Andrew Ward
Partner

Andrew is a Partner and Co-Head of the London Dispute Resolution group.

He specialises in international arbitration, commercial litigation and resolving disputes outside the formal court or arbitral channels, including through negotiation and mediation.

Andrew has expertise in the maritime, trade, aviation and energy sectors. His clients include banks, PE funds, other investors, lessors, ship owners, charterers and commodity traders.

Andrew applies a commercial and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution to achieve the best commercial outcome possible for his clients.

Andrew leads the firm’s blockchain and distributed ledger technology initiative, along with colleagues from transactional departments.

Legal 500 UK 2018 recommended Andrew as “extremely clever and pays close attention to detail”.

• Acting for claimants in a Commercial Court trial relating to a joint venture dispute concerning a large scale and high profile construction project in Germany. Successful settlement after trial.
• Acting for claimants in a High Court claim for fraud in relation to an investment into a joint venture. Successful settlement before trial.
• Acting successfully for a large Hong Kong conglomerate in defending Commercial Court proceedings brought by a large shipping charterer.
• Advising a syndicate of banks and associated shipowners on $1.2bn charter claims against Hanjin.
• Acting for an international bank in disputes concerning the appointment of administrators over a shipping group, the nature of the bank’s security over the group’s cash and future earnings.

• 2002 – 2004: College of Law (London), PgDL and LPC
• 1996 – 2002: Durham University, MA Classics and BA Classics

• Law Society of England and Wales
• London Shipping Law Centre
• London Court of International Arbitration
• London Solicitors Litigation Association

• 2014 – present: Partner, Watson Farley & Williams
• 2008 – 2014: Senior Associate, Watson Farley & Williams
• 2008: Associate, Memery Crystal
• 2006 – 2008: Associate, Holman Fenwick Willan
• 2004 – 2006: Trainee and Associate, Fox Williams