HENRY WILLIAMS
HENRY WILLIAMS
Partner
Fairfield
Mr. Williams obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1995. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1999. He was the recipient of the Alexis J. Perrilat Memorial Scholarship. He was admitted to the Bar in 2002.
Mr. Williams specializes in insurance defense litigation focusing on personal injury, auto, premises, special investigation unit and multiple claims investigative unit litigation. He initially joined the McNamara Law Firm in 2002 at the beginning of his legal career. He rejoined the firm in 2021 following his tenure as an employee of the Law Department of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company with the in-house firm of Tiza Serrano Thompson & Associates in Sacramento. He represents clients in all phases of litigation from before a lawsuit is filed through trial. Mr. Williams has achieved successful verdicts and awards at trial and at arbitration.
Mr. Williams is a member of the State Bar of California, the Solano County Bar Association, the Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California, and he has been a member of the Alameda and Sacramento County Bar Associations, a member and Board of Director for the Solano County Bar Association, and a guest lecturer for the Media Law Course at Sonoma State University, 2001, 2002, and 2009.
In his spare time he is a member of the University of California Santa Cruz Black Men’s Alliance alumni organization, and he is a volunteer with the Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster.
EDUCATION
University of San Francisco School of Law – Juris Doctor, May 1999
University of California at Santa Cruz, B.A. Degree, 1995
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California
McNAMARA, AMBACHER, WHEELER, HIRSIG & GRAY, LLP, Fairfield, California
Partner, Insurance Defense – September 2022 to Present
- Specializes in insurance defense litigation focusing on personal injury, auto, premises, special investigation unit and multiple claims investigative unit litigation.
- Represents clients in all phases of litigation from before a lawsuit is filed through trial.
- Achieved successful verdicts and awards at trial and at arbitration.
- Demonstrated discretion, political acumen and interpersonal skills in complex and dynamic work setting.
TIZA SERRANO THOMPSON & ASSOCIATES, Sacramento, California
Associate, Member Law Department State Farm – November 2014 to September 2022
- Claims litigation counsel for State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins., Co.
TOSCHI, SIDRAN, COLLINS & DOYLE, Pleasanton, California
Senior Associate, Insurance Defense – December 2012 to November 2014
- Managed SIU and MCIU insurance defense litigation claim files in the areas of automobile personal injury/property from inception to trial.
- Analyzed, evaluated and prepared defense strategies and reports for principals.
- Prepared legal pleadings, including answers, discovery, motions, orders, judgments, legal briefs and trial management conference statements.
- Argued civil motions.
- Appeared at court mandated conferences, including case management, issue/trial management, and mandatory settlement conferences.
- Employed alternative dispute resolution as appropriate.
BENNETT, SAMUELSEN, REYNOLDS & ALLARD, PC, Alameda, California
Associate, Insurance Defense – January 2010 to December 2012
- Worked up litigation cases in the areas of automobile, homeowners and public entity personal injury and property damage insurance defense from inception through bench trial.
- Interpreted and applied laws, court decisions and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of tort cases.
- Engaged civil discovery, including pre-trial and trial.
- Dictated legal briefs and correspondence.
- Represented clients at court mandated conferences, including case management, issue/readiness, trial management, and mandatory settlement.
- Experienced with alternative dispute resolution.
McNAMARA, DODGE, NEY, BEATTY, SLATTERY, PFALZER, BORGES & BROTHERS, LLP, Fairfield, California
Associate, Insurance Defense – December 2002 to January 2010
- Defended first and third party personal injury and property damage automobile cases from initial assignment through trial management conferences.
- Prepared initial and updated case status reports, including litigation plan and case evaluation for principal insurer.
- Engaged non-expert and expert discovery, including law and motion practice.
- Resolved matters through mediation and arbitration.
PRIVATE PRACTICE, Cotati, California
Solo Practitioner – June 2002 to December 2002
- Advised and counseled clients regarding basic testamentary documents;
- Drafted wills, trusts, memorandum of trusts, advanced health care directives and durable powers of attorney.
SELF HELP ACCESS CENTER, SONOMA COUNTY LEGAL AID, Santa Rosa, California
Legal Volunteer – December 2001to December 2002
Assisted clients with preparation of legal forms in the areas of uncontested dissolutions, child support modification and answers to unlawful detainers.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Solano County Bar Association:
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada
Have been a member of the Alameda and Sacramento County Bar Associations; a member and Board of Director for the Solano County Bar Association; and a guest lecturer for the Media Law Course at Sonoma State University, 2001, 2002, and 2009.
HONORS/AWARDS
Alexis J. Perrilat Scholar
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Member of the University of California Santa Cruz Black Men’s Alliance alumni organization, and a volunteer with the Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster
TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS
2018 – Sacramento Superior Court; J. Eugene Balonon; PI MVA; Plaintiff asked for an award in excess of $1M. The jury awarded $2,500 for past non-economic damages.
Experience
McNAMARA, AMBACHER, WHEELER, HIRSIG & GRAY, LLP, Fairfield, California
Partner, Insurance Defense – September 2022 to Present
- Specializes in insurance defense litigation focusing on personal injury, auto, premises, special investigation unit and multiple claims investigative unit litigation.
- Represents clients in all phases of litigation from before a lawsuit is filed through trial.
- Achieved successful verdicts and awards at trial and at arbitration.
- Demonstrated discretion, political acumen and interpersonal skills in complex and dynamic work setting.
TIZA SERRANO THOMPSON & ASSOCIATES, Sacramento, California
Associate, Member Law Department State Farm – November 2014 to September 2022
- Claims litigation counsel for State Farm Mutual Automobile Ins., Co.
TOSCHI, SIDRAN, COLLINS & DOYLE, Pleasanton, California
Senior Associate, Insurance Defense – December 2012 to November 2014
- Managed SIU and MCIU insurance defense litigation claim files in the areas of automobile personal injury/property from inception to trial.
- Analyzed, evaluated and prepared defense strategies and reports for principals.
- Prepared legal pleadings, including answers, discovery, motions, orders, judgments, legal briefs and trial management conference statements.
- Argued civil motions.
- Appeared at court mandated conferences, including case management, issue/trial management, and mandatory settlement conferences.
- Employed alternative dispute resolution as appropriate.
BENNETT, SAMUELSEN, REYNOLDS & ALLARD, PC, Alameda, California
Associate, Insurance Defense – January 2010 to December 2012
- Worked up litigation cases in the areas of automobile, homeowners and public entity personal injury and property damage insurance defense from inception through bench trial.
- Interpreted and applied laws, court decisions and other legal authorities for use in the preparation of tort cases.
- Engaged civil discovery, including pre-trial and trial.
- Dictated legal briefs and correspondence.
- Represented clients at court mandated conferences, including case management, issue/readiness, trial management, and mandatory settlement.
- Experienced with alternative dispute resolution.
McNAMARA, DODGE, NEY, BEATTY, SLATTERY, PFALZER, BORGES & BROTHERS, LLP, Fairfield, California
Associate, Insurance Defense – December 2002 to January 2010
- Defended first and third party personal injury and property damage automobile cases from initial assignment through trial management conferences.
- Prepared initial and updated case status reports, including litigation plan and case evaluation for principal insurer.
- Engaged non-expert and expert discovery, including law and motion practice.
- Resolved matters through mediation and arbitration.
PRIVATE PRACTICE, Cotati, California
Solo Practitioner – June 2002 to December 2002
- Advised and counseled clients regarding basic testamentary documents;
- Drafted wills, trusts, memorandum of trusts, advanced health care directives and durable powers of attorney.
SELF HELP ACCESS CENTER, SONOMA COUNTY LEGAL AID, Santa Rosa, California
Legal Volunteer – December 2001to December 2002
Assisted clients with preparation of legal forms in the areas of uncontested dissolutions, child support modification and answers to unlawful detainers.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Solano County Bar Association:
Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California & Nevada
Have been a member of the Alameda and Sacramento County Bar Associations; a member and Board of Director for the Solano County Bar Association; and a guest lecturer for the Media Law Course at Sonoma State University, 2001, 2002, and 2009.
HONORS/AWARDS
Alexis J. Perrilat Scholar
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Member of the University of California Santa Cruz Black Men’s Alliance alumni organization, and a volunteer with the Napa Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster
TRIALS/CASE AND SETTLEMENTS
2018 – Sacramento Superior Court; J. Eugene Balonon; PI MVA; Plaintiff asked for an award in excess of $1M. The jury awarded $2,500 for past non-economic damages.
