William J. Smith

GOES BY: "Bill" or "B.J."

Georgia attorney William J. Smith represents clients in employment law, personal injury law, business/commercial law, and real estate law. William also represents victims of civil rights violations, including individuals who have been victims of excessive force by law enforcement.

William has obtained numerous settlements and judgments for his clients and has successfully litigated cases in state and federal trial courts throughout the State, in Georgia appellate courts, and in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. For example, in 2016, William successfully represented a homeowner in the Georgia Court of Appeals and obtained a reversal of the trial court's order dismissing the homeowner's claim for wrongful foreclosure and for violation of Georgia's RICO statute. See Mbigi v. Wells Fargo Home Mortg., 336 Ga. App. 316 (2016). The Georgia Real Property Law Institute described that case as a case that "everyone will know by one name."

William received his Juris Doctor from Mercer University's Walter F. George School of Law. William also received a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University's Stetson School of Business.

William received his undergraduate degree from Duke University, where he was a member of the football team.

Prior to opening SMITH LAW, William worked at a plaintiffs' law firm representing individuals in foreclosure, title and eviction litigation, landlord tenant matters, and employment law; and at a defense firm representing banks, lenders, loan servicers, and other insured parties in title, foreclosure, eviction, and bankruptcy litigation.

William is married to Louise. They are the proud parents of two children, Alana and William Smith. William enjoys spending time with his family, playing with the family dog, and rooting for the Duke Blue Devils.

Memberships

• American Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, Labor and Employment Law Committee
• Atlanta Bar Association
• National Employment Lawyers Association (Georgia Chapter)

Education

• J.D., Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University
  • ABA Award for Excellence in Labor & Employment Law
  • Robert F. Wagner National Labor & Employment Law Moot Court Competition (participant and coach)
• M.B.A. (magna cum laude), Stetson School of Business, Mercer University
• B.A., History and Religion, Duke University

Admitted

• All Magistrate, State, and Superior courts in the State of Georgia
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia
• Court of Appeals of Georgia
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals