Michael Williams is a partner in the Jackson, Mississippi, office, where he has developed a diverse state and federal court litigation practice. Since joining the firm in 2015, Michael has litigated claims involving mass torts, commercial contract disputes, real estate transactions, and employment matters. Michael also has experience in product litigation, representing clients in the automotive, heavy equipment, consumer and recreational product arenas. He is prepared to protect his clients’ interests at every stage, having successfully tried cases to verdict, as well as obtained numerous dismissals at the motion to dismiss and summary judgment stage.

Michael also assists clients in the protection and use of their intellectual property rights, and in the litigation of various technology-related disputes involving patent, trademarks, and trade secret rights. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Michael has an active patent and trademark prosecution practice, assisting clients in developing, protecting, managing, and exploiting their intellectual property. 

Michael is also actively involved with a variety of entrepreneur organizations, acting as an advisor and mentor to early stage startups. This involvement keeps him informed of the issues and challenges that startups face and helps him guide those businesses as they grow and mature. Michael draws from his experience as both a litigator and prosecutor in developing comprehensive and cost-effective IP strategies. His prosecution experience helps him develop litigation strategies in defending intellectual property assets, such as patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, and attacking third-party intellectual property. Similarly, his experience in litigation helps him prosecute intellectual property applications in a way that minimizes potential risks when they are later enforced.

In addition to his law practice, Michael remains active in his community and bar organizations. Among these activities, he serves as special counsel to the Character and Fitness Committee of the Mississippi Bar, on the Executive Committee of the Intellectual Property Section, on the Board of Directors of the 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc., and currently co-chairs the Membership Subcommittee in the ABA’s Section of Intellectual Property Litigation.

Michael received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University in Biological Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering and earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law. In law school, Michael served as an associate notes and comments editor for the Mississippi Law Journal, was vice president of the Black Law Student Association, was a member of the University of Mississippi Moot Court Board, and was voted as “Member of the Year” for his accomplishments as a member of the University of Mississippi Trial Advocacy Board.

Bar Admissions

• Mississippi, 2013
• Texas, 2024

• United States District Court, Northern District of Mississippi
• United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi
• United States Patent & Trademark Office

Education

• University of Mississippi School of Law, J.D., 2013, Associate Notes and Comments Editor, Mississippi Law Journal; University of Mississippi Moot Court Board; Trial Advocacy Board; Member of the Year, Trial Advocacy Board
• Mississippi State University, B.S. Biological Engineering, 2010, Dean's List