Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an American Bar Association and California State Bar Approved Agency

J. Craig Williams Seriously Outstanding only 5% selected each year visit superlawyers.com

The founding member of
WLC | The Williams Law Corporation,® Mr. Williams’ practice focuses in the areas of complex business litigation with emphasis on environmental, intellectual property, real estate, technology law and labor matters, and their respective insurance coverage and related tort issues. Mr. Williams also handles white-collar criminal matters in both securities and environmental areas.  He is a Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an American Bar Association and California State Bar Approved Agency. 

An accomplished speaker, Mr. Williams lectures as an adjunct professor at the University of California at Irvine on Toxics Law, the UCI Extension Environmental Management Program on The Regulatory Framework for Hazardous and Toxic Materials, Stanford Law School on Environmental Insurance Coverage, the University of Iowa College of Law on Trial Advocacy and at Chapman University School of Law on Legal Writing and Research.

He has published How to Get Sued, a hardcover book, with Kaplan Publishing and is under contract to write a second hardcover book.  He was a contributing reporter on environmental litigation of the “ABA Real Estate Quarterly Report,” and is the author of many articles, including “Son of the California Environmental Quality Act: A Look at Public Resources Code 21081.6,” 33 Orange County Lawyer 36 (1991) and Co-Author of “The Practical Implications of the Aerojet Decision, California Environmental Law and Remediation Reporter,” April 1998. Mr. Williams’ experience includes practice at nationally recognized law firms and has appeared as lead litigation counsel in numerous states and federal districts.

Bar Admissions:
California
Iowa
Massachusetts
Washington
U.S. Supreme Court, sponsored by W. Ward Reynoldson, Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
United States Court of Appeals for The Armed Forces
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of International Trade

Education:
University of Iowa College of Law, J.D., With Distinction, and Moot Court Board, Iowa City, Iowa, 1986 - 1987

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1977 - 1979, B.S.
Major: Communication Arts - Radio, TV, Film and Journalism.  Minor:  Biology

United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, 1975 - 1976
Pennsylvania State University, Schuylkill Campus, Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, 1973 - 1975

Honors and Awards:
Chosen as one of Southern California’s Top 100 Lawyers, Los Angeles magazine, 2007

Named a SuperLawyer, 2006 - present

Rated Superb (10 out of 10) by Avvo.com, a consumer attorney-rating website, 2006

Received Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Award for Best Weblog Design, 2006, 2007 and 2008

Received Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Award for Best Individual Weblog, 2005

Awarded Pro bono publico Service Commendation, Washington State Bar Association, 2005

AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 2003

Listed in Madison Who's Who, 2002

Listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, 1995

Elected to Lambda Alpha, honorary real estate fraternity, 1992

Awarded American Jurisprudence Award for Professional Responsibility, 1987

Earned Omicron Delta Kappa, honorary academic and leadership fraternity, 1979

Earned Alpha Epsilon Rho, honorary communications academic fraternity, 1979

Published Works:
Dropping A Summons And Complaint Outside A Door Makes Good Service, Pursuit Magazine, The Journal of Professional Excellence for Investigators, January 13, 2009

Bad Decisions?  10 Famous Cases That Went Wrong (hardcover book) Kaplan Publishing, New York City, New York, anticipated Spring 2009

Insuring Your Company’s Future, The Scotsman Guide and scotsmanguide.com, August 2008

Defense of Environmental Criminal Cases By the Numbers of Science and the Law, Vol. 22, Issue 10, Andrews Litigation Reporter, White-Collar Crime, Thompson West, July 2008

How to Get Sued: An Instructional Guide (hardcover book), Kaplan Publishing, New York City, New York, June 3, 2008

The Liabilities of Social Networking Sites, 50 Orange County Lawyer 6, 2008

Internet Frontiers: Build Your Own Blog, Law Technology News, December 2004

May It Please The Court weblog, daily since August 2003

Belly Up to the Bar - Feeding Time at the Shark-Ray Flats, iWaterways.com Netzine, January 2000

Homemade Sub - 700 Feet Deep in Roatan, Deeper Blue Netzine, June 1999

Business Continuity Planning for Local Infrastructures - A Y2K Guide for Cities and Counties (Editor), The Center for Year 2000 Community Action Plans, May 1999

Diving with Manta Rays, iWaterways.com Netzine, April 1999

The Practical Implications of the Aerojet Decision (Co-Author), Cal. Environmental Law & Remediation Reporter, April 1998
Surge Diving in Cabo San Lucas, iWaterways.com Netzine, August 1997

Son of the California Environmental Quality Act: A Look at Public Resources Code 21081.6, 33 Orange County Lawyer 36, 1991

ABA Real Estate Quarterly Report, (Contributing Reporter), Environmental Litigation, 1988 - 1990

Representative Cases:
O'Grady v. Sup.Ct. (In re. Apple Computer) (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 1423

Saba v. Crater (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 150

Fonovisa v. Cherry Auction, 76 F.3d 259 (9th Cir. 1996)

Bither v. Martin (1992) 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14358

New Davidson Brick Co. v. County of Riverside (1990) 217 Cal.App.3d 1146

Hajek v. Iowa Parole Board, 414 N.W.2d 122 (Iowa S.Ct. 1987) (while in law school)

Upcoming Presentations:
"Publish or Perish: A Lawyer's Guide to Marketing," Banyard Inns of Court, Costa Mesa, California, March 25, 2009

Social Networks: How to Maximize Business Benefits and Limit Liability, audio conference, Thursday, February 12, 2009, 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Eastern time

2008 Real Estate Law Update, Lambda Alpha International, Newport Beach, California, February 2009

Presentations:
E-Discovery from A-Z, Orange County Bar Association's 17th Annual Last Dash Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Credit seminar, Saturday, January 17, 2009, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Pacific time, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California

Litigating to Win Through Advanced Trial Advocacy Training Seminar, and three individual presentations on Using Demonstrative Evidence to Enhance Juror Understanding, Comprehensive Cross-examination and Ethical Considerations, for the National Business Institute, Irvine, California, September 24, 2008

Footnote, Ebru TV interview on How to Get Sued, September 2008

The Latest and Greatest In Technology for the Legal Profession, National Association of Legal Assistants annual meeting, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 8, 2008

Ethics in Environmental Law, Climate Change Conference, CLE International, San Francisco, California, August 4 - 5, 2008

Applying Technology and Law in a Multi-jurisdictional Practice, LegalTech, Los Angeles, California, June 27, 2008

The Paperless Office, Long Beach Legal Secretary's Association, Long Beach, California, June 12, 2008

How To Get Sued©: An Instructional Guide (hardback book), Kaplan Publishing, New York City, New York, June 3, 2008

How to Get Sued book signing at Book Expo America, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, June 1, 2008, starting at 11:30 a.m.

KUCI radio interview on How to Get Sued, June 2008

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, E-Discovery and Technology Law, Callahan & Blaine law firm, South Coast Metro, CA, May 2, 2008

The Perils E-Discovery, Orange County Bar Association, Orange, CA, May 1, 2008

Law.com Legal Channels interview on How to Get Sued, May 2008

Technology – Its Impact on the Media, Courts, and Attorneys, Orange County Superior Court, Santa Ana, CA, April 25, 2008

Technology Law, E-discovery and Technology on Your Desktop and In the Courtroom, Prague, Czech Republic, April 8, 2008

How Technology Has Changed the Law and Journalism, Orange County, California Superior Court Bench & Bar Seminar, March 28, 2008

Sports and Entertainment Law, University of California, Irvine Pre-Law Society, March 5, 2008

Carbon Credits, Climate Change Law Conference, CLE International, Los Angeles, California, February 28-29, 2008

Ethical Considerations for the Environmental Practitioner, Green Building Conference, CLE International, San Francisco, California, February 21-22, 200.

Technology and the Law:  Update 2008, Orange County Bar Association Last Dash seminar, January 19, 2008

Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, January 2008

The Future of Technology, New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section annual meeting, Coronado, San Diego, California, October 2007

The Legal and Business Approach to Law Firm Blogs: Is Your Firm Making the Most of Blogging Opportunities? American Lawyer Media Webinar, September 2007

Ethics Issues in Environmental Law, CLE International, California Climate Change Law seminar, San Francisco, California, August 2007

The Paperless Office, Managing Partners Roundtable, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, March 2007

2007 Real Estate Law Update, Lambda Alpha International, Newport Beach California, January 2007

What's New In Technology For Solos and Small Firms, The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of California, Costa Mesa, California, December 2006

Rainmaking 101: Marketing Yourself and Your Practice, Irvine, California, Orange County Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section, November 2006

Fear Factor: Why Lawyers are Afraid of Technology, and How to Get Over It, Monterey, California, Annual Meeting of California State Bar Association, October 2006

Who's Watching and Listening? How to Protect Your Office and Clients From Inadvertent Disclosure of Private Information, Orange County Bar Association, Costa Mesa, California, September 2006

Technology & Disaster Recovery, Small Firm Business Forum, West Hollywood, California, June 2006

Technology and Internet use in the Courtroom and your Practice, Hispanic Bar Association, San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 2006

Use of Legal Technology In The Courtroom, Orange County Celtic Bar Association Scotland Seminar, April 2006

Rule 1-400 and the Appellate Practitioner: The Ethics of Marketing and Solicitation, Orange County Bar Association Appellate Section, February 2006

Technology and Its Effect On The Practice of Law, Orange County Paralegal Association, January 2006

Legal Technology, Orange County Bar Association, Whittier Law School, January 2006

Legal Ethics and Ethical Overview, Chapman University, Wilkinson College of Letters and Sciences guest lecturer, September 2005 and February 2006

Legal Tech 2005: "From Blawgs to Instant Messaging: Proactive Legal Communication Evolves!" Los Angeles, California, June 2005

Legal Writing Skills, Costa Mesa, California, May 2005

Legal Ethics, Elimination of Bias and Substance Abuse, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, May 2005

New Developments in Courtroom Technology, Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, April 2005

Civil Procedure on Motions for Relief, Celtic Bar Association, Madrid, Spain, September 2004

The Ethical Construct of Professional, Institutional and Service Sectors, Religion and Values, Guest Lecturer Chapman University, Fall Semester 2004 - 2007

New Developments in Criminal Environmental Law, Hispanic Bar Association, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, May 2004

Emerging Practice Area of Environmental Crimes, Celtic Bar Association, Adare, Ireland, 2002

Legal Research & Writing, Chapman University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, 2002 - 2003

Commercial Lending, Real Estate Section of OCBA, January 2002

Environmental Insurance Coverage Fundamentals, Orange County Bar Association, Oranjestad, Aruba, November 2000

Commercial Real Estate Lending and Lender Liability, Orange County Bankers Association, December 2000

Environmental Insurance Coverage, Hispanic Bar Association, Ambergris Cay, Belize, September 1999

Preparation for Litigation, Orange County Emergency Management Agency, June 1999

The Fallacy of Y2K Compliance Legal and Technical Issues, Orange County Certified Unified Program Agency & Orange Sanitation District Technical Assistance Center, April 1999

Trial Tips on Voir Dire and Opening Statements, Orange County Bar Association, January 1999

Litigating Environmental Contamination Cases, Orange County Bar Association/Hispanic Bar Association, San Jose, Costa Rica, January 1997

The Clean Air Act, South Coast Air Quality Management District, April 1996

Environmental Insurance Coverage, Stanford Law School, September 1995

Summary of Environmental Laws, National Business Institute, May 1994

New Developments in Environmental Insurance Coverage, Orange County Bar Association, Environmental Section, January 1994

New Developments in Hazardous Materials Laws, Professional Environmental Marketing Association, October 1993

Regulatory Framework of Toxic and Hazardous Materials, University of California at Irvine, Fall Semesters, 1994 - 1995

Professional Associations and Memberships:
Member, Advisory Board, Avvo.com, 2008 - present

Member, Editorial Board, Law Technology News, 2008 - present

Member, Authors Guild, 2007 - present

Member, Legal Writing Institute, 2007 - present

Member, Defense Research Institute, 2007 - present

Member, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, 2007 - present

Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers, 2005 - present

Member, Washington Bar Association, 2005 - present

Member, Massachusetts Bar Association, 2004 - present

Orange County (California) Bar Association Real Estate, Business Litigation, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Sections, 1990 - present

Member, American Bar Association, 1987 - present and Environmental Litigation, Probate and Trust, Real Property Sections and the Decisions Committee, 1988 - 1990

Member, California Bar Association, Litigation and Insurance Sections,1988 - present

Member, Iowa Bar Association, 1987 - present

Legal Positions:
Pro tem Judge, Orange County, California Superior Court, Harbor Judicial District, Newport Beach, California, 2003 - present

Daehnke & Cruz, Contract Partner, Irvine, California, 1997 - 2003

Callahan, Blaine & Williams, Partner, Irvine, California, 1994 - 1997

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Contract Associate, Los Angeles, California, 1992 - 1994

Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory, Associate, Irvine, California, 1989 - 1992

San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney, Volunteer, San Bernardino, California, 1987 - 1999

Reid & Hellyer, Associate, Riverside, California, 1987 - 1989

Linn County, Iowa Public Defender’s Office, Certified Practicing Law Clerk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1986 -1987

University of Iowa College of Law Criminal Defense Clinic, Certified Practicing Law Clerk, Iowa City, Iowa, 1985 - 1987

Fraternity:
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, 1977 - present

Outside Interests:
Mr. Williams enjoys scuba diving and is both a Divemaster and Scuba Instructor, certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). He is also a downhill snow skier, and is certified as a Level One Instructor by the Professional Ski Instructors Association.

He is an avid sailor, having sailed and interned in the 1976 Tall Ships Race on board the square-sail Barkentine, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. He was a member of the Coast Guard Academy Sailing Team in New London, Connecticut. Mr. Williams has also crewed for the America’s Cup America3 helmsman and Olympic Gold medal winner Buddy Melges.

Mr. Williams is also an Eagle Scout, and earned his God & Country award as an Explorer Scout. The son of a Congregational Church minister, he served as the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries in New York. Mr. Williams is a third-generation son of immigrants from Wales and Scotland, who in 1896 settled in Pennsylvania and worked mining coal in the Anthracite region.

In his spare time, Mr. Williams rides his Harley-Davidson Thunder Mountain motorcycle.