Board Certified Civil Trial Advocate, by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, an American Bar Association and California State Bar Approved Agency

J. Craig Williams Seriously Outstanding only 5% selected each year visit superlawyers.com

The founding member of
WLF | The Williams Lindberg Law Firm, PC® Mr. Williams’ practice focuses in the areas of complex business litigation with emphasis on environmental, real estate, land-use and technology law, together with their respective insurance coverage and related tort issues. Mr. Williams also handles white-collar criminal matters. 

An accomplished speaker, Mr. Williams lectures as an adjunct professor at the University of California at Irvine on Toxics Law, the UCI Extension Environmental Management Program on The Regulatory Framework for Hazardous and Toxic Materials, Stanford Law School on Environmental Insurance Coverage, the University of Iowa College of Law on Trial Advocacy and at Chapman University School of Law on Legal Writing and Research.

He was a contributing reporter on environmental litigation of the “ABA Real Estate Quarterly Report,” and is the author of many articles, including “Son of the California Environmental Quality Act: A Look at Public Resources Code 21081.6,” 33 Orange County Lawyer 36 (1991) and Co-author of “The Practical Implications of the Aerojet Decision, California Environmental Law and Remediation Reporter,” April, 1998. Mr. Williams’ experience includes practice at nationally recognized law firms and has appeared as lead litigation counsel in numerous states.

Areas of Practice:
Business Litigation
White-collar Crime
Toxic Tort
Hazardous Waste
Insurance Law
Environmental Law
Corporate Services

Bar Admissions:
California
Iowa
Massachusetts
Washington
U.S. Supreme Court, sponsored by W. Ward Reynoldson, Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
United States Court of Appeals for The Armed Forces
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. Tax Court
U.S. Court of International Trade

Education:
University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, 1987, J.D., With Distinction, and Moot Court Board, 1986-1987

James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia, 1979, B.S.
Major: Communication Arts - Radio, TV and Film

United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, 1975-1976

Honors and Awards:
Los Angeles Press Club Journalism Award for Best Individual Weblog, 2005

Pro bono publico Service Commendation, 2005, Washington State Bar Association

Listed in Martindale-Hubbell's Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

Listed in Madison Who's Who

Lambda Alpha, honorary real estate fraternity, 1992

American Jurisprudence Award for Professional Responsibility, 1987

Omicron Delta Kappa, honorary academic and leadership fraternity, 1979

Alpha Epsilon Rho, honorary communications academic fraternity, 1979

Published Works:
The Liabilities of Social Networking Sites, 50 Orange County Lawyer 6, 2008

May It Please The Court weblog, daily since August 2003

Internet Frontiers: Build Your Own Blog, Law Technology News, December 2004

Belly Up to the Bar -- Feeding Time at the Shark-Ray Flats, iwaterways.com Netzine, January, 2000

Homemade Sub - 700 Feet Deep in Roatan, Deeper Blue Netzine, June, 1999

Business Continuity Planning for Local Infrastructures - A Y2K Guide for Cities and Counties (Editor), The Center for Year 2000 Community Action Plans, May, 1999

The Practical Implications of the Aerojet Decision (Co-Author), Cal. Environmental Law & Remediation Reporter, April, 1998

Son of the California Environmental Quality Act: A Look at Public Resources Code 21081.6, 33 Orange County Lawyer 36, 1991

ABA Real Estate Quarterly Report, Contributing reporter, Environmental Litigation

Representative Cases:
Hajek v. Iowa Parole Board, 414 N.W.2d 122 (Iowa S.Ct. 1987) (while in law school)

New Davidson Brick Co. v. County of Riverside (1990) 217 Cal.App.3d 1146

Bither v. Martin (1992) 1992 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14358

Fonovisa v. Cherry Auction, 76 F.3d 259 (9th Cir. 1996)

Saba v. Crater (1998) 62 Cal.App.4th 150

O'Grady v. Sup.Ct. (Apple Computer) (2006) 139 Cal.App.4th 1423

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
The Latest and Greatest In Technology for the Legal Profession, National Association of Legal Assistants annual meeting, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, August 8, 2008.

Ethics in Environmental Law, Climate Change Conference, CLE International, San Francisco, CA, August 4-5, 2008.

Applying technology and law in a multi-jurisdictional practice, LegalTech, Los Angeles, CA, June 27, 2008.

The Paperless Office, Long Beach Legal Secretary's Association, Long Beach, California, June 12, 2008.

How To Get Sued: An Instructional Guide (hardback book), Kaplan Publishing, New York City, New York, June 3, 2008.

How to Get Sued book signing at Book Expo America, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, California, June 1, 2008, starting at 11:30 a.m.

The Perils E-Discovery, Orange County Bar Association, Orange, CA, May 1, 2008.

Technology – Its Impact on the Media, Courts, and Attorneys, Orange County Superior Court, Santa Ana, CA, April 25, 2008.

Technology Law, E-discovery and Technology on Your Desktop and In the Courtroom, Prague, Czech Republic, April 8, 2008.

How Technology Has Changed the Law and Journalism, Orange County, California Superior Court Bench & Bar Seminar, March 28, 2008.

Sports and Entertainment Law, University of California, Irvine Pre-Law Society, March 5, 2008.

Carbon Credits, Climate Change Law Conference, CLE International, Los Angeles, California, February 28-29, 2008.

Ethical Considerations for the Environmental Practitioner, Green Building Conference, CLE International, San Francisco, California, February 21-22, 2008.

Adjunct Professor, Trial Advocacy, University of Iowa College of Law, Iowa City, Iowa, January 2008.

Technology and the Law:  Update 2008, Orange County Bar Association Last Dash seminar, January 19, 2008.

The Future of Technology, New York State Bar Association Trusts and Estates Section annual meeting, Coronado, San Diego, California, October 2007.

The Legal and Business Approach to Law Firm Blogs: Is Your Firm Making the Most of Blogging Opportunities? American Lawyer Media Webinar, September 2007.

Ethics Issues in Environmental Law, CLE International, California Climate Change Law seminar, San Francisco, California, August 2007.

The Paperless Office, Managing Partners Roundtable, Westwood, Los Angeles, California, March 2007.

2007 Real Estate Law Update, Lambda Alpha International, Newport Beach California, January 2007.

Technology And Internet Use In The Courtroom, Orange County (California) Bar Association 15th Annual Last Dash Seminar, Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, California, January 2007.

What's New In Technology For Solos and Small Firms, The Solo and Small Firm Section of the State Bar of California, Costa Mesa, California, December 2006.

Rainmaking 101: Marketing Yourself and Your Practice, Irvine, California, Orange County Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Section, November 2006.

Fear Factor: Why Lawyers are Afraid of Technology, and How to Get Over It, Monterey, California, Annual Meeting of California State Bar Association, October 2006.

Who's Watching and Listening? How to Protect Your Office and Clients From Inadvertent Disclosure of Private Information, Orange County Bar Association, Costa Mesa, California, September 2006.

Technology and Internet use in the Courtroom and your Practice, Hispanic Bar Association, Puerto Rico Seminar, May 2006.

Technology & Disaster Recovery, Small Firm Business Forum, West Hollywood, California, June 2006.

Use of Legal Technology In The Courtroom, Orange County Celtic Bar Association, Scotland Seminar, April 2006.

Technology and Its Effect On The Practice of Law, Orange County Paralegal Association, January 2006.

Legal Ethics and Ethical Overview, Chapman University, Wilkinson College of Letters and Sciences guest lecturer, September 2005 and February 2006.

Rule 1-400 and the Appellate Practitioner: The Ethics of Marketing and Solicitation, Orange County Bar Association, Appellate Section, February 2006.

Legal Technology, Orange County Bar Association, Whittier Law School, January 2006.

New developments in courtroom technology, Whistler, B.C., Canada, April 2005.

Legal Writing Skills, Costa Mesa, California, May 2005.

Legal Ethics, Elimination of Bias and Substance Abuse, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, May 2005.

Legal Tech 2005: "From Blawgs to Instant Messaging: Proactive Legal Communication Evolves!" Los Angeles, California, June 2005.

Civil Procedure on Motions for Relief, Celtic Bar Association, Madrid, Spain, September 2004.

The Ethical Construct of Professional, Institutional and Service Sectors, Religion and Values, Guest Lecturer Chapman University, Fall Semester 2000-2004.

Emerging Practice Area of Environmental Crimes, Celtic Bar Association, Adare, Ireland, 2002.

Legal Research & Writing, Chapman University School of Law, Adjunct Professor, 2002 to present.

Commercial Lending, Real Estate Section of OCBA, January, 2002.

Environmental Insurance Coverage Fundamentals, Orange County Bar Association, November, 2000.

Commercial Real Estate Lending and Lender Liability, Orange County Bankers Association, December, 2000.

Environmental Insurance Coverage, Hispanic Bar Association, September, 1999.

Preparation for Litigation, Orange County Emergency Management Agency, June, 1999.

The Fallacy of Y2K Compliance Legal and Technical Issues, Orange County Certified Unified Program Agency & Orange Sanitation District Technical Assistance Center, April, 1999.

Trial Tips on Voir Dire and Opening Statements, Orange County Bar Association, January, 1999.

The Clean Air Act, South Coast Air Quality Management District, April, 1996.

Environmental Insurance Coverage, Stanford Law School, September, 1995.

Summary of Environmental Laws, National Business Institute, May, 1994.

New Developments in Environmental Insurance Coverage, Orange County Bar Association, Environmental Section, January, 1994.

New Developments in Hazardous Materials Laws, Professional Environmental Marketing Association, October, 1993.

Toxics Law, University of California at Irvine, Spring Semesters, 1992, 1993, 1992 - 1993.

Regulatory Framework of Toxic and Hazardous Materials, University of California at Irvine, Fall Semesters, 1994 - 1995.

Professional Associations and Memberships:
American Bar Association - Environmental Litigation, Probate and Trust, Real Property Sections and the Decisions Committee

Member, Authors Guild

California Bar Association - Environmental Section and Litigation Section and Member, Solo and Small Firm Executive Committee.

Iowa Bar Association

Massachusetts Bar Association

Washington Bar Association

Orange County (California) Bar Association - Real Estate, Business Litigation, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property & Technology Sections.

Member, Orange County Bar Association Board of Directors.

Trustee, Orange County Hispanic Bar Association.

Founding member, Orange County Celtic Bar Association.

Member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers.

Member, Legal Writing Institute.

Member, Defense Research Institute.

Member, Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.

Member, Editorial Board, Law Technology News.

Member, Authors Guild.

Callahan, Blaine & Williams, Partner, 1994-1997, Irvine, California

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Contract associate, 1992-1994, Los Angeles, California

Allen, Matkins, Leck, Gamble & Mallory, Associate, 1989-1992, Irvine, California

San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney, 1987-1999, Volunteer, San Bernardino, California

Reid & Hellyer, Associate, 1987-1989, Riverside, California

Linn County, Iowa Public Defender’s Office, Certified Practicing Law Clerk 1986-1987, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

University of Iowa College of Law Criminal Defense Clinic, Certified Practicing Law Clerk, 1985-1987, Iowa City, Iowa

Fraternity:
Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Outside Interests:
Mr. Williams enjoys scuba diving and is both a Divemaster and Scuba Instructor, certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). He is also a downhill snow skier, and is certified as a Level One Instructor by the Professional Ski Instructors Association.

He is an avid sailor, having sailed and interned in the Tall Ships Race on board the square-sail Barkentine, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle. He was a member of the Coast Guard Academy Sailing Team in New London, Connecticut. Mr. Williams has also crewed for the America’s Cup America3 helmsman and Olympic Gold medal winner Buddy Melges.

Mr. Williams is also an Eagle Scout, and earned his God & Country award as an Explorer Scout. The son of a Congregational Church minister, he served as the youngest member of the Board of Directors of the United Church Board for Homeland Ministries in New York.

Mr. Williams is a third-generation son of immigrants from Wales and Scotland, who in 1896 settled in Pennsylvania and worked mining coal in the Anthracite region. In his spare time, he rides his Harley-Davidson Road King.