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Lawyer Profile

Image of Des Williams

Des Williams

Werksmans Attorneys
Best Lawyers Advisory Board Member
  • Recognized Since:
    2008
  • Recognized in:
    Arbitration and Mediation
    Construction Law...
  • Website:
    https://www.werksmans.com
  • Location:
    The Central
    96 Rivonia Road
    Sandton, ZA 2146

Des Williams was the chairman of Werksmans Attorneys from 2005 to February 2015. He has been with the firm since 1974 and headed its Litigation Department from 1994 to 2005. He is now the head of the firm’s Arbitration Practice Group. He is experienced in all fields of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including international litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has been involved in many of the largest and most complex litigation and arbitration matters in South Africa. 

Des is named in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business for his expertise in dispute resolution; appearing in the 2016 edition for both dispute resolution and construction. He is named among the world's leading arbitration specialists in The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration, 2016. He is also named as a leading lawyer in arbitration and mediation, construction and litigation by Best Lawyers International; in commercial litigation and in arbitration by the International Who's Who Legal; in dispute resolution by the Legal500 and in dispute resolution by PLC Which Lawyer. Des is the South African member of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the chairman of the Council of the ICC South Africa, a former co-chair of the Litigation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), and a former member of the IBA's Legal Practice Division Council. He has authored several articles, is a contributor to books, journals, newsletters and reviews and regularly appears as a sought-after speaker at local and international conferences. Des holds BA LLB and LLM degrees and Higher Diplomas in Company Law and Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand.

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  • Lawyer Bio
  • Client Comments
  • Firm Details

Lawyer Bio

Des Williams was the chairman of Werksmans Attorneys from 2005 to February 2015. He has been with the firm since 1974 and headed its Litigation Department from 1994 to 2005. He is now the head of the firm’s Arbitration Practice Group. He is experienced in all fields of commercial litigation and alternative dispute resolution, including international litigation, arbitration and mediation. He has been involved in many of the largest and most complex litigation and arbitration matters in South Africa. 

Des is named in Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business for his expertise in dispute resolution; appearing in the 2016 edition for both dispute resolution and construction. He is named among the world's leading arbitration specialists in The International Who's Who of Commercial Arbitration, 2016. He is also named as a leading lawyer in arbitration and mediation, construction and litigation by Best Lawyers International; in commercial litigation and in arbitration by the International Who's Who Legal; in dispute resolution by the Legal500 and in dispute resolution by PLC Which Lawyer. Des is the South African member of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the chairman of the Council of the ICC South Africa, a former co-chair of the Litigation Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA), and a former member of the IBA's Legal Practice Division Council. He has authored several articles, is a contributor to books, journals, newsletters and reviews and regularly appears as a sought-after speaker at local and international conferences. Des holds BA LLB and LLM degrees and Higher Diplomas in Company Law and Tax from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Read more on firm website
  • Affiliations
  • Award List
  • Additional Information
  • Lawyer of the Year Badge

Affiliations:

  • Council of the International Chamber of Commerce South Africa (ICCSA) - Chairman
  • Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce - South African Member

Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers for:

  • Litigation, Johannesburg (2009)
 

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in South Africa for work in:

  • Arbitration and Mediation
  • Construction Law
  • Litigation
  • Telecommunications Law

Special Focus:

  • International
 

Lawyer Client Comments

Firm Details

Image for Werksmans Attorneys
Werksmans Attorneys
https://www.werksmans.com
 
Headquarters
The Central
96 Rivonia Road
Sandton, ZA 2146
27 11 535 8000
3 Office Locations
in 1 Country

South Africa

South Africa

Cape Town, South Africa

Level 1

No. 5 Silo Square

V&A Waterfront

Cape Town 8001

South Africa

27 21 405 5100

Get Directions

Stellenbosch, South Africa

Block B 2nd Floor

De Wagenweg Office Park

Stellentia Avenue

Stellenbosch 7600

South Africa

27 21 809 6000

Get Directions

 
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