PERSONNEL FILE: Huntington attorney elected president of Lawyers for Civil Justice

HUNTINGTON – Lawyers for Civil Justice has elected Marc Williams, managing partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP's West Virginia office, as president.

The organization is a national coalition of defense trial lawyer organizations, law firms, and corporations that promotes excellence and fairness in the civil justice system. Williams took over as president during LCJ's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., in May of this year. He will lead the organization through May 2014.

Based in Washington, D.C., Lawyers for Civil Justice has a 25-year history of working with state and federal courts, Congress and state legislatures on legislative and procedural reform that is designed to make civil litigation more efficient and fair. LCJ's activities in the areas of e-discovery, class action reform and improvements to the Rules of Civil Procedure and Rules of Evidence make it a leader in the field of civil justice reform.

Currently, LCJ is engaged in the advocacy of a wide array of changes to the rules that govern civil litigation in the federal courts. The organization regularly works with the Federal Rules Committees, Congress, start bar associations and state legislatures on issues regarding the fair and efficient operation of the civil justice system.

Williams has had first chair responsibility for more than 100 jury trials and appeals in his career. His practice focuses on class actions, mass torts, product liability, toxic torts and commercial litigation.

Three other Nelson Mullins attorneys have served as president of Lawyers for Civil Justice: Ed Mullins, Steve Morrison and David Dukes. Those three also have served as president of DRI - The Voice of the Defense Bar, of which Mr. Williams served as president during the 2008-2009 term. DRI – The Voice of the Defense Bar is the 23,000-member international organization of lawyers and corporate counsel who defend the interests of businesses and individuals in civil litigation.

Williams currently serves as chair of the DRI Center for Law and Public Policy. He also serves as vice president of the National Foundation for Judicial Excellence.

Established in 1897, Nelson Mullins has more than 470 attorneys and government relations professionals with offices in the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia. For more information on the firm, go to www.nelsonmullins.com.