James F. Williams
- Litigation Partner
- Seattle
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With more than 30 years of courtroom victories, James represents leading corporations in their most complex and high-stakes disputes.
Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for Bet-the-Company Litigation and named one of Washington’s “Top 100 Super Lawyers,” James Williams is known for achieving decisive results in jury trials, arbitrations, mediations, and pre-litigation resolutions.
James’ practice spans breach of contract, fraud, product liability, corporate plaintiff asset recovery, consultant liability, consumer protection and unfair business practices, trade secrets, bankruptcy adversary actions, Washington Public Records Act disputes, and federal and state agency litigation. He is equally effective before a judge and jury as he is in settlement negotiations and other ADR forums. Clients rely on his ability to develop compelling case themes, identify leverage points, and manage risk with precision.
James’ trial record underscores his strength as an advocate. In Stalwart Capital, LLC v. iCap Pacific Northwest Opportunity and Income Fund, LLC, a federal fraud case, he secured a unanimous defense verdict after less than two hours of deliberation. In Wilbur v. City of Mount Vernon, he led a groundbreaking Section 1983 class action enforcing indigent defendants’ Sixth Amendment rights, earning the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ “Champion for Justice Award.” His other notable successes include federal jury verdicts in Associated Grocers Inc. v. Alexander & Alexander of California Inc. and Intermec, Inc. v. IBM Corporation, and a state court jury verdict in Campbell v. Abney Mills Corporation/Honeywell.
Leadership and Recognition
James previously served as managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Seattle office—the firm’s largest location—where he oversaw more than 300 lawyers and 600 staff. He has also served on the firmwide Executive Committee, chaired training and diversity initiatives, and mentored generations of litigators.
He currently serves on the American Bar Association Board of Governors and previously served as the elected delegate from Washington State to the ABA House of Delegates.
His leadership and impact have been recognized with numerous awards, including:
- Outstanding Lawyer of the Year (King County Bar Association, 2025)
- Community Coalition Award (Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, 2025)
- Power 100 Influencer (Puget Sound Business Journal, 2025)
- Friend of the Legal Profession (King County Bar Association, 2024)
- Excellence in the Legal Profession (Loren Miller Bar Association, 2024)
- Justice Charles Z. Smith Excellence in Diversity Award (Washington State Bar Association, 2021)
Background and Pro Bono
A graduate of The Citadel and the University of Virginia School of Law, James served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps before entering private practice. He has long maintained a commitment to civil rights and pro bono service, including impact litigation and leadership in access-to-justice initiatives.
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
-
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
Recognized as one of America’s Top 250 Lawyers by Forbes’ - Litigation, 2025
Recipient of the 2025 Community Coalition Award from the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Recipient of the King County Bar Association's Outstanding Lawyer Award, 2025
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, 2010-2026; Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2025-2026
Listed in Corporate Counsel Edition of "Super Lawyers" in Business Litigation, 2008-present
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, “Washington’s Super Lawyers,” 2001-2025, 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
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
