Erika Williams’ detailed CV is available here.  Highlights are set out below.

Since establishing her independent practice, Erika has been engaged as:

Arbitrator and Tribunal Secretary Appointments

  • Sole Arbitrator in a Resolution Institute arbitration in relation to a dispute valued at circa AUD 1 million between a contractor and sub-contractor on a construction project.
  • Sole Arbitrator in a Resolution Institute arbitration in relation to a dispute between a property purchaser and building inspector.
  • Presiding arbitrator in an ICC Singapore arbitration in relation to a dispute regarding a solar farm between parties in two South Pacific Island territories valued at USD 5 million. The arbitration was seated in Sydney and the contract governed by the laws of one of the Pacific Island territories.
  • Sole arbitrator in a commercial dispute regarding the construction of an ocean vessel conducted under the Resolution Institute Arbitration Rules 2020. The dispute was seated in Brisbane and the contract governed by the laws of Queensland. Final award delivered within four months of appointment.
  • Tribunal Secretary to sole arbitrator in a construction dispute conducted under the ACICA Rules 2021 for claims exceeding $120 million. The arbitration is seated in Queensland and the contract governed by the laws of Queensland.
  • Tribunal Secretary to a panel of three referees in the unique Supreme Court of Queensland matter of Santos Limited v Fluor Australia Pty Ltd & Anor, the questions in which the Court has referred out to the referees. The matter involves claims exceeding $1.4 billion.

Consultancy Services

  • Arbitration Consultant to GRT Lawyers, acting as counsel defending a Mongolian State-Owned Entity against Japanese and Mongolian claimants under the SIAC Rules (claim and counterclaim totalling USD 40 million).
  • Consultant to SangDo Lawyers in relation to an arbitration agreement that was successfully enforced in the Queensland Court of Appeal decision of Lee v Lin & Anor [2022] QCA 140.
  • Counsel at Peter & Kim, a leading international arbitration firm based in Switzerland, South Korea, Australia and Singapore (January 2021-October 2022).
  • Counsel for the Australian Centre for International Arbitration administering cases under the ACICA Arbitration Rules and promoting arbitration in Australia.

Previous key experience as Tribunal Secretary includes assisting Tribunals in the following matters:

  • $10 million claim against the defence force of a Pacific Island nation in relation to a catering services contract where the respondent did not participate substantively in the arbitration.
  • USD$10 million repudiation claim involving iron ore mine and Chinese steel mill concerning an offtake agreement and involving a jurisdictional dispute.
  • Arbitration under the Sugar Code involving the terms of a sugar contract between approximately 250 growers and the relevant sugar mill.
  • Restraint of trade dispute involving the sale of a cleaning and facilities management business.
  • Expedited arbitration to resolve a partnership dispute between unrepresented parties arising upon the dissolution of the partnership.
  • Arbitration to resolve the finalisation of a 30-year lease of a caravan park in North Queensland.
  • Expert determination regarding a warranty dispute following a multi-million dollar commercial real estate transaction.

Previous key experience as counsel includes:

  • Acting as lead solicitor on a multi-million dollar construction arbitration involving over 1,000 separate claims and managing a large team of 12 lawyers and five barristers
  • Acting as lead solicitor in Supreme Court litigation in $60 million claim against a China and Hong Kong based fashion clothing retail group for unpaid consultancy and development fees
  • Acting in an investor-state claim under a bilateral investment treaty against a South American country for an Australian investor in a lithium mine
  • Acting for a coal trader in a misrepresentation dispute administered by SIAC
  • Acting in a dispute involving delay claims and standby claims in relation to an oil refinery project in Qatar under the JCAA Rules, including drafting detailed witness statements following which the parties were able to reach a settlement beneficial to our claimant client
  • Acting for Netherlands principal contractor against subcontractor in a dispute arising from termination of a construction contract under the Resolution Institute Rules
  • Advising and acting in relation to international commercial arbitrations under various arbitral institutions including ACICA, LCIA, UNCITRAL, SIAC and JCAA, and
  • Advising and acting in relation to complex issues arising in arbitration and litigation proceedings including obtaining cross-jurisdictional freezing orders and evidence in cross-border arbitration and litigation.