James Williams

Mr. Williams was born in Austin, Texas on August 2, 1963. Mr. Williams received his education from Washington and Lee University (B.A., Economics and B.A., American History [double major], 1985, Cum Laude) and Texas Tech University (J.D., 1988). He was admitted to the Texas Bar in 1989 and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a Shareholder of the firm. Legal Experience and Areas of Practice Mr. Williams possesses extensive experience in civil litigation and transactional work, including employment law defense and business representation, insurance defense, workers’ compensation defense, construction law, collections practice, nonsubscriber defense and commercial litigation, having long concentrated his practice representing businesses and insurance companies. He is experienced in a variety of commercial litigation and warranty defense cases. He has handled hundreds of insurance defense cases and other civil cases in litigation. He has provided representation, both on a 1st and 3rd party basis, for insurance companies and their insureds in litigation such as products and premises liability actions, automobile accident cases, trucking accident cases, wrongful death cases, subrogation cases, D.T.P.A claims and in defense of workers’ compensation claims. He has substantial trial and appellate experience in a variety of cases and has handled hundreds of administrative hearings before the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (now the Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation). He also has substantial mediation and arbitration experience. From 1990 to 1994 he served as Associate Counsel in the Staff Counsel offices of the Travelers Insurance Company in Dallas. He is also a former Assistant City Attorney for the City of Dallas and former prosecutor. Professional Organizations Present State Bar of Texas Present DFW Council of Safety Professionals Present Tarrant County Bar Association Present Defense Research Institute Present Texas Association of Defense Counsel Present Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA) Present Associate Member Risk And Insurance Management Society, Inc. (RIMS) Present Insurance Law Section, State Bar of Texas Present Subrogation Association of North Texas Present Workers’ Compensation Section, State Bar of Texas Present The Honorable Order of the Blue Goose, International Insurance Professionals Organization, Texas Chapter Present The National Association of Subrogation Professionals (NASP) Present The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM Alliance) 1994-1999 Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association 1991 Dallas Bar Association 1985-1988 Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternity Honors Mr. Williams is listed as one of Tarrant County’s Top Lawyers in Fort Worth, Texas Magazine in its December 2002 edition. He is listed in the Insurance Defense category. Mr. Williams is also a Member of the prestigious Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM Alliance), an alliance comprised of insurance companies, corporations, Corporate Counsel, Litigation and Risk Managers, claims professionals and insurance defense attorneys. Through education and collaboration the organization’s goals are to create a common interest in the representation by firms of companies, and to promote and further the highest standards of litigation management in pursuit of client defense. Selected attorneys and law firms are extended membership by invitation only based on nominations from CLM Fellows. Expert Witness Retention Mr. Williams has been hired as an expert witness in Texas Workers’ Compensation law and in connection with workers’ compensation billing and workers’ compensation practices under Texas law. Appointments Mr. Williams serves as a Special Commissioner, appointed by the Tarrant County courts, to hear condemnation cases in Tarrant County. He has served in condemnation matters involving such governmental entities as the State of Texas, the City of Fort Worth and the City of Colleyville. Authored Documents and Course Instruction Mr. Williams is the author of Adjudication of Workers Compensation Claims in District Court (2000), Recent Appeals Panel and Case Law Update (2000) and Non-Subscriber Issues and Update (2000) and was a featured speaker at the Workers Compensation in Texas Seminar, Lorman Education Services (2000). He is also the author of Defenses to Workers Compensation Claims (2001) and was a featured speaker at the Introduction to Workers Compensation Seminar, Lorman Education Services (2001). He has presented various seminars to insurance adjusters regarding claim investigation and evaluation, including such presentations as “Automobile Accidents and the Claims Adjuster,” “Mediation Strategies for Insurance Claims,” “The Role of Defense Counsel in Defending Negligence Claims” and “Evaluating Personal Injury Damages.” He is co-author of “Supplemental Income Benefits Based on Ratable Impairment” in the Spring 1997 edition of “The Examiner.” He is also author of Claims Investigations and the Witness Statement (1995) and Do’s and Don’ts of Depositions (1994). Testimonials I have worked with Jim Williams and his firm Williams, Lacy, McClure and Parmelee as an Insurance Claims Specialist and found that they do excellent work. The firm knows how to maintain cost consciousness and still achieve outstanding results in defending personal injury and general liability lawsuits. I would not hesitate in the least to highly recommend this firm to any insurance company or third party administrator looking to secure Texas defense counsel for insurance defense litigation matters, commercial lines, personal lines, or otherwise. Robert, Insurance Claims Specialist for Large Multi-National Insurance Company I would like to enthusiastically endorse Jim Williams for the role of defense attorney, corporate counsel and legal advisor. Jim has provided expert legal guidance and business consulting services for this company for over fifteen years. While he has specific expertise in the areas of transportation, insurance and employment law, he is highly versatile and can handle any business or legal issue quite effectively, including litigation matters. This ability has allowed us to seek his counsel almost exclusively for all legal matters. His strengths include his integrity, his large body of knowledge, the level of research and detail with which he produces an extremely high quality of work, his people and communication skills, and his responsiveness. In addition to being an excellent lawyer, Jim’s has unique business skills which deliver proactive advice to help a business move forward, always looking at all sides of an issue. He has served as a loyal partner to our senior management team. Penny McLeskey, Director of Corporate Services at Lone Star Overnight I was very thankfully introduced to Mr. Williams by a client to work on their Texas Workers’ Compensation cases. His work was…fantastic. I knew that I could count on him to be ready, on time, complete, and up to the task. With his help we overcame some significant hurdles successfully. As a Senior Workers’ Compensation Examiner, I unreservedly recommend both he and his firm. Oh, and they handle more than workers’ compensation too. Chris Crawford, Senior Claims Examiner at York Risk Services Group Over the past 32 years of owning numerous companies in the construction world we’ve had our share of legal issues. During this time I’ve had to hire many law firms to represent us. I have to say out of all of the law firms I’ve hired and utilized over the years Jim Williams and his law firm is as good as it gets! Jim Williams is a real bulldog who will fight for his clients diligently and cost effectively. The amazing thing is that he is able to combine such a tenacious approach with a professional and respectful demeanor. Of course I would expect these traits since he is a man of faith, and it shows in the way that he confidently upholds the law, protects his client’s interest, and engages in legal combat in the name of justice. He genuinely wants what’s best for his clients, and he knows how to use the law to gain an edge that others may never have thought of. We would look to no other firm as our choice for Texas attorneys! Thanks, Jim for your relentless pursuit of justice… Bradford R. McManus, CEO at Advanced Insulation Systems I had the pleasure of working closely with Jim Williams at the same law firm in Dallas before I became a Tarrant County District Judge. He later had cases in my court. Jim is a person of highest integrity and is an effective advocate. He is a first rate lawyer who is committed to working in the best interest of his clients. I would give him a favorable recommendation to anyone seeking to do business with him or to retain him as counsel. Retired Judge Bob McGrath Our company has worked with Jim Williams and his firm for nearly 20 years. They do terrific work and are superb at representing businesses defending workplace injury and other personal injury claims, in the insurance defense context and otherwise. They also provide equally skilled representation in defending employment law cases and in handling commercial matters. Jim is honest, thorough, hard-working, and passionately dedicated to getting a great result for his clients. I enthusiastically endorse Jim and his firm as defense lawyers of the highest caliber. Patti Mathis, Controller, Southern Energy Homes James is an outstanding defense lawyer. We have worked together on matters. He is thorough, diligent, hard working and honest. I highly recommend Jim to those looking for a lawyer. Fort Worth Plaintiff’s/Claimant’s Lawyer I have to compliment Jim on his professionalism and skill in the handling of our workers’ compensation matters. I attended several trials and hearings as an Employer Representative with Jim acting as the insurance company attorney. He is very thorough and communicates well with jurors, judges and hearing officers. Helen, Former Workers’ Compensation Coordinator at a Large National Transportation Carrier If all defense firms responded like yours, I would be a happy camper all day (and week) long… Keep up the good work and thanks again. Senior Workers’ Compensation Claims Representative at National Third Party Administrator I loved working with Jim Williams and have seen him in action at trial in defense of a work related claim against my former employer. He is so thorough and persuasive it seems that he could win even the most difficult of cases. He is great with witnesses, and he is able to cross examine opposing witnesses in a way that is quite entertaining and will inevitably expose the truth. In a case with several hundred thousand dollars at stake, he was able to win a $0 judgment due to his tireless efforts. Randy Y., Former Employer Representative of a Large Regional Manufacturer Some people “joke around” about the credibility and character of lawyers. None of those people have ever met or worked with attorney Jim Williams. When someone experiences a situation that requires legal assistance, it is not a time for “joking around”. When confronted with such a situation, you want and need legal assistance that is knowledgeable, thorough, honest, personable, respectful, courteous, responsive, effective and trustworthy. Attorney Jim Williams is all that and more. As the Safety and Human Resources Manager in the transportation industry at a large company, I met Jim Williams 15 years ago when he was representing our company as our legal advisor and attorney at law. Whether it was a safety issue or a personnel issue, Jim was always readily available to assist us with legal advice and representation in a very effective and personable manner. Jim was always truly concerned for our well-being, and it seemed like he was working for our company, not just providing legal assistance to our company. Jim maintained frequent contact with our company president and myself so we were able to maintain updated status of the situation. Jim was also readily available to assist us when we called him, so we did not have to wait hours or days for a response. Jim is true gentleman and is a devoted family man. Jim is very supportive of law enforcement and those who serve in our military. I now own my own company, Texas Safety Crusaders, and I seek legal assistance and representation from Jim Williams if a situation arises that I need it. I do not make recommendations to anyone unless I am absolutely positive about the quality of my recommendation, and without hesitation I highly recommend Jim Williams. I have 22 years of experience in safety management specializing in behavior-based driver safety education; OSHA certified in Safety, Health, and Environmental Risk Management; OSHA certified in Emergency and Evacuation Planning: owner Texas Safety Crusaders (behavior-based driver safety education for businesses and teen groups) author of a driver safety manual “Driving While Thinking…With An Attitude”; certified Victim Advocate with MADD; Committee Chairman on the MADD North Texas Region Advisory Board; Risk Management Consultant for GALLOP (non-profit providing free, safe rides home from bars for UTA students). Steve Ellis, Safety and Risk Management and Owner of Texas Safety Crusaders