James F. Williams
- Seattle Office Managing Partner
Litigator James serves as the Seattle Office Managing Partner. In more than 30 years of courtroom victories, arbitrations, mediations and litigation management, James has continually prevailed for his clients and eliminated or reduced the risks triggered by lawsuits.
James Williams handles sophisticated allegations for plaintiffs and defendants related to breach of contract, fraud, product liability, corporate plaintiff asset recovery, consultant liability, consumer protection and unfair business practices, trade secrets, bankruptcy court adversary actions, Washington Public Records Act, and federal and state agency litigation.
Skilled at early case evaluation, value-driven pre-litigation resolutions and litigation management, James is as effective before a courtroom judge and jury as he is in settlement negotiations, arbitrations, mediations and other alternative dispute resolution forums. James focuses on the most influential case elements and measures to resolve disputes. These can include the development of compelling case themes and theories and strategic venue selection or the use of litigation tools such as videotaped depositions. James also has extensive experience in responding to subpoenas, preparing witnesses for depositions and preparing Rule 30(b)(6) witnesses as corporate representatives.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Virginia School of Law, J.D., Executive Editor, Virginia Journal of International Law, 1988
- The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, B.A., Political Science, with honors, 1985
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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Oregon
- U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Related Employment
- U.S. Air Force, Judge Advocate General's Corps, 1989-1993
- McNair Law Firm, Columbia, SC, Staff Attorney, 1988-1989
Professional Recognition
Selected for the 2024 Excellence in the Legal Profession Award, Loren Miller Bar Association
Recipient of the 2023 "Friend of the Legal Profession Award" by King County Bar Association as member of the SCOTUS Ethics Resolution Team
Named to the 2022 Puget Sound Business Journal “Director of the Year” list in recognition of his outstanding contributions to a range of companies and organizations across the Puget Sound region.
Recipient of the “Justice Charles Z. Smith Excellence in Diversity Award” from the Washington State Bar Association, which is given to an individual "that has made a significant contribution to diversity in the legal profession,” 2021
Named a Power 100 by the Puget Sound Business Journal, recognizing the region’s top “influencers, innovators and luminaries in their respective fields,” 2019-2024
Named to the Lawyers of Color Nation’s Best List for his noteworthy accomplishments and commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, 2019
Selected for Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Hall of Fame, 2018
Selected as a "Top National Lawyer" of 100 named from across the U.S. by The Business Journals, 2018
Elected by Washington State ABA members as the State Delegate to the ABA House of Delegates, 2017-present
Elected to The American Law Institute's, Restatement of the Law Third, Conflict of Laws project; The American Law Institute, Adviser, 2014
Recipient of the 2014 American Civil Liberties Union of Washington’s Civil Libertarian Award for the Wilbur v. City of Mt. Vernon indigent right to counsel class action litigation
Recipient of the 2014 President's Award by the Washington Defender Association for the Wilbur v. City of Mt. Vernon indigent right to counsel class action litigation
Recipient of the 2014 Champion for Justice Award by the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for the Wilbur v. City of Mt. Vernon indigent right to counsel class action litigation
Recipient of the 2014 Loren Miller Bar Association Social Justice Award for the Wilbur v. City of Mt. Vernon indigent right to counsel class action litigation
Recipient of the 2013 Perkins Coie Annual Pro Bono Leadership Award for the Wilbur v. City of Mt. Vernon indigent right to counsel class action litigation
Recipient of the King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Outstanding Mentor Award, 2012
Recipient of The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement, 2010
Recipient of the Loren Miller Bar Association President's Award, 2008
Selected for membership in The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, 2007
Recipient of the WSBA President's Award, 2005
Selected to serve Washington as an ABA House of Delegates Member, 2005-2011; 2015-present
Selected by the ABA as a Business Law Ambassador, 2004-2006
Selected as a faculty member for “WSBA's Best of CLE 2004” based on instructor evaluations
Selected for “40 Under 40,” a profile of young leaders in the business community demonstrating vision and innovation, Puget Sound Business Journal, 2002
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Bankruptcy, 2010-2025
Listed in Corporate Counsel Edition of "Super Lawyers" in Business Litigation, 2008-present
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington’s Super Lawyers,” 2001-2024, and selected as one of "The Top 100 Super Lawyers"
Listed in Washington Law & Politics, “Rising Stars,” 2000-2001
Listed in Seattle Business, “Best Lawyers in the Business,” 2012-2013
*Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell
(AV®, BV® and CV® are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies.)
Impact
Professional Leadership
- ABA Committee on Issues of Concern to the Profession, Vice Chair, 2020-present
- ABA House of Delegates, Conference of State Delegates, Chair, 2018-present
- King County Bar Foundation, Board Member, 2017-present
- The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Board Member, 2020-present
- The American Counsel Association, Board Member, 2020-present
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Jury Trial Improvement Committee, 2016-2019
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Lawyer Representative to Judicial Conference, 2011-2013
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panel for the Western District of Washington, 2004, 2012
- ABA Standing Committee on the American Judicial System and Subcommittee on Federal Courts, 2016-2018
- ABA House of Delegates Minority Caucus Resolutions and Recommendations Committee, 2010-2011
- ABA House of Delegates Committee on Credentials and Admissions, 2008-2009
- ABA Section of Litigation Committee on the American Judicial System, 2019
- American Lawyer Insurance Plans (formerly known as American Bar Insurance Plans Consultants, Inc.), Board of Directors, 2011-2016 (sale of comprehensive major medical, long-term care, Medicare supplement, partners' universal and variable life and car insurance to American lawyers)
- WSBA Leadership Institute (WLI), Inaugural Chair and creator of WLI policies and procedures, mission statement, and training curriculum, 2004-2009; Co-Chair, 2012-present
- Loren Miller Bar Association (Washington affiliate of the National Bar Association), President, 1998-1999; Judicial Screening Committee, Chair, 2000-2005; Brown v. Board of Education Celebration Committee, Chair, 2004
- American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Legal Committee
- King County Bar Association, Judicial Screening Committee
- Dwyer Inn of Court Founding Member
- Federal Bar Association for the Western District of Washington, CLE Committee Co-Chair, 2006
Community Involvement
- The Seattle Foundation Board of Trustees, 2010-2014
- YMCA of Greater Seattle A.K. Guy Awards Committee, 2009-2012
- King County Charter Review Commission, 2007
- United Way of King County Campaign Cabinet, 2004-2005
- Treehouse (nonprofit resource for abused and neglected children in foster care), Board Member, 2000-2015 (see James' overview of Treehouse)
- Leadership Tomorrow, Class of 2000
- United States-Japan Foundation Young Leaders Project, Fellow, 2000-2001