Gregory M. Williams

Named by Benchmark Litigation as "International Arbitration Litigator of the Year" in 2023, Greg heads Wiley’s Global Disputes Practice. His practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and arbitration and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). His diverse experience includes serving as lead counsel in high-stakes litigation and arbitration matters involving a wide-range of claims cutting across several industries.

Greg’s matters are frequently multifaceted, with parallel or related proceedings in multiple fora. For example, Greg represents global defense contractor, BAE Systems, in a dispute with the South Korean Government relating to a $2.5 billion program to upgrade Korea’s fleet of F16 fighter jets. Greg obtained summary judgment in a U.S. suit declaring that Korea’s claims impermissibly undermined U.S. national security interests. In so doing, he obtained the first-ever foreign anti-suit injunction against a foreign sovereign in the history of U.S. jurisprudence. Further, he convinced the Fourth Circuit to affirm the District Court’s decision, despite an amicus brief by the Executive Branch challenging BAE’s national security arguments. Greg advised BAE with respect to the parallel Korean suit. The Korean Supreme Court recently affirmed BAE's victory in that action as well.

Greg successfully represented FuelCell Energy, a publicly-traded, clean energy company, in a wide ranging dispute with an international energy company concerning exclusive rights to FuelCell’s technology in Asia and over $1 billion in claims and counterclaims. The dispute featured parallel arbitrations seated in London and Singapore, three arbitrations seated in Korea, a books-and-records demand in Delaware Chancery Court, and a securities claim in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. After a bench trial, Greg obtained a landmark decision for FuelCell in the Delaware action. Since then, the parties entered into a settlement agreement confirming FuelCell’s exclusive rights to market its technology in Asia and includes a multi-million dollar order for FuelCell’s modules. All claims against FuelCell were dismissed with prejudice and without compensation.

Greg's FCPA experience runs the gamut, including managing world-wide internal investigations; conducting due diligence on international agents, joint venture partners, and other third parties; and designing corporate anti-corruption compliance and training programs.

Greg also serves as a member of the Wiley Management Committee.

Representative Matters

Litigation and Arbitration:

• Represents Guinean-American company in international arbitration against global aluminum companies over bauxite shipping rights.
• Successfully represented clean energy company in wide-ranging dispute with international energy company, involving multiple international arbitration and U.S. court proceedings.
• Represents aerospace company in dispute concerning liability for environmental costs stemming from asset purchase agreement.
• Represents leading real estate company against South Korean construction company in multi-billion dollar international arbitration and related U.S. litigation over ownership rights in newly-constructed, smart city
• Successfully represented defense contractor in U.S. litigation over dispute with the Republic of Korea relating to terminated agreement to upgrade F-16 fighters (“KF-16 Program”) and currently advises contractor in parallel Korean case.
• Successfully represented defense contractor against claims by subcontractor in KF-16 Program in Delaware Chancery and Superior court actions.
• Successfully represented multinational company in dispute with multiple pension funds based on allegation that company sought to evade or avoid pension liabilities.
• Successfully represented NTP, Inc., in patent infringement suits regarding wireless email products and systems.
• Successfully represented Alstom SA in a worldwide securities class action.
• Successfully represented a South American pharmaceutical company in an international arbitration involving a dispute under a supply agreement and related patent issues.
• Successfully represented a European satellite operating company as claimant against a major European aerospace company in international arbitration involving claims and counterclaims exceeding $150 million.

Anti-Corruption:

• Represented a leading international logistics company and government contractor on a wide range of anti-corruption matters spanning the globe, including conducting multiple internal investigations and due diligence in connection with mergers & acquisitions and third parties.
• Advised a private equity company with respect to investments in portfolio companies in countries across Africa and Asia.
• Advised a leading franchisor with respect to FCPA matters in the UAE, Russia, and China.
• Represented a NYSE-traded company in connection with an internal investigation relating to business in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa and related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) inquiries.
• Represented a Fortune 500 company in connection with FCPA advice, due diligence, and investigations regarding business throughout the Middle East – including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, and Qatar – and China, Central Asia, and Nigeria, among other regions.

Affiliations

• Board Member, Osgood Center for International Studies
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce, International Policy Committee
• Member, Steering Group, International Litigation Committee, ABA Section of International Law (2016)
• Member, International Bribery and Corruption Task Force, United States Council for International Business (2016)

Recognitions

• Named to the Lawdragon Guide as a "Leading Global Litigator" (2023)
• Named by Benchmark Litigation as "International Arbitration Litigator of the Year" (2023)
• Shortlisted by Benchmark Litigation for "International Arbitration Litigator of the Year" (2023)
• Included in Benchmark Litigation guide as a "Litigation Star" (2023)
• Recognized as one of the nation’s top “Litigation Trailblazers” by The National Law Journal (2019)
• Named to Law360's International Arbitration Editorial Advisory Board (2021)
• Named a Thomson Reuters Stand-out Lawyer (formerly Acritas Star Lawyer) (2018-2022)
• Received 2015 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing