Andrew Ward
Partner, Dispute Resolution

Andrew is a Partner in the firm’s Dispute Resolution group in London.

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 and energy sectors, and regularly advises on investment disputes and disputes concerning new technologies. His clients include banks, PE funds, other investors, ship owners, charterers and commodity traders.

Andrew’s practice covers finance, fraud, contractual and shareholder disputes (including joint ventures, share purchases, sales contracts, shipbuilding contracts, MOAs, charters, bills of lading etc). Andrew applies a commercial and pragmatic approach to dispute resolution to achieve the best commercial outcome possible for his clients.

Andrew also leads the firm’s blockchain and distributed ledger technology initiative, along with colleagues from transactional departments, and has completed the 10 week Blockchain Executive Education Programme at University College London.

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