Mr. Williams regularly provides litigation advice to hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment funds and vehicles, their managers and investors concerning suspensions of redemptions, gates and other liquidity issues, management and control matters, and fund dissolutions and incentive and other management fee disputes. He also represents hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment funds in complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on class action defense, intellectual property disputes, business torts, fraud actions and commercial contract disputes.
In addition to private equity firms and investment funds, Mr. Williams has represented technology companies, energy companies, travel industry service providers, financial services institutions and commercial mortgage providers. He has appeared in trial courts in Texas, California, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware.
Finally, Mr. Williams has an active appellate practice, and has appeared in the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 7th, 5th and 3rd Circuits; the Texas Supreme Court; the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Texas intermediate courts of appeal.
Mr. Williams’ recent representations include representation of—
- an investment fund in negotiations with a receiver for a Ponzi scheme related to an attempt by the receiver to recover false profits
- an aircraft operator in a $60 million international arbitration relating to the interior completion of an aircraft
- a special servicer of commercial mortgage-backed securities in litigation on a commercial property in default
- a leading provider of nutritional supplements in an enforcement action brought by the Texas Attorney General related to marketing practices of the company’s independent sales associates
- a financial services firm in an SEC enforcement action related to an investigation of market timing activities by investors.
Prior to joining Akin Gump, Mr. Williams was a law clerk to the Honorable Richard A. Schell of the Eastern District of Texas from 1995 to 1996.
Mr. Williams received his B.A. in biology and political science in 1991 from Indiana University, where he was in the Honors Division, and his J.D. in 1994 from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was articles editor of the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal from 1993 to 1994 and a teaching quizmaster in 1994.
Mr. Williams is currently a member of the Dallas office’s recruiting committee. In addition, Mr. Williams has received the Dallas office’s Partner Recognition Award for his mentoring and professional development of associates and counsel, and he has also been named the Dallas office Pro Bono Partner of the Year.
Mr. Williams is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 7th, 5th and 3rd Circuits; and the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern Districts of Texas. He is a member of the Dallas Bar Association and its judiciary committee and appellate and intellectual property sections, and is a fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation. He is also a member of the Hon. Paul Brown Inn of Court, as well as the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association. Mr. Williams is currently in the Leadership Arts class of 2011.
Written Works
- “Getting Out Early: Conditional & Early Release,” A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual, Texas State Supplement, Columbia Human Rights Law Review, upcoming publication Spring 2011
- “Class Actions/Certification in Oil & Gas Cases,” State Bar of Texas 21st Annual Advanced Oil, Gas & Energy Resources Law Course, October 16-17, 2003.