William Wood QC’s Full CV


Qualifications 

1974    Open scholarship to Worcester College, Oxford University

1977    Oxford University First class BA in law (undergraduate degree).

1978    Oxford University First class BCL (postgraduate degree).

1978    Kennedy Scholarship to Harvard Law School

1979    Master of Laws degree Harvard Law School (postgraduate degree).

1980    Bar Finals, Council of Legal Education, London

1998    Queen's Counsel

 

Bencher of Middle Temple

Member of the Bar of Tonga

Accredited CEDR mediator

Member of CEDR Faculty and CEDR Panel

Member of PIM Senior Mediators

Mediator for Sport Resolutions (UK)

Vice Chair and Member of the Board of the Civil Mediation Council

Practice Profile  

Bill Wood QC is one of the UK's leading commercial mediators.

In 2010/2011 he has again been rated in the top tier by both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. His mediation practice now takes him to Dubai, Hong Kong and New York as well as to all parts of the UK.  In all he conducts around 80 mediations each year.  

His mediations involve complex and high-profile matters including competition disputes, financial services, employment, share sales, internet and telecoms -related disputes, professional negligence and international trade as well insurance, reinsurance and aviation.

Bill Wood QC also sits as an ICC arbitrator. He also continues to be highly ranked by both directories (as he has been for many years) as an advocate in the areas of aviation and insurance. 

Mediation

Cases:

Mediations are and usually remain confidential. But Bill Wood's involvement as a mediator in two high profile disputes, both competition cases, is in the public domain:

  • The dispute between the British Waterways Board and the British Marine Federation over the structure of the marina industry.
  • The dispute between certain leading bookmakers and TurfTV over the supply of live television pictures to betting shops.

The Directories:

"William Wood QC at the same set receives high praise for his absolutely charming, commercial and engaging" approach. Solicitors note his "ability to deal with almost any type of dispute," with one interviewee stating: "You know he is a safe pair of hands if there are complex issues involved." " (Chambers UK 2012)

Listed in Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Commercial Mediation 2011 list of ten "Most highly regarded individuals".

"The ‘excellent' William Wood QC of Brick Court Chambers wins huge respect for being ‘blunt and to the point' and for possessing a ‘very good, easy' and ‘no-nonsense style'. In addition, ‘he keeps the mediation process moving forward, and always has a mastery of the relevant facts and issues'. Wood handles the full range of matters, and has recently been involved in a multibillion-dollar mediation relating to derivative investments." Legal 500 2011

"praised for his "enormous charm, light touch and tremendous humanity." Wood is one of the most well-liked and respected mediators on the circuit" Chambers and Partners 2011

"Solicitors are full of praise for his "commercial approach, innovative problem-solving, strong intellect and disarming sense of humour." " Chambers and Partners 2011

"Solicitors respect his ‘razor-sharp intellect', ‘clear distillation of the issues' and the air of ‘good-humoured professionalism' he brings to proceedings." Legal 500 2010

"The profile of William Wood QC of Brick Court Chambers continues to soar." Legal 500 2010

"first-class" ,"charismatic", "incisive" Legal 500 2009

"fantastic" ,"he exudes energy and enthusiasm" Chambers and Partners 2010

"beyond the affable exterior, Wood's eagle-eyed perception and legal acuity enable him to plunge into the detail and tease out the finer points of the most complex disputes" Chambers & Partners, 2009 

"a knack for bringing warring parties together."; "you go against him as an opponent, and you end up becoming his friend" Chambers & Partners, 2009

"Bill Wood QC continues to impress big-name lawyers and law firms. His "unobtrusive" style allows "sophisticated parties to find solutions without feeling railroaded or coerced". Possessed of the charm to handle abrasive types with "sang froid", he is "probing and challenging" where required. Parties and advisers also find him "excellent company" and "thoroughly entertaining". Legal 500 2008   

"The "charming" and "charismatic" Bill Wood QC is hard to ignore, and makes the top tier of the rankings this year having built a substantial city fan base with his light, facilitative style. Crackling with confidence and energy, he is swift to gain the confidence of clients and uses humour to maintain momentum and alleviate tension in a broad range of commercial disputes."      Legal 500 2007

"A charismatic and engaging figure, Wood's elevated position in mediation circles is focussed on his "outstanding reputation" in insurance disputes. Peers note that he is "exceptional at establishing a rapport with parties". In part, this is due to a "relaxed and natural demeanour" that puts individuals at ease."      Chambers & Partners 2007

"...he trained as a mediator in 1999 and is increasingly coming to be regarded as a top-rate practitioner in that field, winning plaudits for his lightness of touch and good humour as a mediator."   Legal Week 22nd September 2005

"Barrister Bill Wood will today assume the pivotal role in the legal battle being fought...over live pictures of British racing shown in betting shops...All parties have agreed to mediation which brings in the highly experienced Wood..." Racing Post 17th March 2008

Insurance and Reinsurance

Cases:

  • Lloyd's litigation (Wellington, Janson Green and Secretan claims)

  • British Sugar v NEI (interpretation of consequential loss limitation clause in engineering contract)

  • In re Firm X (solicitor's conflict of interest)

  • Pangood v Barclay Brown (duty of Lloyds broker to explain policy terms)

  • Fitzgerald v Williams (international art fraud)

  • Glo-lite v Jasper Conran (dispute over termination of manufacturing licence)

  • Coral UK v Rechtman (liability of company director where company non-existent)

  • Cementation v Aegon (interpretation of insurance policy in engineering project)

  • Saipem & Conoco v Dredging VO (liability of dredger owners for damage to pipeline)

  • CTI v Oceanus (non-disclosure in insurance contract)

  • New Hampshire v Strabag Bau (Brussels Convention)

  • Killick v Rendall (construction of travel insurance policy)

The Directories:

"has a knack bringing warring parties together, you go against him as an opponent and end up becoming his friend" Chambers & Partners 2009

"Insurance and Reinsurance Leading Silks:  William Wood QC is a ‘first-rate advocate'". Legal 500 2008 

"A talented mediator and litigator, William Wood QC is highly praised for his "extremely user-friendly" approach.... "Funny, articulate and precise", he's a "joy to listen to, whether in court or behind the scenes."" Chambers & Partners 2007

Aviation

Cases:

  • Killick v Goss (application of Warsaw convention to helicopter crash)

  • ABTA v BA, Virgin and Lufthansa (dispute over travel agents' commission on airline tickets)

  • Kegworth Air Crash

  • British Airways/Cityflyer merger (appeared for BA before Competition Commission on merger inquiry)

  • British Airways/the European Commission (travel agents' commissions Article 82 complaint to the European Commission)

  • Helicopter crash (private arbitration)

  • Polynesian v Tonga (airport security/stowaways Court of Appeal of Tonga) Advising on application to CAA concerning runway extension at a major regional airport

  • Protea Leasing Ltd v Royal Air Cambodge Co Ltd Economic Tort claim.

The Directories

"Renowned for developing a strong rapport with his clients, he displays enthusiasm and energy and is widely praised as being a hugely valuable asset when it comes to mediations" Chambers & Partners 2009

"Aviation Leading Silks:  Extremely personable silk"... "widely praised" Legal 500 2008

"Commentators hold William Wood QC in high esteem for his first-rate litigation, advisory and transactional work on behalf of major carriers. He is currently representing BA on an appeal before the ECJ." Chambers & Partners 2007

Publications

Bill Wood QC lectures and teaches widely on mediation matters in general and the resolution of insurance disputes in particular.

His publications include:

"Juggling Act" The Lawyer

"Opinion: Halsey v Milton Keynes" The Lawyer

"Mediation: The Next Ten Years", 2007 Master's Lecture to the Worshipful Company of Arbitrators subsequently published in the Chartered Institute Journal.

"My Toughest Mediation" The Mediator Magazine

"When Girls Go Wild: The Debate Over Mediation Privilege" The Mediator Magazine.