john eddie williams, managing partner
Founding partner John Eddie Williams, Jr. is a passionate, highly experienced legal expert and upstanding member of the community who consistently demonstrates an inherent duty to advocate for those in need through his ambition in the courtroom and the culture of his firm.
Hard work and tenacity are attributes that helped John Eddie achieve his success, and these are qualities that he has fostered within the team of attorneys and staff at Williams Hart since 1983. “We have an outstanding track record of success here. We have the resources and experience to handle the largest, most complex cases. Clients can be assured that we do not back down in the face of adversity. The tougher and bigger the opposition, the better for our firm; we get completely fired up for a good legal battle. Those are the type of employees we have assembled here, ones that are going to fight hard for our clients. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
John Eddie’s record of success has received substantial recognition, and rightfully so. By far his most significant win in the courtroom is the 1995 landmark battle against Big Tobacco in which he represented the State of Texas. That victory in this landmark case resulted in the largest settlement in United States history, reaching a total of $17.3 billion.
Hard work and tenacity are attributes that helped John Eddie achieve his success, and these are qualities that he has fostered within the team of attorneys and staff at Williams Hart since 1983. “We have an outstanding track record of success here. We have the resources and experience to handle the largest, most complex cases. Clients can be assured that we do not back down in the face of adversity. The tougher and bigger the opposition, the better for our firm; we get completely fired up for a good legal battle. Those are the type of employees we have assembled here, ones that are going to fight hard for our clients. We wouldn’t have it any other way.”
John Eddie’s record of success has received substantial recognition, and rightfully so. By far his most significant win in the courtroom is the 1995 landmark battle against Big Tobacco in which he represented the State of Texas. That victory in this landmark case resulted in the largest settlement in United States history, reaching a total of $17.3 billion.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
He specializes in representing plaintiffs in mass tort cases involving asbestos, silicosis, benzene, defective drugs, welding rod fumes, and toxic waste exposure. He represented the State of Texas in its lawsuit against the tobacco industry, resulting in the largest settlement in U.S. history.
EDUCATION
- Graduated first in class from Baylor School of Law 1978
- Served as editor-in-chief of The Baylor Law Review
- Baylor University Bachelor of Business Administration 1976
- Graduated cum laude
LICENSED TO PRACTICE
All state and federal district courts in Texas
LEGAL MEMBERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- State Bar of Texas 1978 to present
- American Association for Justice
- Board of Governors 2008 to present
- Executive Committee 2008-2012
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association Executive Committee 2012-2013
- Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization personal injury trial law 1982 - present
- The James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy at Rice University
- Board of Advisers 2011 to present
- Houston Police Foundation
- Board of Directors 2012 – present
- CommunityBank of Texas, N.A.
- Board of Directors 2007 - present
- Since formation in 2007, until November 2017, Mr. Williams has served on the Board of Directors of its parent company, CBFH, Inc.
- Since an initial public offering in November 2017, Mr. Williams has served on the Board of Directors of its current parent company, CBTX, Inc.
- Houston Astros
- Board of Directors 2011 – present
- Houston Bar Foundation
- Board of Directors 2009-2017
PROFESSIONAL HONORS
- 2002 recipient of Baylor University's "Lawyer of the Year" Award
- Past president of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Past president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Association
- Past president of the Houston Trial Lawyers Foundation
- Past Chair of the Houston Bar Foundation
- Clarence Darrow Award Winner 2008
- 2009 David S. Shrager President’s Award
- 2012 Baylor University “Alumnus of the Year” Award
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating 1985 – present
- Named a Super Lawyer® 2003-2018 as selected by practicing attorneys in Texas
- Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers 2012 Edition
- Texas' Best Lawyers 2013
- The Best Lawyers in America 2013-present
- Best Attorneys in Texas 2006-2009, 2013-present
- Top Attorneys in Texas 2013-present
- Houston Bar Foundation’s James B. Sales 2015 Pro Bono Leadership Award
- Inducted into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame, located at Beasley School of Law at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA - 2018
- Recipient of Texas Trial Lawyers Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award – 2018