North American Meeting, Florence – Update

You will not be surprised to hear that we have, reluctantly and sadly, reached the conclusion that the North American Meeting (for COMBAR members only) that was due to take place in Florence on 2nd – 4th June 2021 will not be going ahead this year. The days when one can just hop on a plane and go to Italy for a couple of days and come back again and just carry on with normal life are not yet quite back with us. Instead, The North American Meeting will, we hope, be going ahead in Florence on Wednesday, 1st June (Welcome Reception) and meeting on, Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June 2022.

We have negotiated a roll-over with the same hotel in Florence and the venues. As such, all those with rooms already reserved at the Hotel Westin will have those bookings automatically rolled over to next year (and do not need to do anything). In the event that there is anyone with an existing booking who does not want to roll it over, please contact us (i.e. me, Veronica (admin@combar.com) and/or Alison (deputyadmin@combar.com).

I am very sorry to be the bearer of this sad but, realistically, unsurprising news. Thank you all for your perseverance. Hopefully we can all look forward to a Meeting in Florence next year which will be all the sweeter and more enjoyable for having been denied us twice! Registrations will open again shortly.

Fionn Pilbrow QC
Chair, North American Committee

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Craig Williams, Quadrant Chambers

Craig Williams, Quadrant Chambers

Craig grew up just outside Selby, North Yorkshire, and went to Barlby High School, a state comprehensive, followed by York College to study his A-Levels. Craig was the first in his family to go to university and studied undergraduate and post-graduate law at Durham University before completing the BPTC at BPP Leeds. He was awarded an Exhibition, the Struben Bequest Prize and the Duke of Edinburgh Entrance Scholarship by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to assist with fees and living expenses during the BPTC year.

Prior to commencing pupillage Craig worked in-house with the global litigation team at a multi-national energy company, where he advised business lawyers and internal clients across the company’s upstream and downstream energy business on contentious matters and legal proceedings within the EMENA territory. He also worked in-house at a leading boutique commercial disputes firm where, among other things, he assisted in relation to a series of high value insurance arbitrations.

Craig completed his pupillage at Quadrant Chambers in 2015 where he is now a tenant. He has a busy international commercial practice which encompasses banking, energy, international trade and shipping and he regularly appears in the High Court and arbitration both as sole and junior counsel. Career highlights include working in Grand Cayman on AHAB v SAAD, the largest trial in Cayman history and being instructed in several significant disputes related to alleged LIBOR manipulation, misrepresentation, fraud and breach of contract.

Craig’s practice has a particular focus on energy and natural resources and he has found his previous in-house experience invaluable in understanding how the industry operates and what clients need from counsel.

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Combar is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity without discrimination on grounds of colour, race, disability, age, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partnership status, sexual orientation or political persuasion.

Combar is committed in all its activities to treating everyone equally and fairly and with dignity and respect regardless of their personal characteristics, and to promoting equality and diversity across its members, and the Bar in general, including by promoting access to the Bar.