William Godwin KC is a London-based practising King’s Counsel, arbitrator and adjudicator with over 30 years’ experience in construction, technology and engineering disputes including EPC/turnkey projects, off-shore structures and shipbuilding cases. He has very substantial experience of institutional (LCIA, ICC, DIAC) and ad hoc construction and commercial arbitrations including currently sitting as arbitrator in ICC arbitrations concerning major projects in the Middle East.
William has special expertise in FIDIC contracts and was legal member of the Updates Task Group responsible for drafting the second (2017) editions of the Red, Yellow and Silver Books. His book The 2017 FIDIC Contracts (Wiley 2020) is a commentary and comparative analysis of the new editions. His other publications include Construction Contracts: a Handbook for Chinese Parties (in Mandarin and English, China Architecture and Building Press Beijing 2008), International Construction Contracts: a Handbook (Wiley Blackwell 2013) and several articles on arbitration, construction and commercial law. He is a visiting lecturer at City, University of London.
William has been described as ‘an outstanding advocate’ in Chambers UK and by UK Legal 500 as ‘An expert on FIDIC contracts and related arbitration,’ ‘Very bright and experienced, providing detailed analysis of issues’ with ‘very strong analytical skills and attention to detail’ and ‘He has established good credentials in the arbitration communities of China and Asia’.