Kathleen Williams regularly handles matters involving toxic torts, product liability, construction accidents and defects, premises liability and other general liability issues. While she is licensed and actively practices in the state and federal courts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Kathleen is routinely called on to represent clients in jurisdictions throughout the country. She handles matters from inception through resolution by settlement, dispositive motion or trial and has extensive experience resolving complex matters in which liability is strongly contested through mediation and arbitration.

Working closely with her clients, Kathleen focuses her efforts early on to coordinate the initial fact investigation and develop a litigation and resolution strategy designed to ensure success, as defined by the client. Kathleen understands that clients often prefer quick and cost-effective resolutions over complex and potentially protracted liability cases. To that end, she emphasizes client communication, adherence to client guidelines, proper case staffing, development of a realistic budget and exploration of alternative dispute resolution options from the outset.

Kathleen held a judicial clerkship in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania with U.S. Magistrate Judges Thomas M. Blewitt, J. Andrew Smyser and former U.S. Magistrate Judge Malachy E. Mannion, currently U.S. District Court Judge. 

Areas of Focus

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION
Kathleen has substantial experience in construction matters, including defending owners, developers, manufacturers, contractors and design professionals and their insurers in complex multiparty matters involving injured workers. She also represents contractors in various trades in construction defect lawsuits.

PRODUCT LIABILITY
Kathleen represents designers, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors in product liability lawsuits in state and federal courts. She recognizes that these matters often extend beyond legal defense to the business effects on risk management, insurance coverage, brand image, financing, financial reporting, corporate governance, future corporate transactions and communications to shareholders. As such, Kathleen makes it a point to know her clients and their operations and stay abreast of the latest government and industry compliance standards.

TOXIC TORT
Kathleen often is called on to defend designers, manufacturers and distributors of pressroom chemicals involved in trace-benzene litigation in jurisdictions across the country.

COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
Kathleen also has experience litigating general commercial matters, including breach of contract, consumer fraud and other business torts. Kathleen handles matters in federal and state courts as well as in arbitration proceedings, with substantial experience in all stages of litigation, including trial, appellate practice and alternative dispute resolution.

    Education

    • Roger Williams University School of Law (J.D., 2004)
    • Syracuse University (B.S., 2001)

    Bar Admissions

    • New York
    • New Jersey
    • Pennsylvania

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
    • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania

    Professional Affiliations

    • New Jersey State Bar Association
    • American Bar Association

Kathleen G. Williams

Madison Team Obtains Summary Judgment For Personal Injury Firm in Legal Malpractice Matter

The Madison, New Jersey team comprised of Kathleen Williams (Of Counsel), partner Maxwell Billek and associate Gina Brignola obtained summary judgment in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County, in a legal malpractice action brought against our client, a personal injury law firm. In an underlying matter, the firm represented the plaintiff in a personal injury lawsuit against a contractor. The plaintiff, a police officer, was struck by a construction vehicle owned by the contractor while directing traffic at a construction site, causing severe injuries inhibiting his ability to ever return to work.

The court dismissed the underlying matter after the contractor's counsel filed a motion for summary judgment, ruling that the law firm failed to file timely and appropriate opposition to the motion. The plaintiff's legal malpractice lawsuit against our client ensued. After discovery and a month before the trial was to begin, the Madison team obtained summary judgment after successfully arguing that the plaintiff was a special employee of the contractor and, as such, was only entitled to workers' compensation benefits. Accordingly, regardless of the law firm's conduct in the underlying matter, the plaintiff could not succeed in the 3rd party suit against the contractor. In a 23-page opinion, the Court agreed and granted Wilson Elser's motion for summary judgment, staving off a last demand of $2 million.
 

Kathleen G. Williams, Maxwell L. Billek and Gina V. Brignola

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