Beth A. Williams
Professional Profile
Beth Williams is a trial and appellate litigator in Kirkland’s Washington, D.C. office. Beth handles complex commercial litigation and appellate matters, and has experience representing clients at all stages of litigation. She has represented clients in a wide variety of matters, including securities and derivative actions, contract disputes, copyright challenges, allegations of fraud, bankruptcy litigation, government investigations and defamation actions.
Beth also maintains a diverse pro bono practice for which she was awarded the 2011 Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington Pro Bono Service Award. She serves as Chair for the Women's Leadership Initiative in the Washington, D.C., office.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Beth served as Special Counsel to the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary and as a law clerk to Judge Richard C. Wesley of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Representative Matters
Counsel to the Board of Directors of SAIC, Inc. in a series of derivative and securities actions arising out of the CityTime implementation project.
Counsel to UBS Securities LLC in a series of nationwide securities cases alleging market manipulation involving "naked short selling." Successfully won dismissal or resolution of all first-wave cases. Currently representing client in second-wave cases.
Trial counsel to TOUSA, Inc., one of the largest homebuilders to file for bankruptcy. Returned a complete victory for client, successfully defending it against more than $920 million in third-party claims brought by numerous banks and lenders.
Trial counsel to former officers of Horsehead Industries, a zinc manufacturer and one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. After a full trial in Pennsylvania state court, won full judgment on all counts against claims that the officers were personally liable for payments that came due after the corporation filed for bankruptcy.
Appellate counsel to The National Geographic Society in a copyright challenge brought by a freelance photographer to the Society's digital archive of its magazine. Successfully defended the Society's rights to produce and distribute its archive.
Appellate counsel to criminal defendant challenging her conviction and sentence. Successfully briefed and argued the case before the Sixth Circuit resulting in vacatur of sentence.
Counsel to Avanade Inc. in litigation alleging the failed implementation of an ERP system.
Counsel to BASF Corporation in arbitration over the fair market value of client's partnership interest. Successful defense of claims in excess of $150 million.
Counsel to ConocoPhillips in arbitration of claims arising from its sale of a major convenience store business. After nine trial days, the arbitration panel ruled that plaintiff's claims were "denied in their entirety."
Counsel to Siemens Corporation and subsidiaries in state court actions involving disputes over employee retention programs. Successful defense of summary judgment victory over claims involving multi-million dollar employee retention fund.
Other Distinctions
Kirkland & Ellis LLP Washington Pro Bono Service Award - 2009, 2010, 2011
Chair, Kirkland Women's Leadership Initiative, Washington, D.C.
Member, Kirkland Recruiting Committee
Member, Harvard Club of Washington Schools Committee
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit Pro Bono Panel
Publications
"Patient Confidentiality: Illinois Supreme Court Upholds Consent Forms for Release of Record," Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, Vol. 30:2, Summer 2002.Prior Experience
United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Special Counsel
Public Integrity Division, United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York, Law Clerk
Courts
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
New Jersey Supreme Court
New York Court of Appeals
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
