered a wide range of delay and disruption claims.
  • Acting for a main contractor on a nuclear defence project of national importance. The works formed part of a £1.1 billion contract.
  • Acting on an ad hoc arbitration for a civil contractor in a range of disputes on a major light rail PFI project in the UK.
  • Advising a main contractor in respect of disputes against a multinational electricity and gas utility company on a project to improve the operational dependability to a HVDC submarine power cable.
  • Advising a major UK rail provider on, and drafting contract documents for, a cost-reimbursable target cost contract for a substantial signalling upgrade project.
  • Acting for a rail provider on a multimillion-pound adjudication brought by its contractor in relation to a major capacity improvement infrastructure project.
  • Advising a large oil and gas provider on disputes under an EPC contract for an LNG plant and associated facilities in West Africa.

Credentials

Education
  • Queen's University, Belfast, M.Sc., Construction and Project Management, 2009
  • Queen's University, Belfast, LL.B., Law, 2008
Admissions
  • England and Wales, 2013
  • Ireland, 2014
Memberships & Affiliations
  • Member, Society of Construction Law
  • Member, Technology and Construction Solicitors’ Association

Publications & Speaking Engagements

  • Co-author, “Clarifying the Parameters of Adjudication in Ireland”, Irish Construction News, October 2025.
  • Co-author, “Inspecting the New International Arbitration Site Visits Protocol”, Law360, October 2024.
  • Co-author, “Energy and Supply Chain Challenges in Data Centre Growth”, New Civil Engineer, August 2024.
  • Speaker, “Construction Experience: The Name We Give Our Mistakes?” The SCL Irish Conference, November 2023.
  • Speaker, “The Termination Journey: Key Considerations, Risks … and Opportunities?” International Construction Arbitration Conference, Kings College London, 15 September 2022.
  • Co-author, “Impact of the Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Construction Supply Chains”, Building, March 2022.
  • Co-author, RICS standard suite of appointments, May 2022.