Practice Areas
Education
Texas A & M University - Civil Engineering, B.S., 1969
University of W. Florida - Aeronautical Systems/Eng., M.S., 1971
University of California - Berkeley - Civil Engineering, M.S., 1976
University of Maryland - Law (Honors), J.D., 1989
London University - Law studies (1982-1983)
University of Houston - LL.M. studies (courses complete/thesis incomplete)
Honors
Best Lawyers in America® - Construction Law, 2025
Best Lawyers in America® - Litigation - Construction, 2025
"Lawyer of the Year" in US News Best Lawyers in America - 2022-2023 (Litigation - Construction)
Martindale-Hubble "AV" Rated Attorney
US News Best Lawyers in America - 2010 - 2024 (Construction Law; Litigation)
Named a "Top Lawyer" (Houstonia Magazine), 2022
Bar Admissions
Texas
Colorado
Maryland
Court Admissions
Texas Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
Maryland Court of Appeals
Colorado Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court for Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for District of Maryland
U.S. Court of Appeals for Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for Fifth Circuit
Profile
Mr. Williams has more than 40 years of experience in all phases of business, energy, construction and law including legal representation, litigation, contract negotiation and administration, engineering, project management, and marketing of large international oil & gas, engineering and construction projects.
Mr. Williams is a practicing attorney in litigation specializing in construction/engineering law, corporate law, environmental law, oil and gas transactions, maritime law, international law and aviation law. Mr. Williams has served as vice president and general counsel to a large international, publicly listed oil and gas services engineering/construction company.
Mr. Williams graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law (with honors) and admitted to the Bars of Texas, Maryland and Colorado and various Federal Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Williams was a Designated Arbitrator (Construction Industry Panel). He is also a licensed Professional Engineer (Civil) as well as a retired Naval Officer (Lt. Commander) having served as a jet pilot during the Vietnam conflict. Mr. Williams holds an FAA commercial pilot license (with instrument rating).
Lectures/Publications
- Lecturer, Liability of Architects, Engineers and Construction Managers, Texas A&M University, Construction Management Program, 1992 - 2001.
- Lecturer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Houston Bar Association 2002
- Lecturer, Construction Law, Texas A&M University, Construction Management Program. 1995 - 2001
- Lecturer, Liability of Architects, Engineers and Construction Managers, ECMC Program. Fall, 1990.
- Legal editor to Texas Society of Professional Engineers - Author of "Legal Corner" in the Monthly magazine - "THE ENGINEER" published bi-monthly, 2002-2005
- Lecturer, Construction Law, National Business Institute, 1997-2001
- Lecturer, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Chamberlain Annual Seminar, 2003, 2009
- Lecturer, Engineering Liability and Contractual Protections, TSPE Annual Convention, 2003-2010
- Lecturer, Electronic Communications – Perils and Pitfalls, U. of Texas – Eng. Seminar, 2005
- Lecturer, Construction Law Issues, Rice Global & Construction Forum, 2005
- Lecturer, Electronic Communications – Perils and Pitfalls, Chamberlain Annual Seminar, 2006
- Lecturer, Construction Issues for Strategic Research Institute, 1998-2008
- Adjunct Professor, Prairie View A&M, Construction Law, 2005-2006.
- Lecturer, Dispute Resolution for Construction Cases, Half Moon Seminar 2007-2009
- Lecturer, TRCC and Dispute Resolution, December 2007
- Lecturer, Engineering Ethics, Foundation Engineering Society, August 2008
- Lecturer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, American Petroleum Institute Contractors, December 2008
- Lecturer, Engineering Ethics Issues, Richmond Rosenberg Chamber of Commerce, 2008-2010
- Lecturer, Legal Issues for Texas Professional Engineers, Half Moon Seminar, December 2009
- Lecturer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, PKF University, March 2010
- Lecturer, Legal Issues on Drilling Contracts, IADC, Oct 2010
- Lecturer, Legal Issues for Contractors and Engineers, Half Moon Seminars, July 2011
- Lecturer, Engineering Ethics, Chamber of Commerce, September 2011
- Lecturer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Int'l Assoc. Drilling Contractors, October 2012
- Lecturer, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Tax Seminar, November 2012
- Lecturer, Legal Issues for Texas Professional Engineers, Half Moon Seminar, April 2013
- Lecturer, Overview of Anti-Trust Law for Engineers, Engineering and Sales Group, May 2013
- Lecturer, Engineering Ethics, Concrete Repair Institute, February 2014
- Lecturer, Legal Trends with FPSOs, Global FPSO Forum, September 2014
- Lecturer, Cross Border Considerations: Business & Tax Issues, Chamberlain Annual Seminar, 2014
- Lecturer, Risk Management, American Pipeline Contractors Association, March, 2016
- Lecturer, Engineering Liabilities, Half Moon Seminar, Jul 2016
- Lecturer, Vessel Sales & Charters, University of Texas Admiralty and Maritime Program, Aug 2016
- Lecturer, International Arbitrator Selection Process, Meritas Videoconference, June, 2020
Languages
- Arabic – written and spoken (fair)
- French – written and spoken (fair)
Foreign Resident
- England, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Singapore
Miscellaneous
- Professional Engineer - Texas PE #55361
- FAA Commercial Pilot's License (with instrument rating) maintained since 1971
- Former Owner of Piper Turbo Saratoga
- Extensive travel on business to Europe, Africa, Brazil, Middle East and Far East
- Past Member of Texas A&M University Corps Development Council
- Past Member of Texas A&M University Twelfth Man Foundation
- Member of Texas A&M University Former Students Association
- Candidate for Texas House of Representatives - District 15, 2002
- Past Member of Executive Committee for Montgomery County Republican Party
- Delegate to Texas State Republican Convention - 2002
- Houston's Top Lawyers - Energy Law 2007-2014
- Martindale-Hubble, "AV" Rated Attorney
- Texas Super Lawyer - 2009 (Construction Litigation)
- Texas Super Lawyer - 2012 (Energy)
- US News Best Lawyers in America - 2010 to 2021 (Construction Law; Litigation)
- Texas Super Lawyer - 2014, 2015 (Construction)
- Class agent for Texas A&M class of 1968
- Past Alumni Board Member for University of Maryland School of Law
Professional Affiliations
- Texas Society of Professional Engineers
- Texas Bar Association – Construction Section
- Houston Bar Association – Construction Bar Member
- Military and Veterans Committee of the Houston Bar Association
- Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
- Angel Flight pilot (patient air transport pilot)
- Member of the College of the State Bar of Texas
- Former member of American Bar Association – Construction Forum
News
News
- Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 87 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in a peer selection process for the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 15, 2024
- Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 87 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in a peer selection process for the 2024 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 17, 2023
- Houstonia names 30 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys as 2022 Top LawyersNovember 30, 2022
- Best Lawyers in America® recognizes 72 Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in a peer selection process for the 2023 edition of Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 18, 2022
- Kerry Williams recognized as Lawyer of the Year for 2022 by Best Lawyers in AmericaAugust 20, 2021
- Best Lawyers in America® selects 54 Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys for Recognition for 2022August 19, 2021
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys are ranked in Appellate, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Corporate, Criminal Defense, Employee Benefits, Energy, Immigration, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Real Estate, Tax, and Trust & EJune 22, 2021
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Named to US News – 2021 Best Lawyers in America®, Three Attorneys Recognized as Lawyer of the YearAugust 20, 2020
- August 15, 2019
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka again named a "Best Law Firm" by US NewsNovember 1, 2018
- Peer Ranked in Construction, Eminent Domain, Employee Benefits (ERISA), Government Relations, Immigration, Litigation - Construction, Litigation - Trusts & Estates, Tax, Tax Litigation & Controversy, Trademark, Trusts & EstatesSeptember 18, 2018
- National law firm achieves top rankings in tax law, tax litigation and trust and estates law
- Chamberlain Hrdlicka Attorneys Ranked in Construction, Litigation – Construction, Eminent Domain & Condemnation, Employee Benefits (ERISA), Government Relations, Immigration, Tax, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, and Trust & Estates CategoriesAugust 2017
- Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Construction, Trust and Estates, Employee Benefits and Immigration CategoriesJune 22, 2017
- November 2, 2015
- Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Tax Controversy, Construction, Trust and Estates, Employee Benefits, and Immigration CategoriesNovember 2014
- U.S. News & World Report recognizes Chamberlain Hrdlicka attorneys in practice areas of construction law, employee benefits, immigration law, tax litigation and controversy, and trusts and estates.
- Houston Chronicle, January 2013
- Firm, Attorneys Ranked in Tax, Construction, Immigration, Trusts & Estates and Eminent Domain & Condemnation CategoriesNovember 2011
Presentations
Seminars & Presentations
- Kerry Williams on Panel for The International Arbitration TribunalJune 12, 2020
The Structural Engineers Association of Texas 2023' State Conference, Legal Challenges Facing Our Profession: Where are we at risk? September 29, 2023