John Williams, Esq. Attorney Biography Photo

John Legaré Williams, Esquire

john@trustwilliams.com
p. 302-575-0873 | f. 302-575-0925
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Practice Areas

Trust and estate planning, administration, and litigation.

Delaware business law:

Delaware incorporation and LLC formation,
Business succession planning,
Contract drafting and negotiation,
Corporate governance,
General Counsel,
Business partner separation disputes,
Delaware LLC opinion letters for United States real estate transactions, and
Business litigation regarding valuation, mismanagement, and obtaining records;
Nationally recognized on Delaware Series LLC law; and
Corporate bankruptcy adversary proceedings, defending voidable preference claims.

Representative Cases/Clients

Favorable post-trial settlement after a 4-day trial in the Court of Chancery. This case analyzed Delaware corporate law on issues such as breaches of fiduciary duty and business valuation.
Represented:
- Medical device company,
- Newspaper publisher,
- Large equipment manufacturer,
- Mining equipment repair company,
- Former professional athlete,
- Famous musicians,
- Food processing company,
- Scientific instrument company,
- Executives,
- Medical Doctors,
- Certified Professional Accountants,
- Mobile App businesses,
- Film Producers,
- Entrepreneurs, and
- Non-profits.

Professional Affiliations

President of Agents and Corporations, Inc., a Delaware incorporation and registered agent service that serves 16,000 Delaware LLCs and Delaware corporations under management, including Pinterest, Inc.
ABA Advisor to National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (ULC) on the Series of Unincorporated Business Entities Act Drafting Committee (Uniform Series LLC Act).
Chair of American Bar Association’s Committee on Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies in the Special Investors and Investment Structure Group of the Real Property, Trusts and Estates Section.
Barrister Member of Richard S. Rodney Inn of Court.

Civic Engagements

President, Wilmington Rowing Center.
Appointed by Governors Minner, Markell, and Carney to the Delaware Natural Areas Advisory Council. Previous chairman. Previously served on Delaware State Parks Council.
Assistant Coach, University of Delaware Men’s Club Crew (See News Journal article “The Oars of Justice” from November 11, 2003).
President, One Commerce Center Condo Council, which manages an 11-story commercial office building.
Founder, Christina Navy Ltd., an entity that promotes boating safety.
Membership Chair, Society of Colonial Wars, Delaware Chapter, including duties as state genealogist and state registrar.
Vice Chair, Downtown YMCA (Wilmington, DE).
President, Christina Conservancy.
Vice Chair, 18^th Representative District Committee of Delaware.
Director, Delaware Founders Initiative.
Former Director, Wilmington Youth Rowing Association.
Former Council Member, Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation.
Former Chairman, Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.

Presentations, Publications & Contributions

Presented Stafford Webinar: “Series LLCs: Selected Federal Tax Issues” on April 24, 2019
Expert witness in multimillion-dollar AAA Arbitration in Chicago involving Series LLC and options on oil sand land, February 2019
Presented at the ABA Business Law Section’s LLC Institute: “Charging Orders.” October 12, 2018
Expert witness in Symphony FS Limited v. Thompson in the U.S. Federal Court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania involving Series LLC and cryptocurrency
Presented at the ABA Business Law Section Annual Meeting: “Drafting Series LLC Provisions Under the Delaware, Texas, and Uniform Acts” on September 13, 2018
Drafted Series LLC and Delaware LLC Agreements for publication in the Limited Liability Company Handbook– 2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2015-2016, 2017-2018, & 2018-2019
Expert witness in New York Supreme Court case involving a Delaware Series LLC, May 2018
Presented to the Wilmington Tax Group – “Navigating the Delaware Series LLC” on October 17, 2017
Presented to TEDxWilmington: “Series LLC: Not Your Average Business Entity.” August, 2017
Presented to the Delaware State Bar Association on panel: “Starting a Law Practice: and so the Adventure Begins! – Your Entity of Choice and Your Business Plan.” January 24, 2017
Presented to Goldey-Beacom College MBA class; “How to Avoid Common Legal Mistakes When Starting a Business: Entrepreneurship & Law.” December 7, 2016
ABA’s Real Property, Trust and Estates Group (RPTE) publication, Probate & Property, co-author of: “Operating Agreements Today: The Foundation to Avoid Controversy Tomorrow.” September/October 2016
Presented National Business Institute (“NBI”) national teleconference: “Series LLCs: Drafting Operating Agreements” October 24, 2016
Presented National CLE webinar for ABA’s RPTE Group: “Operating Agreements Today: The Foundation to Avoid Controversy Tomorrow – Commercial Real Estate Fundamentals 2.0.” March 23, 2016
Quoted in February 2, 2016 article titled “Zuckerbergs chose Delaware-based LLC for Chan Zuckerberg Initiative” by the Delaware Business Times
Authored: “Rural Metro: Gulping Advisors and Practitioner Guidance” article in the ABA’s Business Law Today periodical, January 2016
Presented to University of Delaware Horn Entrepreneurship Program “How to Avoid Common Legal Mistakes When Starting a Business: Entrepreneurship & Law” on October 28, 2015
Presented National CLE webinar for NBI on Series LLCs: Drafting Operating Agreements, August 12, 2015
Panelist on CLE seminar presented at the ABA’s RPTE Group Symposia on Drafting LLC Agreements for Real Estate Transactions, May 1, 2015

Presented to the Delaware Real Estate Investor’s Association (DelREIA) on the use of Series LLC in real estate investments, June 2014
Presented National CLE webinar for Stafford Publications on Delaware LLC Agreements: Planning and Drafting Approaches, November 25, 2013
Presented Sterling Education Seminar (“SES”) on “Elder Law Planning for Incapacity: Health Care Issues.” September 11, 2013
Presented National Hot Topics call for the ABA’s RPTE Group on the Delaware Series LLC, May 14, 2013
Presented NBI Seminar: “Advanced LLC Issues: The New ‘Series’ LLCs”, December 19, 2011
Presented SES Seminar: “Estate Planning Update: Using Gifts and Trusts for Wealth Transfers.” September 7, 2011
Interviewed by China Business News and Xinhua News Agency (Official China News), June 2011
Presented to The Richard S. Rodney American Inn of Court – “Technology in the Courtroom.” 2011
Presented NBI Seminar: “Limited Liability Companies: Advantageous Uses of LLCs.” December 14, 2010
Interviewed by Swiss National Public Television www.srgssr.ch (regarding Delaware corporate and LLC law’s international advantages) for an entrepreneurial program broadcast throughout German-speaking Europe, 2010
Presented NBI Seminar: “LLCs: From Formation to Special Uses.” March 13, 2009
Presented an in-house continuing professional education seminar to Gunnip & Company LLP (Certified Public Accounting firm) on LLC law in Delaware, circa 2009
Presented “Intellectual Property and Choice of Entity” seminar, organized by the Small Business Administration (Delaware), 2009
Quoted in June 9, 2008 article on “State-Federal Tussle on Beneficial Owners” by Compliance Weekly
Expert witness for the Alaska Office of Public Advocacy in litigation involving a Delaware Series LLC, which owned 40 parcels of real estate (Genesis Properties LLC vs. McDowell). Circa 2008
Guest lectured for senior seminar on small business at the University of Delaware: 2006, 2007, & 2008.
Presented NBI Seminar: “LLC Trends and Developments: Special Uses.” September 27, 2007
Presented on panel of Delaware Trust Conference on “Series LLC,” sponsored by Delaware Bankers Association. Circa 2006
Trained advisors on “Choice of Entity” at the Delaware Small Business Development Center. Circa 2006
Interviewed regarding international foreign money judgment recognition by Delaware Law Weekly, 2005

Return to John’s Bio

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– John Williams

Education, Distinctions and Experience

Distinctions and Awards

Avvo “Badge” for 10.0/10.0 superb rating on AVVO.com lawyer rating service and directory.
Recognized by Philadelphia Magazine as a “5-Star Wealth Manager” in Estate and Business Planning, 2010 – 2015.
“40 under 40” Leaders and Innovators – Delaware Business Times, 2015.

Education

Summer Clerkships and Externship

Bar and Court Admissions

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

John Legaré Williams, Esquire

Education, Distinctions and Experience

Distinctions and Awards

Education

Summer Clerkships and Externship

Bar and Court Admissions

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

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