William Frain-Bell

Introduction and Contact Details

William is a highly experienced and client focused barrister with a wide ranging international practice.  He is described by independent legal directories as “user friendly and responsive” and as “persuasive and well prepared”. He is also referred to as having “an excellent manner when dealing with clients” and an “enthusiastic, practical and sensible approach”. 

Specialising in commercial law, William has a particular interest in international arbitration and mediation.  He has significant experience in dispute resolution in the Middle East and since 2010 has acted as counsel in many of the leading cases before the Dubai World Tribunal (DWT), including successfully representing the Claimants in the first trial with witnesses before the Tribunal, which is presided over by former UK Court of Appeal judges. He has recently represented the former CEO and Chief General Counsel of the world’s one time largest property developer in separate DWT actions against their former employer. 

William also has a wide experience in real estate and construction related disputes.  In the past year he has acted for a number of UK investors in arbitrations and tribunal hearings in respect of actions relating to the collapse of the offshore World project in Dubai.  He has also been involved in financial disputes, including the collapse of a hedge fund and is currently representing the Claimants in a negligence based class action against a leading international bank.

He has successfully represented the Claimants as sole counsel in an AED 250m unfair termination arbitration relating to the construction of a twin-tower block in Dubai, and was junior counsel in an arbitration involving the quality of the construction of the largest structure of its kind in the world.

William has a good knowledge of the various institutional arbitration bodies including the LCIA, ICC, and the DIAC, and has significant experience in advising clients on both jurisdiction and enforcement related issues in the field of arbitration.

Qualifications

MA (St. Andrews)
LLB (Aberdeen)
PG Dip International Commercial Arbitration (QML)
Chartered Arbitrator
Accredited CEDR Mediator
Registered Practitioner in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts
Advocate (Scotland)

Professional Associations

Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators

Contact Details

T  +44 (0)20 7242 2523 (switchboard)
F  +44 (0)20 7691 1234
M +44 (0)7766 007363
E  william.frain-bell@hardwicke.co.uk