Felicity Williams specialises in public law, court of protection and community care cases. She has particular expertise in representing young and vulnerable people in public law proceedings.
Felicity is ranked for Administrative Law & Human Rights in the Legal 500 2023.
Administrative and Public Law
Felicity has established expertise in judicial review proceedings for individuals contesting the acts of public authorities. She has extensive experience in representing vulnerable adults and children. With a background in both civil and criminal litigation, she is strongly placed to represent those challenging their treatment in the community and in the criminal justice system. Recent public law work has included community care, deprivation of liberty, prison law, healthcare, human rights and public protest issues.
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Civil Liberties and Human Rights
Felicity has an established background in civil liberties and human rights cases across both public law and criminal justice cases. Her judicial review practice has encompassed a range of ground-breaking cases particularly for young and vulnerable people in the criminal justice system. Felicity is often instructed by charities and NGOs in strategic litigation. She regularly acts for individuals challenging their treatment while under the supervision or care of public bodies in the community or in prison.
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Community Care Law
Felicity is experienced in complex community care work. She often acts in cases seeking urgent accommodation and support under the Children Act 1989. She represents individuals in need of assessment, support and accommodation, including proceedings under the Care Act 2014, Equality Act 2010 and healthcare access.
Felicity has frequently dealt with cases where responsibility for care is disputed between public bodies or unlawfully denied to an individual.
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Court of Protection
Felicity frequently appears in the Court of Protection. Her casework includes deprivation of liberty issues, personal welfare applications and complex care packages. Felicity is experienced in community care and Children Act judicial review claims, which assists her approach to Court of Protection matters. Felicity acts for litigation friends, the Official Solicitor, local authorities and family members.
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Prisoners’ Rights
Felicity undertakes wide-ranging prison law work. She advises on all matters of prison law including resettlement, discrimination, re-categorisation, segregation, adjudications, licence conditions, medical treatment, mental health and prison discipline. Much of her High Court casework has concerned the particular difficulties of prisoners during resettlement.
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Public International Law
Felicity has a background in international case law and legal policy work. This has led to her working in the UK and abroad on a range of international human rights issues.
In 2021-2022, Felicity worked in Canada as part of the independent consultation team on a Miscarriages of Justice Commission for Canada. The consultation recommendations set out a blueprint for a new independent commission, proactive in focus and directly tackling systemic discrimination.
During Brexit, Felicity worked extensively on the legal issues and the interface between European and UK law; speaking in parliamentary meetings, and writing articles on the developments for law journals and the press. She has been involved in international and domestic environmental cases, including legal challenges to the exploitation of tar sands in Canada and fracking cases in the UK.
Felicity was admitted to the International Criminal Court's list of Counsel in 2013 and is eligible to represent the accused and victims before the Court.
