- Chief Executive Officer & President: Thomas R Frantz
- Chief Operating Officer: Craig L Rascoe
- Number of partners: 185
- Number of other lawyers: 67
Firm Overview:
Williams Mullen is an AmLaw 200 firm which provides comprehensive legal services to regional, national and international clients.With more than 250 attorneys and consultants and offices throughout North Carolina,Virginia and Washington,D.C., the firm delivers innovative solutions to support clients’ diverse business activities.Close working relationships with clients and their industries have been the foundation ofWilliams Mullen’s approach since the firm was founded more than a century ago.
Main Areas of Practice:
Corporate:
Williams Mullen attorneys advise clients on complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of subsidiaries or other assets, corporate restructurings and recapitalizations, tender offers, proxy contests,private transactions,management and leveraged buyouts, holding company formations, spin-offs, and liquidations. They have experience in all major areas of corporate finance, public company reporting and compliance, and corporate governance. President & CEO, Thomas R Frantz, a nine-time Chambers-ranked attorney,practices with this group which includes three other Chambers-ranked attorneys as well.
Infrastructure, Energy & Environmental:
The firm’s attorneys assist clients in infrastructure, energy and environmental facilities procurement, project development and financing, energy commodity supply and delivery, renewable energy transactions, public private partnerships, carbon finance and emissions reductions, water and transportation projects, wetlands remediation, brownfield redevelopment, emissions retrofits, and efficiency adaptation. They represent public utilities, governmental authorities,private developers, investors and end-users in domestic and international transactions and in proceedings in courts and regulatory agencies. Eight-time Chambers-ranked attorney Channing J Martin chairs the Environmental Law Group.
Financial Services:
The firm’s attorneys counsel clients on a variety of financing transactions, including commercial, real estate, asset based, bond and tax advantaged financings, structured finance, syndications, asset securitizations, creditors’ rights,workouts, restructures, bankruptcies and regulatory compliance. They represent financial institutions in corporate governance, securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, executive compensation, infrastructure technology, new financial products, internet banking litigation, lender liability litigation, operations and UCC matters.
Government Relations:
Williams Mullen’s Governmental Relations Team represents businesses, associations and individuals at the federal, state and local levels. Extensive work is done with legislative bodies, administrative/executive branch agencies and independent entities. Legislative activities involve actively counseling and advocating for clients on issues before the Virginia and North Carolina General Assemblies. Hon Ralph L “Bill”Axselle, an eight-time Chambers-ranked attorney, is the chair.
Intellectual Property:
Chaired by eight-time Chambers-ranked attorney, Craig LMytelka, Williams Mullen’s attorneys provide counsel on all areas of intellectual property, technology, information systems and advertising law.The firm represents clients in disputes involving licensing, infringement, trade secret, antitrust and unfair competition matters before the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and in all U.S. courts.
Labor & Employment:
Williams Mullen’s attorneys advise employers on human resources issues to minimize liability and comply with applicable laws. They represent clients before administrative agencies, arbitrators, and in court. The attorneys represent employers facing threats of unionization and those with organized workforces. The Labor and Employment Area is chaired by four-time Chambers-ranked attorney, David C Burton.There are also four other Chambers-ranked attorneys, including chairman of the board of directors, James V “Jim” Meath, who has been Chambers-ranked eight times.
Litigation:
The firm’s litigation attorneys, including two Chambers ranked attorneys, practice in all U.S. courts and are dedicated to resolving litigation efficiently through the use of technology and alternative dispute resolution. Additionally, the firm offers a Litigation Technology Team dedicated to serving clients’e-Discovery needs.
Real Estate:
Attorneys in Real Estate, including three Chambersranked attorneys, counsel clients on all aspects of development and finance for multi-family housing and commercial property of all kinds.They counsel on land use and zoning, leasing, acquisitions and sales, and complex financings. Further, the attorneys have experience in retail roll-outs, tax deferred exchanges, enterprise bonds,multi-state acquisitions and dispositions, and syndicated tax credits.
Tax & Employee Benefits:
Williams Mullen attorneys assist publicly and privately held corporations with international, federal, state and local tax matters, as well as the tax aspects of transacting business in foreign jurisdictions. They have experience with mergers and acquisitions and tax controversies, which includes representation in connection with audits, appeals and litigation of federal and state tax matters. They advise public and private sector employers concerning qualified retirement plans, health and welfare benefits, stock-based compensation techniques and executive compensation arrangements. Employee Benefits is chaired by seven-time Chambers-ranked attorney Catherine M “Kate” Marriott.
International Work:
Williams Mullen attorneys have experience in international trade and trade-policy matters, immigration, international tax matters and international business transactions. Whether the goal is to penetrate foreign markets, address unfair trade practices, move people or products out of or into the country, open the U.S. market or respond to a competitive situation, Williams Mullen’s attorneys are prepared.
Clients:
Clients range from multinational Fortune 500 companies to family-owned private businesses, nonprofit and government entities. The firm has dedicated Industry Service Groups (“ISGs”) in: Economic Development, Financial Services,Technology & Software (co-chaired by Chambers-ranked attorney Aaron Spencer), Insurance Brokerage,Long Term Care, Retail (chaired by Chambers-ranked attorney William A. Old, Jr.), Rail & Roads and Maritime.