J. Colby Williams

Education:

Bachelor of Arts - University of Arizona

Juris Doctorate - Arizona State University

Mr. Williams is a co-founder and senior partner of Campbell & Williams.  Over the course of his twenty-eight year career, he has handled numerous precedent setting cases in the fields of complex commercial litigation, corporate governance, products liability, and First Amendment Law.  In 2015 and 2018, Mr. Williams was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers for “Bet-The-Company Litigation,” and earned the same distinction for “First Amendment” law in 2019.  Mr. Williams has also held an AV “Preeminent” ranking for nearly two decades, which is the highest rating for legal skill and ethical practices designated by Martindale-Hubbell.  He has likewise been included in Chambers USA, Commercial Litigation, Mountain States Super Lawyers, and is a long-standing member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Mr. Williams’ appellate practice in the above fields has resulted in numerous published opinions.  Representative examples include: 

  • American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. v. Miller, 550 F.3d 786 (9th Cir. 2008) (reversing district court’s denial of attorney’s fees to six media corporations that had prevailed in § 1983 action) 

  • Canarelli v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct., 136 Nev. 247, 464 P.3d 114 (2020), (holding as a matter of first impression that Nevada does not recognize the fiduciary exception to the attorney-client privilege)

  • Gardner on Behalf of L.G. v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 133 Nev. 730, 405 P.3d 651 (2017) (finding that limited liability company members can be sued individually for personally participating in tortious acts and that alter ego doctrine applies to limited liability companies)

  • Stephens Media, LLC v. Eighth Jud. Dist. Ct., 125 Nev. 849, 221 P.3d 1240 (2009) (holding in matter of first impression that First Amendment’s guarantee of public access to criminal proceedings extends to juror questionnaires) 

Mr. Williams’ recent work at the trial court level includes:

  • Joey Gilbert v. Joseph Lombardo, et al., (defeated contest challenging results of 2022 Republican Primary Election for Nevada Governor)

  • Tablemax Corporation v. Ariel Z. Emanuel, et al., (successfully defended former controlling shareholder against company’s tort action seeking unspecified damages)

  • Stephen A. Wynn v. Karen Wells, et al. (obtained preliminary injunction against Massachusetts Gaming Commission and its agents precluding use of materials protected by common interest privilege in gaming investigation)

  • Alvogen, Inc., et al., v. State of Nevada, et al., (represented drug manufacturer Sandoz, Inc. in action to prevent State’s use of company drug in lethal injection of inmate)

  • Gardner v. Henderson Water Park, LLC, (part of trial team that secured settlement against water park on behalf of catastrophically injured minor)

Mr. Williams is a member of the State Bar of Nevada, the Clark County Bar Association, the Media Law Resource Center, and formerly sat on the Board of Trustees for the Nevada Museum of Art.  He grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, and now enjoys skiing and hiking in the mountains surrounding Ketchum, Idaho with his wife and their families.