Studio Lambert Options Nicola Williams Legal Thriller

The Studio Lambert scripted team has optioned Nicola Williams’ legal thriller Without Prejudice, which was republished in 2021 as part of Bernardine Evaristo’s Black Britain: Writing Back series.

The novel follows the brilliant Lee Mitchell, a 30-year-old barrister from a working-class Caribbean background, as she takes on the biggest case of her career.

Rebecca Watson of Valerie Hoskins Associates negotiated the deal on behalf of Jonathan Ruppin of The Ruppin Agency & Writers’ Studio.

Susan Hogg, head of drama for Studio Lambert, commented: “We couldn’t be more excited to be working with the extraordinarily talented author Nicola Williams. Having served for many years as a criminal barrister and currently, as a Crown Court judge, Nicola is uniquely placed to bring a thrilling authenticity to her observations of the criminal justice system. The quality of her storytelling and brilliant characterization give us a fresh legal thriller in Without Prejudice. We will bring it to the screen in a bold entertaining series which will speak to a contemporary audience.”

Williams commented: “I’ve always loved legal thrillers, and I wanted to write a pacy, compelling legal drama set in the U.K., dealing with issues that could so easily affect any one of us, whilst authentically describing the life of a criminal barrister in contemporary London based on my own experiences at the Bar. I’m thrilled to be working with Studio Lambert to see this book come to life on the screen, and I’m excited about working with Hamish Hamilton to continue Lee’s story and the dilemmas she faces in future books.”