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LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
Williams & Connolly [Adam Silver] Attorneys who want to work for a small firm with big clients need only focus their attention on Williams & Connolly. This Washington D.C. firm is a veritable hub of litigation.
If you were on trial, who would you want
Considering its formidable reputation,
is no other firm in the nation’s capital that
representing you? Well, a number of high-
Williams & Connolly has a relatively young
provides more stimulating possibilities to
profile individuals have asked themselves
history. However, it is a history grounded
attorneys.
that question and answered it in three words:
in the fountainhead of 20th century Wash-
Williams & Connolly. Leona Helmsley, Oliver
ington law. The firm was founded in 1967
North, John Hinckley, Jr. No, it’s not the
by Edward Bennett Williams and his former
index of The Enquirer, but some of the clients
student Paul Connolly. The legendary Edward
that Williams & Connolly has represented. It
Bennett Williams was one of the most well-
seems as if whenever a legal case becomes
known litigators of his or any other time. He
the source of cultural fixation, lawyers from
represented such diverse and iconographic
this D.C. firm are there. Recently, partner
figures as Jimmy Hoffa and Senator Joseph
Gregory B. Craig served as the attorney for
McCarthy. The law library at Georgetown
Juan Miguel Gonzalez, Elian’s father, amidst
University is named after him.
the famous media frenzy of 2000. As public as Elian was, no client is more visible than
Williams also boasted a connection to the
the 42nd President of the United States,
sports world. He served as president of the
William Jefferson Clinton. Williams’ partner
Washington Redskins and owned the Balti-
David E. Kendall has represented the former
more Orioles. There is still an athletic pres-
president in the Whitewater scandal all the
ence at Williams & Connolly; clients include
way through impeachment. Not bad for a firm
NBA superstars Tim Duncan, Grant Hill and
with only around 200 attorneys in a single
Shane Battier.
office. Attorneys at Williams don’t have to worry Williams & Connolly’s comparatively mod-
about being pigeon-holed. There aren’t sub-
est size does not mean that individuals are
divisions or over-classifications and lawyers
the only ones who have come to rely on the
can basically have carte blanche. As Attorney
firm’s expertise. Large corporations and
Gregory Craig says on the firm’s web site,
publications have also sought the counsel
“I am unaware of any other firm in which a
of Williams & Connolly. Staples of American
lawyer can be involved in a First Amendment
industry such as General Electric, 20th Cen-
case, a grand jury investigation, a major
tury Fox and The Washington Post have all
class action, and a small medical malprac-
retained the services of Williams attorneys.
tice---all at the same time.”
It should be noted that while litigation is the
Williams & Connolly certainly offers many
calling card of Williams & Connolly, there
benefits to litigators of all persuasions. Aside
are business and tax practices as well. The
from the booming practice, the firm offers a
corporate attorneys are esteemed, but do not
solid work environment. The Washingtonian
have the national cache the litigators posses.
named Williams and Connolly one of the “50 greatest places to work.” Indeed, there
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