Williams & Connolly
Encyclopedia
Williams & Connolly LLP
is a prominent litigation firm
based in Washington, D.C.
The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams
, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique.
Recent high-profile cases include the successful defense of U.S. President Clinton's impeachment
, representation of Enron
's law firm Vinson & Elkins, representation of the motion picture studios in the Kazaa
/Grokster
file-trading litigation, defense of the Vioxx cases, and counsel for the plaintiff states in the United States v. Microsoft
antitrust remedy trial.
In past years the firm represented Colonel Oliver North
during the Iran-Contra Affair
, and defended John Hinckley, the would-be assassin of President Reagan
, and President Clinton
during the impeachment hearings. In addition, they also represented Fred Smith, the CEO of FedEx, in his challenge of the University of Virginia's policy of student self-governance. The firm's senior partner is Brendan Sullivan
.
, the #1 law firm in Washington, DC, and the 8th most prestigious firm in the United States
. The firm also ranked #2 on Vault's list of "Best Firms to Work For," #1 in "Business Outlook," and #1 in "Employee Satisfaction." With regard to hiring, Williams & Connolly is currently ranked as the most selective in the nation.
Limited liability partnership
A limited liability partnership is a partnership in which some or all partners have limited liability. It therefore exhibits elements of partnerships and corporations. In an LLP one partner is not responsible or liable for another partner's misconduct or negligence. This is an important...
is a prominent litigation firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The firm was founded by trial lawyer Edward Bennett Williams
Edward Bennett Williams
Edward Bennett Williams was a Washington, D.C. trial attorney who founded the law firm of Williams & Connolly and owned several professional sports teams...
, who left the partnership of D.C. firm Hogan & Hartson to launch his own litigation boutique.
Recent high-profile cases include the successful defense of U.S. President Clinton's impeachment
Impeachment of Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton, President of the United States, was impeached by the House of Representatives on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice on December 19, 1998, but acquitted by the Senate on February 12, 1999. Two other impeachment articles, a second perjury charge and a charge of abuse of...
, representation of Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
's law firm Vinson & Elkins, representation of the motion picture studios in the Kazaa
Kazaa
Kazaa Media Desktop started as a peer-to-peer file sharing application using the FastTrack protocol licensed by Joltid Ltd. and operated as Kazaa by Sharman Networks...
/Grokster
Grokster
Grokster Ltd. was a privately owned software company based in Nevis, West Indies that created the Grokster peer-to-peer file-sharing client in 2001 that utilized the FastTrack protocol. Grokster Ltd. was rendered extinct in late 2005 by the United States Supreme Court's decision in MGM Studios,...
file-trading litigation, defense of the Vioxx cases, and counsel for the plaintiff states in the United States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft
United States v. Microsoft was a set of civil actions filed against Microsoft Corporation pursuant to the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 Section 1 and 2 on May 8, 1998 by the United States Department of Justice and 20 U.S. states. Joel I. Klein was the lead prosecutor...
antitrust remedy trial.
In past years the firm represented Colonel Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
during the Iran-Contra Affair
Iran-Contra Affair
The Iran–Contra affair , also referred to as Irangate, Contragate or Iran-Contra-Gate, was a political scandal in the United States that came to light in November 1986. During the Reagan administration, senior Reagan administration officials and President Reagan secretly facilitated the sale of...
, and defended John Hinckley, the would-be assassin of President Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, and President Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
during the impeachment hearings. In addition, they also represented Fred Smith, the CEO of FedEx, in his challenge of the University of Virginia's policy of student self-governance. The firm's senior partner is Brendan Sullivan
Brendan Sullivan
Brendan V. Sullivan, Jr. is a senior partner of the law firm Williams & Connolly. Sullivan is probably best known for the role he served, in the late 1980s, as defense counsel for United States Marines Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North in the wake of the Iran-Contra scandal...
.
Reputation
In 2011, the Vault Guide ranked Williams & Connolly as the #1 firm for White Collar Defense and Internal Investigation in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the #1 law firm in Washington, DC, and the 8th most prestigious firm in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The firm also ranked #2 on Vault's list of "Best Firms to Work For," #1 in "Business Outlook," and #1 in "Employee Satisfaction." With regard to hiring, Williams & Connolly is currently ranked as the most selective in the nation.
Notable partners
- Brendan SullivanBrendan SullivanBrendan V. Sullivan, Jr. is a senior partner of the law firm Williams & Connolly. Sullivan is probably best known for the role he served, in the late 1980s, as defense counsel for United States Marines Lieutenant-Colonel Oliver North in the wake of the Iran-Contra scandal...
- Robert Barnett
- David Kendall
- F. Whitten Peters
- Vincent J. FullerVincent J. FullerVincent John Fuller was an American lawyer best known for defending John Hinckley Jr., Jimmy Hoffa and Mike Tyson....
External links
- Williams & Connolly Official website
- Robert B. Barnett profile mentioning the Clintons and other notable persons as clients
- Washingtonpost.com Special Report: Clinton Accused: Defense Who's Who, with lawyers Gregory B. Craig, David E. Kendall and Nicole K. Seligman connected to Williams & Connolly profiled
- The Defense: Clinton's Team, similar profile at CNN Article on the defense of Kentucky governor Paul E. PattonPaul E. PattonPaul Edward Patton was the 59th governor of Kentucky, serving from 1995 to 2003. Because of a 1992 amendment to the Kentucky Constitution, he was the first governor eligible to succeed himself in office since James Garrard in 1800...
. - www.excite.com Profile of Williams & Connolly
- LawPeriscope Profile