Bart H. Williams

Bart Williams is one of the nation’s most sought after trial lawyers and commercial litigators. He has served as lead counsel for numerous companies in their most challenging and high-profile matters. Bart has served as a counselor and trial lawyer for Fortune 500 corporations in a variety of industries, including: sports, media and entertainment, financial services, consumer products, telecommunications and technology, pharmaceutical, and private equity. He has represented multiple major law firms in their most serious professional negligence cases. He has also represented celebrities, government officials and corporate executives individually in high-stakes matters. Bart’s background as a former Assistant United States Attorney has also helped establish him as a “go to” lawyer for internal corporate investigations and white collar criminal defense matters.

A member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Bart has compiled an impressive list of victories in jury and bench trials throughout the United States [View Matters List below]. He has been featured in numerous publications such as The American Lawyer, Benchmark Litigation, Chambers USA, Law 360, LMG Life Sciences, Los Angeles Business Journal and the Daily Journal, which has repeatedly named him one of the top 100 lawyers in the State of California. In 2018, both Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA named him as a finalist for National Trial Lawyer of the Year. Bart is one of only 21 Band 1 trial lawyers listed by Chambers in its national rankings.

Clients recently interviewed by Chambers commented: 

“Bart is a fantastic lawyer who is super smart and always well-polished when it comes to court. If a major problem is at hand, he is the guy to pick.” “He has deep trial expertise which informs the way he approaches cases from the outset. He's incredibly effective in oral argument and written advocacy.” “Bart is the real deal. He’s an excellent trial lawyer in multiple settings.” “Bart is a real standout – he’s a top-notch litigator!” “He’s one of the best litigators with whom I’ve ever worked. He’s an amazingly smart and talented lawyer.”

A leader within the Firm, Bart is an immediate past member of the Firm’s Executive Committee and also serves as worldwide chair of the Litigation Department and head of Proskauer’s Los Angeles office.

Bart served as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California where he concentrated on complex criminal prosecutions involving allegations of fraud or other business crimes. He obtained convictions in 11 out of 11 jury trials. He received several special commendations during his tenure, including one from the Honorable Louis J. Freeh, then-director of the FBI.

Bart is a graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School. He was a starting guard for four years on the Yale Varsity Basketball Team, and received the George McReynolds Award as the team’s Most Valuable Defensive Player his senior year.

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