Stephen B. Williamson

Stephen B. Williamson concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation and has significant experience in the areas of employment, construction and asbestos litigation. Although his practice is generally defense oriented, he has enjoyed positive outcomes in several plaintiff-based commercial litigation cases tried to verdict. He also maintains an active administrative practice, appearing before numerous state and federal agencies. He frequently lectures on construction, ethics and employment law issues.

His experience includes a ten-year relationship representing the second-largest U.S.-based contractor and leading global engineering, construction and services company; a fifteen-year relationship defending one of the world’s leading commercial boiler manufacturers; and a seven-year relationship representing a regional hospital system in all investigations, policy matters and workplace-related litigation.

Mr. Williamson’s commercial litigation highlights include a multi-million dollar verdict for the plaintiff in commercial litigation arising out of the sale of Boeing 727, British Aircraft Corporation BAC-111 and Cessna Citation II commercial aircraft; a multi-million dollar settlement for an international construction company in a dispute arising out of an interstate highway project; representation of an interstate transportation company in mass tort litigation arising out of an accident on Interstate 26 when an over-the-road truck crashed, spilling hazardous material, closing the highway for several weeks and necessitating the evacuation of local residents; and the defense of a primary defendant in one of North Carolina’s largest commercial construction litigation disputes. He currently represents a manufacturer in multi-plaintiff mass tort litigation involving more than 3,000 plaintiffs alleging cumulative claims exceeding $500 million.

Mr. Williamson offers consultative services to clients facing significant litigation. He has assisted clients facing class action and mass tort claims, successfully defeating cases at the class certification stage. He brings the skills and experience necessary to manage complex litigation and the myriad of documents and electronic records involved in multi-plaintiff, multi-jurisdiction litigation. In non class action cases, Mr. Williamson has consulted with and assisted a highway contractor in resolving contract disputes with the NCDOT arising out of a $200 million interstate highway project. He has also been asked to assist a principal party facing litigation arising out of the $300 million Charlotte Light Rail Project.

Prior to law school, Mr. Williamson was a police officer in Texas. Building on that experience, combined with his experience in employment law, he has developed a reputation as a problem solver for employers facing workplace violence issues. He develops policies, implements procedures, and creates crisis intervention plans. He has also developed a collaborative approach to training employers on proactive methods for evaluating and intervening in situations before violence occurs.

Mr. Williamson’s representative matters include:

• Mercam v. Portlyn, 2007 U.S. Dist LEXIS 3816 (W.D.N.C. 2007)
• Agner v. Daniel Int’l Corp, 2007 U.S. Dist LEXIS 1509 (W.D.N.C. 2007)
• Richardson v. Pitter Patter of Little Feet, Inc., 2006 U.S. Dist LEXIS 85434 (M.D.N.C. 2006)
• King v. Windsor Capital Group, Inc., 632 S.E.2d 557 (N.C. App. 2006)
• Christopher's Ariz. Transp. Serv. v. Duncan, 217 F.3d 838 (4th Cir. 2000), 2000 U.S. App. Lexis 15644
• Medical Mut. Ins. Co. v. Mauldin, 353 N.C. 352, 543 S.E.2d 478 (2001)
• Aycock v. Padgett, 134 N.C. App. 164, 516 S.E.2d 907 (1999)
• Lang v. Lang, 125 N.C. App. 573, 481 S.E.2d 380 (1997)
• Biggins v. Blount, 123 N.C. App. 159, 472 S.E.2d 611 (1996)

Mr. Williamson has received an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell and was named as one of North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” in Employment Law. He is the author of  “Payroll Management in North Carolina” (2002-2004).

Mr. Williamson’s speaking engagements include:

• “The New Approach to Workplace Violence: The Best Defense is the Offensive Approach” The Association of Corporate Counsel – Charlotte Chapter, September 3, 2008
• “Employment Law from A to Z in North Carolina,” Lorman Educational Services, Asheville, North Carolina, December 11, 2007
• “Professional Design Forum: Liability and Risk Management for Architects and Engineers,” Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville, North Carolina, November 16, 2007
• “Workplace Violence,” Crescent Preferred Provider Organization, Asheville, North Carolina, September 17, 2007
• “The Fundamentals of Construction Contracts: Understanding the Issues in North Carolina,” Lorman Educational Services, Asheville, North Carolina, May 8, 2007
• “Unraveling the Mysteries of Workplace Injuries: ADA/FMLA/WC Issues in the Triangle,” North Carolina Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Asheville, North Carolina, March 16, 2007
• “Managing Ethical Issues in Your Day-to-Day Practice,” Office of the Attorney General for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee, North Carolina, January 18, 2007
• “Educating Medical Office Personnel: Human Resources Issues,” Buncombe County Medical Society, Asheville, North Carolina, November 2, 2006
• “Second Annual Liability and Risk Management for Architects and Engineers,” Van Winkle Law Firm, Asheville, North Carolina, September 15, 2006
• “Managing Ethical Issues in Your Day-to-Day Practice in North Carolina,” National Business Institute, Asheville, North Carolina, December 19, 2005
• “The Complete Payroll Process in North Carolina,” Lorman Educational Services, Asheville, North Carolina, August 23, 2005
• “Document Retention and Destruction in North Carolina,” Lorman Educational Services, Asheville, North Carolina, June 24, 2004, and June 1, 2005
• “New Supplements to Existing Labor Laws,” Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce, Asheville, North Carolina, June 23, 2004
• “Payroll Management in North Carolina,” Lorman Educational Services, Asheville, North Carolina, December 18, 2003

Mr. Williamson received his Bachelor of Science from Sam Houston State University in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from Campbell University in 1993. He is admitted to practice in North Carolina.