Property Damage
William is developing considerable experience in dealing with property damage claims, many of which arise from fire or escape of water. He is able to advise on coverage, defence and recovery. He is currently acting for several firms which provide storage, removal and logistics services.
Experience includes:
Fire
- Acting for a builder facing a six-figure claim for property damage. The builder was accused of having negligently caused a fire to break out on site, with the result that a building was severely damaged. William also settled the Defence, and represented the defendant at a CCMC in the High Court (TCC).
- Acting for the occupier of large storage warehouse which was almost completely destroyed by fire. The occupier and its insurer are facing a considerable number of claims and potential claims for property damage.
- Acting for an insurer seeking a subrogated recovery from the manufacturer of a vacuum cleaner which combusted whilst charging, causing significant fire damage to a domestic property.
- Acting for a storage and removals firm facing claims from customers following an arson attack which destroyed one of its warehouses.
Escape of Water
- Representing a well-known water and sewerage undertaker at the trial of a claim for property damage by one of its customers. The court was satisfied that the Water Industry Act 1991, as interpreted by the senior courts, provided a complete defence to the claim.
- Acting for the claimant in a six-figure subrogated claim for property damage arising from an escape of water in a large domestic property.
- Acting for a sub-contractor accused of having negligently caused an escape of water in a new-build block of flats, leading to a six-figure claim for damages.
- Acting for a major water utility accused of causing damage to property as a consequence of negligent repair work.
- Acting for a well-known horticultural charity on the recovery of its losses arising from an escape of water caused by a sub-contractor, which led to the temporary closure of its public facilities and consequential financial losses.
- Advising an insurer seeking to pursue a subrogated claim for a contribution from a sub-contractor who caused an escape of water at a new housing project.
- Representing a homeowner at the trial of her downstair neighbour’s claim for property damage caused by a leaking toilet cistern. The claim was dismissed on the basis of an old common law rule: as the upstairs homeowner was unaware of the leak and had taken reasonable steps to maintain the cistern, she was not liable in either negligence or private nuisance.
Storage, Removals and Logistics
- Acting for a storage company which disposed of goods as a bailee in accordance with the mechanism permitted by the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977, and now faces the prospect of legal action by the disgruntled bailor.
- Acting for a laboratory removals firm accused of having negligently damaged a shipment of medical lasers whilst transporting them to the USA.
- Advising a storage company on its potential exposure in circumstances where one of its consumer storage warehouses had burnt down.
- Acting for a storage and removals firm accused of having severely damaged a customer’s goods whilst they were in storage and/or transit.
- Acting for a storage and removals firm facing claims from customers following an arson attack which destroyed one of its warehouses.
Selected Cases
View full profile »Awards
• Lord Denning Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn, 2021)
• Senior Advocacy Scholarship (The University of Law, 2021)
• Lord Brougham Scholarship (Lincoln’s Inn, 2020)
Articles
News
Qualifications
• Bar Practice Course (Outstanding); The University of Law
• GDL (Distinction); The University of Law
• MA Music (First Class); King’s College, Cambridge
Memberships
- BILA
- COMBAR
- PNBA
- SCL
- TECBAR
