William G. Williams - Canton, OH

Bill has extensive legal experience in oil and gas law, commercial litigation, general business and close corporation law, non-profit corporation law, all aspects of real estate, including zoning and land use financing. Bill represents oil and gas companies, real estate developers, two Ohio public colleges, direct marketing companies, forklift dealers, gas pipeline companies, environmental consultants, physicians, an equity fund, and other businesses and industries, in both general corporate and commercial litigation (federal and state court) matters.

Bill has successfully defended breach of contract actions, non-competition claims, oil and gas securities, eminent domain, adverse possession, zoning appeals, slander of title and Fair Housing Act violations. Bill has initiated various lawsuits for declaratory judgments, oil and gas lease breaches, collections, and enforcement of contractual obligations. He has been serving as appointed special counsel for the Ohio Attorney General since 2004 for two public colleges. He has handled significant acquisitions and sales of real estate and company assets or shares of stock. Bill is experienced in federal court civil commercial causes of action, favorably resolving three complex cases in 2009.

Bill has always been involved in community activities. He is serving his 17th year as legal counsel for the Better Business Bureau Canton Region. He served for 10 years as a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary of the Stark State College Foundation. Bill is also a member of the Walsh University Advisory Board and the Stark County Community Foundation Planned Giving Committee. He is a member of the Greater Canton Chamber of Commerce’s Environmental and Legislative Committees, and is a member of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association. Bill also serves as legal counsel for the U.S. Citizens Association.

Bill received his undergraduate degree from the University of Steubenville and his Juris Doctorate from Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law and has been a title insurance agent since 1985. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, serving on the Natural Resources Law and Environmental Law Committees. He is licensed as a member of the bar for the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth District, the U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio and the Ohio Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Stark County Bar Association and served as Chairman of the Real Estate Law Committee (1994-2005) and is past editor of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Corporate Counsel Newsletter.

Bill is a past member of the State of Ohio Oil and Gas Board of Review (1986-1992), past Executive Director and Trustee of the Eastern Mineral Law Foundation, past President and current Director and Legal Counsel of the Canton Palace Theatre Association, past President of the Downtown Canton Association and past member and Chairman of the Board of Zoning Appeals, Plain Township (1986-1992).

Bill was selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America (2007-2010). He was named to the list of Ohio Super Lawyers (2004-2006, 2008-2010); the Ohio Super Lawyers list is published in each January issue of Cincinnati Magazine, and in a special publication, Ohio Super Lawyers, a joint project of the Publishers of Cincinnati Magazine and Law & Politics magazine. Bill has held for many years the exclusive AV Rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory as designated by his colleagues; the AV rating was renewed in 2006 for another five years. In addition, Bill currently maintains a “10.0 Superb” rating by Avvo the world’s largest online legal directory.

Bill and his wife Denise reside in Plain Township. They have two daughters, Kelsey Williams and Tara Ziegler.