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Marc E. Williams
Partner
949 Third Ave.
Suite 200
Huntington, WV 25701
Suite 200
Huntington, WV 25701
marc.williams@nelsonmullins.com
Marc is the managing partner of the West Virginia office and is a team leader. He handles complex cases nationally in an array of litigation areas and has had first-chair responsibility for more than 100 jury trials and appeals in his career. His national practice involves the trial and appellate handling of privacy and data breach...
Marc is the managing partner of the West Virginia office and is a team leader. He handles complex cases nationally in an array of litigation areas and has had first-chair responsibility for more than 100 jury trials and appeals in his career. His national practice involves the trial and appellate handling of privacy and data breach litigation, class actions and collection actions, Attorney General litigation, product liability litigation and complex commercial litigation.
litigation, class actions and collection actions, Attorney General litigation, product liability litigation and complex commercial litigation.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Lead appellate counsel for major hospital systems in appeals of class actions involving data security breach claims, state consumer protection claims, and state statutory violation claims
- Lead counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturer defendants in 100+ consolidated actions before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, including State Attorney General actions alleging statewide public nuisance and violations of state consumer protection laws
- National trial counsel for mining safety equipment manufacturer involving complex product liability claims
- Counsel to Chief Justice Margaret Workman of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in successful constitutional challenge to impeachment proceeding
- Lead appellate counsel for international pharmaceutical company before West Virginia Supreme of Appeals in constitutional challenge to proposed trial of public nuisance claims.
- Counsel to West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner in constitutional challenge to exclusion by minor party in election for U.S. Senate. Original action briefed and argued before West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Court ruled unanimously in Secretary of State's favor
- First chair trials in cases involving toxic exposure, product defects, sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge, construction defects, fraud and conspiracy, insurance bad faith, breach of contract, traumatic brain injury, medical monitoring and psychological injury
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for large chemical manufacturer in consolidated class actions involving 250,000 class members arising from chemical spill
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for major hospital system in class action alleging data security breach
- Lead litigation counsel for Class I railroad in investigation and trials alleging fraudulent scheme by a law firm and expert pulmonologist in collecting and prosecuting asbestos claims
- Lead litigation counsel for large law firm in case alleging breach of contract and legal malpractice
- Lead litigation counsel in class actions alleging data privacy breach, consumer fraud, toxic exposure, debt collection practices, and medical record charge violations
- Lead litigation counsel in nationwide litigation involving product defects by international electronic product manufacturer
- Has appeared pro hac vice in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Alabama, Tennessee, California, Washington, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, New York, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, and Idaho
- Appointed by Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to represent two trial court judges in appellate constitutional challenge filed by the WV Department of Health and Human Services regarding judicial order
- Represented WV Family Court judge in legislative impeachment effort
- Represented WV Circuit Court judge in proceedings before the Judicial Investigation Commission and Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as an adjunct professor of Sports Law at Marshall University for 16 years
Education
- West Virginia University College of Law, JD (1985)
- Marshall University, BA (1982)
Admissions
- West Virginia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice & Legal Strategies
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- Cybersecurity & Data Breach Litigation
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- State Attorneys General Actions
- Toxic Torts/Asbestos
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Lead appellate counsel for major hospital systems in appeals of class actions involving data security breach claims, state consumer protection claims, and state statutory violation claims
- Lead counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturer defendants in 100+ consolidated actions before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, including State Attorney General actions alleging statewide public nuisance and violations of state consumer protection laws
- National trial counsel for mining safety equipment manufacturer involving complex product liability claims
- Counsel to Chief Justice Margaret Workman of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in successful constitutional challenge to impeachment proceeding
- Lead appellate counsel for international pharmaceutical company before West Virginia Supreme of Appeals in constitutional challenge to proposed trial of public nuisance claims.
- Counsel to West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner in constitutional challenge to exclusion by minor party in election for U.S. Senate. Original action briefed and argued before West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Court ruled unanimously in Secretary of State's favor
- First chair trials in cases involving toxic exposure, product defects, sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge, construction defects, fraud and conspiracy, insurance bad faith, breach of contract, traumatic brain injury, medical monitoring and psychological injury
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for large chemical manufacturer in consolidated class actions involving 250,000 class members arising from chemical spill
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for major hospital system in class action alleging data security breach
- Lead litigation counsel for Class I railroad in investigation and trials alleging fraudulent scheme by a law firm and expert pulmonologist in collecting and prosecuting asbestos claims
- Lead litigation counsel for large law firm in case alleging breach of contract and legal malpractice
- Lead litigation counsel in class actions alleging data privacy breach, consumer fraud, toxic exposure, debt collection practices, and medical record charge violations
- Lead litigation counsel in nationwide litigation involving product defects by international electronic product manufacturer
- Has appeared pro hac vice in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Alabama, Tennessee, California, Washington, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, New York, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, and Idaho
- Appointed by Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to represent two trial court judges in appellate constitutional challenge filed by the WV Department of Health and Human Services regarding judicial order
- Represented WV Family Court judge in legislative impeachment effort
- Represented WV Circuit Court judge in proceedings before the Judicial Investigation Commission and Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as an adjunct professor of Sports Law at Marshall University for 16 years
Media
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Listed in West Virginia Super Lawyers (2007–2022, 2024)
- Benchmark Litigation "Litigation Star", Appellate, General Commercial, Product Liability (2018–2025)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial – West Virginia (2008–2024)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice (2008–2025), Bet-the-Company Litigation (2008–2025), Commercial Litigation (2008–2025), Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2008–2025), Litigation – Banking & Finance (2008–2025), Litigation – Environmental (2008–2025), Litigation – Labor & Employment (2008–2025), Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2008–2025), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2008–2025), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2008–2025), Railroad Law (2008–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, WVa. for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2023, 2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Banking and Finance Litigation (2012, 2022)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Appellate Practice (2018, 2021)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2020, 2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2019)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2017)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Railroad Law (2015)
- The International Who's Who in Product Liability Defense Lawyers (2022)
- The Legal 500 United States: Product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2022)
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Louis B. Potter Lifetime Professional Service Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Lawyers and Leaders Inaugural Class, West Virginia Executive Magazine (2017)
Professional Activities
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
- The Federalist Society
- West Virginia University College of Law Visiting Committee
- 2013 Faculty, International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford Law School, Palo Alto, California
- Lectures on litigation–related topics to national and local bar groups
- Has been a pro bono volunteer for the West Virginia Legal Services Plan where he instructed indigent and at–risk women on how to obtain pro se divorce and domestic violence protection
- Appointed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to a committee of five lawyers and one judge to re-write the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure
Community
- Board of Directors, Marshall University Foundation, Inc. (2020–2023)
- Past Board of Directors, Marshall Artists Series
- Past Chair of the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation
- Past Resource Development Chair, United Way of the River Cities
Leadership
- President of DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2008–2009), the 23,000–member international organization of lawyers and corporate counsel who defend the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation
- President of Lawyers for Civil Justice, Inc. (2013–2014), an organization of corporations and lawyers working for civil justice reform
- President, National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, an organization that provides training on civil justice issues to state court appellate judges (2014–2015)
- State Chair, American College of Trial Lawyers
- State Chair, Council of Appellate Lawyers – American Bar Association
- President, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (1995–1996)
- Former co–chair of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Civil Justice Committee, which published in August 2003 a critical review of the West Virginia Civil Justice System
Marc is the managing partner of the West Virginia office and is a team leader. He handles complex cases nationally in an array of litigation areas and has had first-chair responsibility for more than 100 jury trials and appeals in his career. His national practice involves the trial and appellate handling of privacy and data breach... litigation, class actions and collection actions, Attorney General litigation, product liability litigation and complex commercial litigation.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Lead appellate counsel for major hospital systems in appeals of class actions involving data security breach claims, state consumer protection claims, and state statutory violation claims
- Lead counsel for pharmaceutical manufacturer defendants in 100+ consolidated actions before the West Virginia Mass Litigation Panel, including State Attorney General actions alleging statewide public nuisance and violations of state consumer protection laws
- National trial counsel for mining safety equipment manufacturer involving complex product liability claims
- Counsel to Chief Justice Margaret Workman of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in successful constitutional challenge to impeachment proceeding
- Lead appellate counsel for international pharmaceutical company before West Virginia Supreme of Appeals in constitutional challenge to proposed trial of public nuisance claims.
- Counsel to West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner in constitutional challenge to exclusion by minor party in election for U.S. Senate. Original action briefed and argued before West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Court ruled unanimously in Secretary of State's favor
- First chair trials in cases involving toxic exposure, product defects, sexual harassment and retaliatory discharge, construction defects, fraud and conspiracy, insurance bad faith, breach of contract, traumatic brain injury, medical monitoring and psychological injury
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for large chemical manufacturer in consolidated class actions involving 250,000 class members arising from chemical spill
- Lead litigation and trial counsel for major hospital system in class action alleging data security breach
- Lead litigation counsel for Class I railroad in investigation and trials alleging fraudulent scheme by a law firm and expert pulmonologist in collecting and prosecuting asbestos claims
- Lead litigation counsel for large law firm in case alleging breach of contract and legal malpractice
- Lead litigation counsel in class actions alleging data privacy breach, consumer fraud, toxic exposure, debt collection practices, and medical record charge violations
- Lead litigation counsel in nationwide litigation involving product defects by international electronic product manufacturer
- Has appeared pro hac vice in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, Alabama, Tennessee, California, Washington, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, New York, Oklahoma, Colorado, Arkansas, and Idaho
- Appointed by Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to represent two trial court judges in appellate constitutional challenge filed by the WV Department of Health and Human Services regarding judicial order
- Represented WV Family Court judge in legislative impeachment effort
- Represented WV Circuit Court judge in proceedings before the Judicial Investigation Commission and Office of Disciplinary Counsel
Previous Professional Experience
- Served as an adjunct professor of Sports Law at Marshall University for 16 years
Education
- West Virginia University College of Law, JD (1985)
- Marshall University, BA (1982)
Admissions
- West Virginia
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of West Virginia
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia
Practice Areas
- Appellate Practice & Legal Strategies
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Class Action & Multi-Claim Litigation
- Cybersecurity & Data Breach Litigation
- Products Liability - Consumer & Mechanical
- Products Liability - Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices
- State Attorneys General Actions
- Toxic Torts/Asbestos
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- Listed in West Virginia Super Lawyers (2007–2022, 2024)
- Benchmark Litigation "Litigation Star", Appellate, General Commercial, Product Liability (2018–2025)
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Litigation: General Commercial – West Virginia (2008–2024)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Appellate Practice (2008–2025), Bet-the-Company Litigation (2008–2025), Commercial Litigation (2008–2025), Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2008–2025), Litigation – Banking & Finance (2008–2025), Litigation – Environmental (2008–2025), Litigation – Labor & Employment (2008–2025), Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2008–2025), Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2008–2025), Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2008–2025), Railroad Law (2008–2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, WVa. for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants (2023, 2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Banking and Finance Litigation (2012, 2022)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Appellate Practice (2018, 2021)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Bet-the-Company Litigation (2020, 2025)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants (2019)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2017)
- Lawyer of the Year in Huntington, W.Va. for Railroad Law (2015)
- The International Who's Who in Product Liability Defense Lawyers (2022)
- The Legal 500 United States: Product liability and mass tort defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices (2022)
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Louis B. Potter Lifetime Professional Service Award, DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2020)
- Lawyers and Leaders Inaugural Class, West Virginia Executive Magazine (2017)
- DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar
- International Association of Defense Counsel
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
- Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
- The Federalist Society
- West Virginia University College of Law Visiting Committee
- 2013 Faculty, International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Stanford Law School, Palo Alto, California
- Lectures on litigation–related topics to national and local bar groups
- Has been a pro bono volunteer for the West Virginia Legal Services Plan where he instructed indigent and at–risk women on how to obtain pro se divorce and domestic violence protection
- Appointed by Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia to a committee of five lawyers and one judge to re-write the West Virginia Rules of Civil Procedure
- Board of Directors, Marshall University Foundation, Inc. (2020–2023)
- Past Board of Directors, Marshall Artists Series
- Past Chair of the St. Mary’s Medical Center Foundation
- Past Resource Development Chair, United Way of the River Cities
- President of DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar (2008–2009), the 23,000–member international organization of lawyers and corporate counsel who defend the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation
- President of Lawyers for Civil Justice, Inc. (2013–2014), an organization of corporations and lawyers working for civil justice reform
- President, National Foundation for Judicial Excellence, an organization that provides training on civil justice issues to state court appellate judges (2014–2015)
- State Chair, American College of Trial Lawyers
- State Chair, Council of Appellate Lawyers – American Bar Association
- President, Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia (1995–1996)
- Former co–chair of the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia Civil Justice Committee, which published in August 2003 a critical review of the West Virginia Civil Justice System
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