Once again, Weitz & Luxenberg has been listed by U.S. News & World Report as one of the 2023 Best Law Firms in the United…
Read MoreI am fully committed to giving victims of crime a voice, to doing everything I can legally to hold perpetrators responsible for their actions. We cannot undo the horrific damage a perpetrator has inflicted on another person. However, by using every legal tool and avenue possible, we may be able to provide our clients with some sense that justice has been done.
Wayne Williams has joined Weitz & Luxenberg’s experienced team of personal injury and negligence litigators. His background litigating both criminal and civil cases is a welcome addition to our practice.
At W&L, Mr. Williams is handling child sexual abuse cases, as well as general personal injury and negligence litigation. Mr. Williams’s specific focus is on the firm’s child sexual abuse cases against the Boy Scouts of America, priests, schools and other perpetrators.
“Since graduating from law school, I have been fortunate to have gained insight and perspective from different types of law practice, but I am glad to be back to my roots,” Mr. Williams says. “This is the kind of work I really want to be doing. Giving our clients a voice and helping them achieve the justice they deserve.”
“When working with a client or a victim of a crime, the most important thing is gaining their trust,” Mr. Williams states. “The entire legal process only works when they trust you. The more comfortable our clients feel opening up to us about what happened to them, the easier it is to process the case.”
He continues, “You want your clients to give you a full account of what happened. Particularly in cases of sexual abuse, assault, and extreme violence, you have to be careful in your approach. You need all the facts, but you also need to be respectful of the trauma they’ve experienced.”
Mr. Williams is from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. When he was growing up, a close family member was a victim of a homicide. Several years later, Mr. Williams landed a summer job working in the equivalent of the District Attorney’s Office in the Virgin Islands.
While he was there, he witnessed firsthand the legal proceedings and efforts of the justice system. This ultimately led to the conviction of the very person who had killed his family member. “I knew for sure this was the kind of work I wanted to do,” Mr. Williams declares. “That experience sealed the deal.”
For three years, Mr. Williams served as assistant district attorney at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office in White Plains, New York. “This is exactly the kind of position I was aiming for when I decided to go to law school,” Mr. Williams explains.
“I wanted to handle criminal cases. I wanted to help victims and do everything in my legal power to bring about justice for them. And part of what that means is seeing perpetrators held accountable for their violent, criminal actions,” he emphasizes.
Mr. Williams oversaw the litigation process from inception to trial. He litigated jury trials and non-jury trials, and played a key role in criminal hearings. He was instrumental in determining whether criminal charges would be filed and what those charges would be.
Mr. Williams has also worked as an associate attorney for a law firm handling insurance claims. He conducted discovery through depositions, witness interviews, and written documents. He also participated in court conferences and settlement negotiations.
Before joining there, Mr. Williams served as an associate attorney at a business law firm. While there, he prepared legal motions and other documents, conducted depositions, and attended court appearances.
As a law clerk at the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Williams offered his assistance during several terms: summer 2014, spring 2015 (major drug offenses), and fall 2015 – spring 2016 (Juvenile Division). He litigated traffic and juvenile delinquency trials, conducted research, and composed documents.
He was a summer associate in 2015 at a law firm handling criminal defense and personal injury. While there, Mr. Williams drafted legal documents for clients accused of crimes such driving under the influence (DUI), rape, felonious assault, and domestic violence.
During the summer of 2013, he worked as an intern in the Office of the Clerk in the Supreme Court of the United States Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. While there, he assisted in the record keeping of important court documents. He also gained an understanding of the processes and procedures to have a case brought to the appellate level.
Mr. Williams is licensed to practice law in the state of New York. He earned his J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland, Ohio, and his B.A. in history from Albright College in Reading, Pennsylvania.
Outside the office, Mr. Williams enjoys exploring different restaurants and attending special events and concerts with his friends. He also loves spending time with his two cats.
Wayne A. Williams will be happy to review your case.