Lizzie Williams is a dispute resolution lawyer who advises on a broad range of corporate, commercial and individual disputes, with a focus on disputes in the technology, media and entertainment sectors.
Lizzie is a solicitor advocate and has extensive experience of litigation and arbitration from the pre-action stage to trial, including urgent injunctions, appeals, group litigation, mediation and settlement negotiations.
Lizzie has particular expertise in disputes involving technology companies or relating to innovative technologies or digital transformation, including:
- Contractual disputes for technology-focused businesses, from start-ups to large corporations
- Advising on the management, resuscitation and resetting of difficult digital transformation projects
- Disputes involving traditional IT contracts (e.g. hardware, software development, outsourcing, licensing)
- Disputes involving technology procurement (including under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015)
- Disputes involving blockchain technology (e.g. NFTs, cryptocurrency, smart contracts)
- Disputes involving the misappropriation and tracing of stolen digital assets
- Disputes involving investments in technology companies
- Disputes involving AI or other emerging technologies
Lizzie is the author of the Practical Law practice note AI disputes and risk mitigation and the book A Practical Guide to Smart Contracts and the Law.
Lizzie was recognised as a “Rising Star” and “Key Lawyer” in Commercial Litigation in the Legal 500 2022, 2023 and 2024.
Lizzie is a member of the Society for Computers and Law, the Tech Disputes Network, the Cyber Fraud and Asset Recovery Network, the Digital Law Association and Thought Leaders 4 Disputes.
Technology
- Advised shareholders of a leading software company in the entertainment industry on an urgent injunction application in the context of an unfair prejudice petition
- Advised a global IT company on a contractual dispute arising out of the provision of complex software to an international advertising agency
- Advised a large mutual life and pensions company on alleged claims in relation to an information technology outsourcing contract
- Advised a multinational energy company on a high value High Court claim arising out of the supply of defective submersible equipment
Media
- Advised a global film studio regarding defence of £12 million claim for breach of contract and unjust enrichment and counterclaim for fraud in respect of exercise business
- Advised on a copyright infringement and breach of confidence claim in relation to the alleged unlawful use of a television format
- Advised defendant construction companies in relation to high profile group litigation involving allegations of unlawful means conspiracy, defamation and breach of the Data Protection Act 1998: The Construction Industry Vetting Information Group Litigation
- Advised on court applications by rights holders in relation to websites which allegedly infringed their copyright
Entertainment
- Advised a high profile theatre on a potential injunction application arising out of an option agreement relating to a popular play
- Advised on a complex dispute between film financiers involving a suite of interrelated loan agreements relating to a number of films
- Advised a global film studio on the termination of contractual arrangements with key creative talent involved in a high profile film production
- Advised a global beverage company on a dispute arising out of a sponsorship agreement
Commercial
- Advised on a dispute arising out of a settlement agreement entered into in relation to a joint venture and subsequent proceedings
- Advised on a dispute between two large energy companies in relation to a $20 million Commercial Court claim for breach of a sale and purchase agreement
- Advised in relation to the alleged breach of joint development contracts with state entities and related confidentiality agreements
- Advised a leading global resources company on an LCIA arbitration with a state-owned iron and steel company
Private Capital
- Advised on a number of disputes for individuals, including high net worth individuals and families, acting to protect their property, information and personal interests
Lizzie graduated from the University of Cambridge with a First Class degree in Law in 2010 before commencing her training contract at Herbert Smith Freehills.
During her training contract, Lizzie was seconded to the litigation team at Sky and worked as a Judicial Assistant to a number of Chancery and Commercial Court Judges at the High Court of Justice.
In 2014 Lizzie qualified into the dispute resolution team at Herbert Smith Freehills, where she worked on a variety of complex litigation and arbitration matters, principally in the technology, media and telecoms sectors, for a number of years, before joining the dispute resolution team at Harbottle & Lewis in 2017.
In 2015 Lizzie obtained her Higher Rights of Audience and was admitted as a Solicitor Advocate (civil).
- Qualification date: March 2014
- Academic qualifications: MA 2010, LPC 2011
