John M. Williams

John Williams is a native of Harlan County, Kentucky, and has extensive litigation experience in federal and state courts throughout Kentucky. Although his practice is primarily in mineral, energy, and commercial litigation, John has experience in Fair Credit Reporting Act defense, personal injury, construction claims, architect and engineer defense, and collection matters. His experience in mineral law includes drafting and reviewing lease agreements, contract mining agreements, and other transactions, as well as litigation of contract disputes, boundary disputes, and personal injury matters. In the commercial litigation area, John has represented parties in business torts, lender liability, and a wide variety of contract disputes. John also advises small to medium-sized businesses on a broad range of corporate matters, including business organization, governance, and transactions.

John represents numerous coal companies in mine safety matters before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. He regularly represents operators in special investigations conducted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and advises these clients on compliance matters. He is also a frequent speaker at local and national seminars on mine safety matters.

John serves on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Kentucky, Inc. and served as Board Chair for two years. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program Foundation, Inc., and a past member of the Kentucky State Corrections Commission. John was also a member of the board of directors of Shepherd’s House, Inc. from 2019 to 2025. John was also on the Board of the Lexington Children’s Museum, Inc. for almost ten years, during which he served as Board Chair for five years. He also received the 2015 Community Service Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky. John is also a volunteer counselor for the Kentucky Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program.