All About David Williams The Vanderbilt General Counsel And Information About Student Life Division, Large-Scale Legal Issues, Ohio State University Law Program, National Association Of College And University Attorneys And More.

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Law Integral to Society, says Vanderbilt General Counsel
[By Jen Woods]
With about 1 million practicing attorneys in the United States, it is often argued that there are too many lawyers.
However, according to one attorney, quality is more important than quantity. “We don’t have enough good lawyers,” said
David Williams, Vice Chancellor, General Counsel, and Secretary of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
Williams, who has spent the last 10 years The University of Vanderbilt is one of the university’s scientific researchers should
analyzing transition governments such as larger colleges in the country, with more have been named on the patent for Cialis, a
South Africa’s, said that the law is an integral than 11,000 students. As the general counsel drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. The
part of society. “One of the major threads of such a big institution, Williams must be lawsuit was filed in July 2005, and a trial date
that holds us together is adherence to the prepared to handle large-scale legal issues has been set for March 2007.
law,” he added. from time to time.
Williams, who earned a B.S. and M.S. from
Williams first became interested in the law For instance, one of the major cases he Northern Michigan University and an M.B.A.
midway through college, and as soon as he worked on involved litigation with the United from the University of Detroit, is also a
enrolled in law school, he knew he had made Daughters of the Confederacy. In 2002, the professor at the law school. He teaches
the right decision. On the “first day of law Tennessee division of the United Daughters and conducts research on issues pertaining
school, I knew this was what I wanted to do,” of the Confederacy sued Vanderbilt to sports law, education and law, higher
said Williams, who earned his J.D. from the University for deciding to remove the word education administration and law, and
University of Detroit and his LL.M. in Taxation “confederate” from a building the group discrimination law and education.
from New York University School of Law. helped pay for. However, the lawsuit did not
have a positive outcome for Vanderbilt, and in “I like teaching pretty much everything,”
Today, Williams still feels passionate about 2005, the university announced that it would Williams said. But if he had to name
his career choice. “I love the whole area of not change the building’s name. his favorite class, it would probably be
the law,” he said. “Introduction to Tax,” a course he has not
Currently, Williams is involved with litigation taught for six or seven years.
As General Counsel of Vanderbilt University, against ICOS, arguing that three of the
Williams oversees the 11-member legal Another class he enjoys teaching is
department, as well as the office of risk “Introduction to Law.” He said it has
management, the university’s compliance Advice to Young Lawyers been fulfilling “teaching kids who had no
and conflict of interest functions, and the conception or who had misconceptions about
operations of the university’s board of trust. “You have to be well-versed in the law.” The last time he taught the course,
In addition, the division of student life and understanding the business of your there were only 15 students in the class, and
the department of athletics also report to client,” Williams said. he finds it “remarkable” that about 10 to 11
Williams. of them still keep in touch.
“You need to understand you’re not
the talent,” he added. When you are Williams has also taught at the law
“It’s a job where you never get bored
the general counsel of a university, schools of the University of Detroit, Capital
because you’re always doing something
the faculty members are the talent. University, and Ohio State University.
new,” Williams said. He handles everything
Unlike lawyers in private practice, In addition, he directed the Ohio State
from employment issues, including contract
in-house lawyers are rarely in the University Law Program in Oxford, England,
negotiations, to risk management. On any
spotlight. Instead “lawyers are and was elected Outstanding Law Professor
given day he is prepared to handle almost
clearly support people,” he said. at both the University of Detroit and Ohio
anything (except for criminal and domestic
State University.
issues).
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Williams is a member of the state bars of the treasurer of the Nashville Symphony’s
1. What do you do for fun? Tennessee and Michigan, as well as the board of directors and the chair of its finance
District of Columbia Bar. He is an active committee. He is a board member of the
A. Read, watch movies, travel, and
member of the American Corporate Counsel YMCA of Middle Tennessee, Adventure
spend time with my wife and kids.
Association, the National Association of Science Center, Boys and Girls Club, OASIS,
2. What CD was most recently in your College and University Attorneys (NACUA), and W.O. Smith Music School, Second Harvest,
CD player? the American Bar Association, as well as the 100 Black Men of Middle Tennessee, United
continuing legal education committees of both Way of Metropolitan Nashville, and the
A. A collection of Motown songs. the Nashville Bar Association and the NACUA. Nashville Rotary. He also coaches youth
basketball for the West Nashville Sports
3. What is the last book you read? Williams is also a member of the American
League and is a timer for the Nashville
Law Institute, an arbitrator for the National
Aquatic Club.
A. Innocent Man. Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and
a member of the Harry Phillips Inn of Court. ON THE NET
4. What are your favorite TV shows?
As a member of ABA’s business law section,
A. Frasier, The Sopranos, and anything Williams co-chairs the corporate counsel Vanderbilt University
on public TV. committee. He has served on a number of www.vanderbilt.edu
ABA-accreditation site visits to law schools,
5. Who are your role models? as well, and is a member of the membership Tennessee Bar Association
review committee of the Association of www.tba.org
A. My mother and Nelson Mandela.
American Law Schools (AALS).
Association of Corporate Counsel
Despite his busy schedule, Williams is active www.acca.com
in many community organizations. He is
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