James F. Williams
- Seattle Office Managing Partner
Prominent trial and complex business litigation attorney 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.
The strength and substance of James' litigation style are evident in several dispute outcomes he has achieved. For example, in Stalwart Capital, LLC v. iCap Pacific Northwest Opportunity and Income Fund, LLC, et al., a matter involving federal court allegations of business fraud and deception by the entity and its owner, James turned around an unfavorable case and obtained a unanimous defense verdict after less than two hours of jury deliberations. In Wilbur v. City of Mount Vernon, 989 F.Supp.2d 1122 (2013), James achieved major change within the criminal judicial system in his successful representation in a "civil Gideon," Section 1983 class action on behalf of indigent misdemeanor defendants seeking enforcement of their Sixth Amendment right to counsel. His other notable trial successes include Associated Grocers Inc. v. Alexander & Alexander of California Inc. (federal court jury verdict), Intermec, Inc. v. IBM Corporation (federal court jury verdict), and Campbell v. Abney Mills Corporation/Honeywell (state court jury verdict).
Legal Leadership and Pro Bono Practice
James' professional leadership spans national, regional and local levels. As the Seattle Office Managing Partner, James helms the firm's headquarters, its largest location, with over 300 attorneys and 600 staff. He has also served on the firmwide Executive Committee and Associate Evaluation Committee; as the initial Chair of the firmwide Litigation Training Program and of the Community Service Committee; and as Chair of the Seattle Office Diversity Committee.
In the wider legal community, James is an elected member to the American Law Institute's, Restatement of the Law Third, Conflict of Laws project, has been a long-serving member for Washington to the ABA House of Delegates and was elected by Washington State American Bar Association members as the State Delegate to the House of Delegates.
James was named one of the "Top 100 Super Lawyers" in Washington. One of only 100 lawyers selected nationwide, James was named an "Influencer" in law by The Business Journals in 2018 for his impact on the business and legal communities. He received the 2014 Champion for Justice Award by the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers for the Wilbur class action litigation as well as accolades from the ACLU of WA, Loren Miller Bar Association and Washington Defenders Association. Additionally, James was recognized as an outstanding mentor by the King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.
After graduating from The Citadel and University of Virginia School of Law, James served as a Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the U.S. Air Force. In addition to the Wilbur impact litigation, James has led and contributed to numerous pro bono cases in the area of civil rights.
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,” 2019-2023
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, 2010-2024
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
Insights
News
Professional Experience
Complex Business Litigation
Allied Fuel et al., v. State of Washington & Renewable Energy Group
Superior Court of Washington, King County
Represented global producer and supplier of renewable fuels in litigation over failed subcontract negotiation on a cancelled prime government fuel contract and obtained summary judgment ruling dismissing all claims against the client.
Stalwart Capital, LLC v. iCap Pacific Northwest Opportunity and Income Fund, LLC, et al.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Represented multiple real estate investment fund LLCs in litigation over a broker-dealer agreement and on claims for breach of contract, tortious interference, successor liability, and veil piercing liability issues.
Associated Grocers Inc. v. Alexander & Alexander of California Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Represented defendant, an international insurance broker, in litigation over fidelity bond coverage for a business venture in the Russian Far East.
Atlantis Airways & Kais Hanafi v. McDonnell Douglas Corporation & Boeing Company
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented aircraft manufacturers in a dispute with a Czech Republic-based airline.
Environmental Contractor Arbitration
American Arbitration Association
Represented subcontractor in an environmental dispute involving prolonged arbitration proceedings under AAA's Large, Complex Commercial Disputes Procedures.
Essex Insurance Company v. New West Fisheries Inc. v. Acordia Northwest Inc. v. Swett & Crawford
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented insurance broker in a dispute over business interruption coverage.
Kessler v. Aegis Mortgage Corporation
Superior Court of Washington, Cowlitz County
Represented national sub-prime mortgage lender against Consumer Protection Act, fraud, unjust enrichment and RICO claims.
LaTerra, LP v. Frenchman Hills Vineyard LLC
Superior Court of Washington, Grant County
Represented vineyard owner in an action to quiet title and resolve a dispute over statutory redemption rights.
Stanley v. Sterling Financial Corporation, et al.
Superior Court of Washington, Spokane County
Represented national investment advisor on a tortious interference with contract claim.
LG Enterprises Inc. v. Washington Mutual Bank
Superior Court of Washington, King County; Washington State Court of Appeals
Represented bank in affirmance of summary judgment dismissing a breach of contract case where plaintiff claimed lost profits. 2008 WL 1934848 (Wash. Ct. App.).
Loring v. Safeco Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented insurance carrier in nationwide class action defense of state common law fraud claims.
Molten, Allen & Williams Company v. Interlinq Software Company
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
Represented defendant software manufacturer in a dispute over a software licensing agreement.
Federal And State Governmental Litigation
RCI-Herzog v. Sound Transit
Private Arbitration, Washington
Defended claims for additional costs and delays exceeding $100 million arising out of $128 million light rail project through an eight-week arbitration.
Wilbur v. City of Mount Vernon
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented thousands of indigent misdemeanor defendants seeking enforcement of their Sixth Amendment right to counsel in a Section 1983 class action against the cities of Mount Vernon and Burlington, Washington.
Ealy v. City of Seattle
State Court of Appeals of Washington
Represented the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington and the Loren Miller Bar Association in an appellate challenge to the constitutionality of Washington’s malicious prosecution statute.
Federal Trade Commission v. Fortuna Alliance
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented operators of a buying cooperative against FTC allegations of an international Internet pyramid scheme.
In re Proposed Acquisition of Control of Safeco Insurance Company by Liberty Mutual Holding Company
State Office of the Insurance Commissioner of Washington
Represented insurance carrier before the Office of the Insurance Commissioner hearings officer on approval of its merger transaction with Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
Randall v. Larson
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented inmate in Section 1983 action against a King County prison guard whose 30-hour deprivation of water led to inmate's injury.
Smith v. University of Washington Law School
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Represented defendants, law school and its administrators, in a reverse discrimination class action where the use of race as a factor in law school admissions was challenged as an equal protection violation. Denial of class certification affirmed on appeal. 2 F. Supp. 2d 1324 (W.D. Wash. 1998), aff'd, 233 F.3d 1188 (9th Cir. 2000)
The Medstat Group Inc. v. State of Washington
Superior Court of Washington, Thurston County
Represented healthcare software technology vendor on a preliminary injunction prohibiting State from disclosing trade secrets in violation of Washington's Public Records Act.
Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission v. Puget Sound Energy Inc.
Utilities and Transportation Commission of Washington
Represented public utility in Notice of Emergency Adjudication after a residential gas explosion. PG-041624.
Corporate Plaintiff Asset Recovery And Bankruptcy Adversary Action Litigation
The Boeing Company v. U.S. Airways Inc.
Superior Court of Washington, King County
Prosecuted on behalf of Boeing a breach of contract claim involving the defendant’s failure to accept delivery of aircraft.
Starbucks Corporation v. ADT Security Services, Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Prosecuted on behalf of Starbucks a breach of contract, deceptive trade practices, and negligent misrepresentation case against former security provider.
BWXT Hanford Company v. Fluor Hanford Inc.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington
Represented plaintiff, a DOE subcontractor, on business tort and trade secret claims against the primary contractor.
Central Refrigerated Service Inc. v. Freightliner, LLC & Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors
U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Represented purchaser of a bankrupt trucking company's vehicle trade-back agreements in a dispute over the sale.
FADCO, LLC v. Hogan
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Represented plaintiff, a real estate investor, in a dispute with a shopping mall owner over a temporary restraining order.
Intermec, Inc. v. IBM Corporation
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented plaintiff, an identification technology company, in a dispute over the payment of royalties from the sale of RFID technology patents.
Slava Export Corporation v. Waters
Superior Court of Washington, King County
Represented plaintiff, a Russian frozen food exporter, in a breach of contract/fraud case requiring issuance of a prejudgment writ of attachment, freeze orders on defendant’s bank accounts and a bench warrant for defendant’s arrest.
Virginia Manor Convalescent Home Inc.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented a Chapter 7 Trustee in a case involving implied partnership, preferential transfers, fraudulent conveyances under state and federal law, post-petition transfers, civil conspiracy and subordination of claims.
Mass Tort And Product Liability Defense Litigation
Arnold v. Saberhagen Holdings Inc.
Superior Court of Washington, Pierce County
Represented construction company in a multidefendant asbestos premises liability case.
Callahan v. Asbestos Corporation, Ltd.
Superior Court of Washington, King County
Represented product seller in a multidefendant asbestos product liability case.
Campbell v. Abney Mills Corporation
Superior Court of Washington, King County
Represented brake manufacturer in a multidefendant asbestos product liability case.
Ferguson v. Monsanto
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington
Represented product manufacturer in a multidefendant chemical exposure product liability case.
Video Arguments
James address the ABA Delegates, urging the Supreme Court of the United States to adopt a code of judicial ethics.
James making an argument in the Washington State Court of Appeals – Allied Fuels v. State of Washington and REG.
James making oral argument in the Ninth Circuit
James making the opening argument at a civil trial
Video Presentations
James' Justice Charles Z. Smith Excellence in Diversity Award Ceremony
James describing the Washington Leadership Institute at the 2018 Goldmark Luncheon