R. Scott Williams

Birmingham, Alabama
Telephone: 205-254-1435
Fax: 205-324-1133
Email: rsw [at] hsy [dot] com
Assistant: Rebecca Shariett, ras@hsy.com, 205-834-9750
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Scott Williams concentrates his practice in bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors' rights and related commercial litigation. He has represented debtors and creditors in a variety of complex bankruptcy cases, and also has extensive experience representing parties in complex commercial litigation.

Mr. Williams brings to his practice substantial experience in government. From 1988 - 1992, he served as Counsel to United States Senator Howell T. Heflin on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice, and also served as Legislative Liaison to the Federal Courts Study Committee in 1989 - 1990. While serving with Senator Heflin, Mr. Williams played a significant role in drafting the United States Bankruptcy Code Amendments enacted in 1995. In addition, during 1992 - 1993, Mr. Williams was Law Clerk to United States District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn, Northern District of Alabama.

Mr. Williams is active in the bankruptcy bar on the local and national levels.  He served as a contributing editor to Collier on Bankruptcy, and as co-author of Bankruptcy Litigation Manual:  What Civil Litigators Need to Know (American Bankruptcy Institute 2007). He is a frequent lecturer and author on bankruptcy and commercial law topics.  In 2007, Mr. Williams became the first practicing lawyer from Alabama to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute.  He serves as Co-Chair of the ABI Litigation Skills Symposium.  Mr. Williams has been recognized in Alabama Super Lawyers.

Mr. Williams is also active in community affairs. He served as President of the Homewood, Alabama, City School Board. In addition, he is active in coaching youth sports and in his church, Trinity United Methodist.

Admitted to Practice:  Alabama

University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign (B.A., 1985)

University of Alabama (J.D., 1988) (Student Works Editor, Journal of the Legal Profession, 1987 - 1988)

Collier on Bankruptcy (15th Ed. Rev.), Chapters 501 and 502 (2005); Contributing Editor 

Bankruptcy Litigation Manual:  What Civil Litigators Need to Know (American Bankruptcy Institute, 2007) (Co-Author)

"Litigation Skills in Bankruptcy: Practical Tips for the Bankruptcy Practitioner", 31st Annual Seminar of the Mississippi Bankruptcy Conference, December 2011

"Art of Persuations:  Trial Techniques to Win Your Case", 8th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute/Tulane University Law School Litigation Skills Symposium, 2009

"When Things Go Bad:  An Overview of Bankruptcy", Alabama Society of CPAs, 32nd Annual Sandestin Continuing Professional Education Conference, 2008

"Bankruptcy Litigation for Non-Bankruptcy Lawyers", Birmingham Bar Association, 2008

"Art of Persuasion/Trial Techniques to Win Your Case" Tulane University Law School Litigation Skills Symposium, 2005

"Mock Presentation with an Evidentiary Focus on Privileges: Lawyer/Client, Fifth Amendment, Waiver, Trade Secrets, Financial Privacy, Turnover, & Alternatives", American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Spring Meeting, 2005

"Proposed Exemptions in Alabama" Cumberland School of Law Annual Bankruptcy Seminar, 2003

"Nuts and Bolts of Effective Bankruptcy Trial Practice" American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Spring Meeting, 2003

  • American Bar Association
  • Alabama State Bar
  • Birmingham Bar Association (Past President, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law Section; Past Member, Executive Committee)
  • American Bankruptcy Institute (Board of Directors, 2007 - ; Past Board Member, ABI Southeast Regional Conference; Co-Chair, National Legislation Committee; Co-Chair, Tulane University Law School Litigation Skills Symposium)