
John B. Williams, III
Counsel
Biography
John B. Williams, III provides enforcement and litigation counsel to financial services companies and individuals navigating internal investigations, government investigations, and complex civil litigation, with a particular emphasis on consumer finance matters and electronic discovery.
As Counsel in Buckley LLP’s Washington, D.C., office, Mr. Williams has represented clients before the Department of Justice (DOJ), Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), and other state regulators, including state attorneys general. He is particularly focused on the compliance issues surrounding government-insured mortgages and student lending, and works with his clients to conduct compliance and consumer protection reviews to mitigate risk.
Mr. Williams has extensive experience assisting clients in matters involving complex electronic discovery issues, such as large-scale document collection, developing effective document retention policies, and utilizing cutting-edge technology (including technology-assisted review) to reduce review and production costs.
His notable work includes:
- Defending some of the nation’s largest mortgage originators and servicers against litigation brought under the False Claims Act (FCA)
- Representing one of the largest banks in the United States in multiple investigations brought by the DOJ and Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) regarding lender-placed insurance, FCA liability, and down-payment assistance programs
- Representing a client in complex civil litigation and a related DOJ Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation
- Assisting a variety of institutions across the breadth of their investigations needs, from internal investigations to large-scale government investigations
Mr. Williams has an active pro bono practice and has represented clients before the U.S. Parole Commission, has handled multiple matters with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, and is a founding member of Greater D.C. Diaper Bank, a local nonprofit where he currently sits as a board member. He also coaches Capitol Hill Little League baseball teams and serves on his local Advisory Neighborhood Commission as a committee chair.
Prior to joining Buckley, Mr. Williams was a litigation associate at Venable LLP, where he represented clients in complex commercial litigation and arbitration.
Mr. Williams received his J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law (summa cum laude, Order of the Coif) in 2007. During law school, he served as a clerk in the Office of the Public Defender in Montgomery County, Maryland. Mr. Williams received his B.A. from Vanderbilt University (magna cum laude) in 2004.
In The News
23 Buckley Sandler Attorneys Named To 2016 Washington, DC Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. We are proud...
In The News
Publications
"Wearables present new realm of legal risks for teams" by Elizabeth E. McGinn and John B. Williams, III (Sports Business Journal)
Reaching peak athletic performance is an increasingly scientific and quantitative pursuit, and professional sports franchises, which have tremendous financial and emotional motivation to be the best, are at the forefront in gathering as much data about their assets as possible. FitBits, Apple...
Articles"FTC v. D-Link Systems and the internet of things" by Elizabeth E. McGinn, John B. Williams, and Christopher M. Walczyszyn (Westlaw)
As businesses expand the availability of internet-connected devices, Buckley Sandler LLP attorneys Elizabeth McGinn, John Williams and Christopher Walczyszyn address the Federal Trade Commission’s role in regulating and enforcing “internet of things” device security to protect consumers’ data...
Articles“Social media in the current enforcement landscape,” by Elizabeth E. McGinn, John B. Williams, and Timothy Coley (Banking Exchange)
Perhaps no aspect of the internet has grown so broadly in the past decade as social media. From its infancy at sites like MySpace, Friendster, and “TheFacebook” (originally open only to students at select colleges), to the current industry leaders of Facebook (now open to all, and touting more than...
Articles
Awards and Recognitions
Awards & Recognitions
- Super Lawyers 2020 Rising Star: Banking, Consumer Law, E-Discovery
- Super Lawyers 2019 Rising Star: Banking, Consumer Law, E-Discovery
- Super Lawyers 2018 Rising Star: Banking, Consumer Law, E-Discovery
- Buckley 2017 Distinguished Lawyer Award for Exemplary Pro Bono Service
- Super Lawyers 2017 Rising Star: Banking, Consumer Law, E-Discovery
- Super Lawyers 2016 Rising Star: Banking, Consumer Law, E-Discovery
- Super Lawyers 2015 Rising Star: Banking
- Super Lawyers 2014 Rising Star: Banking
Education
- J.D., American University, 2007 (summa cum laude, Order of the Coif)
- B.A., Vanderbilt University, 2004
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan