Atty. Steven Ward Williams
Upon graduating from law school, where he received the Most Outstanding Advocate Award, Steve became a member of the U.S. Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps).
Profile Summary
About Steven Ward Williams at a glance
Steven Ward Williams is a personal injury, employment, product liability, and litigation attorney based in Syracuse, New York, practicing at Smith, Sovik, Kendrick & Sugnet PC. Educated at California Western School of Law (J.D., 1994). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Employment Law - Management (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Labor and Employment (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants (2026). Serands clients in Syracuse, NY and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Upon graduating from law school, where he received the Most Outstanding Advocate Award, Steve became a member of the U.S
- Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps (JAG Corps)
- He served as a prosecutor and later became the lead prosecutor at Mayport Naval Station in Mayport, Florida, which involved his supervising other attorneys and their support staff in addition to trying cases
- As a prosecutor, he handled some of the Navy's most high profile cases and tried over seventy cases to verdict
- He subsequently served as an attorney for Rear Admiral F. M. Dirren, Jr., where he advised the Admiral and his staff on a wide range of issues, including but not limited to employment matters, incident investigations, criminal investigations, civil claims and environmental issues
- He subsequently served as a Special Assistant U.S
- Attorney, where he defended lawsuits filed against the federal government by civilians claiming to have been injured on Navy property or due to the Navy's alleged negligence
- Steve ultimately reached the rank of Lieutenant Commander
- Steve served on active duty from 1990 to 1995.After completing his active duty service, Steve joined Smith, Sovik, Kendrick & Sugnet, P.C., in Syracuse, N.Y., as a litigation associate
- He quickly proved his worth as an experienced and talented litigator
- He was made partner in 1997
- Over his years at Smith, Sovik, Steve has handled a wide range of legal claims, including but not limited to products liability, employment law, commercial litigation, personal injury, defamation, professional malpractice, contracts, automobile accidents and construction cases
- He has been repeatedly recognized for his excellent handling of product liability, employment and general liability matters
- In 2008, Steve represented a foreign business man who was defamed in the U.S
- Steve tried the case in federal district court in New York City and earned the largest defamation jury verdict in our nation's history ($188 million)
- Steve has been a guest on the O'Reilly Factor and has appeared on local television programs, such as Hour CNY, regarding legal issues of the day
- In addition to being a litigation attorney, Steve handles other legal matters, such as contract negotiations (for individuals and companies) and appeals
- He regularly appears before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the various NYS appellate courts
- The NY Law Journal described one of Steve's successful appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals as having made new law (Alfaro v
- Wal Mart)
- In addition to appearing in courts throughout NYS and elsewhere, Steve regularly appears before various fair employment agencies such as the EEOC and the NYS Division of Human Rights
- He has vast experience in both defending and prosecuting claims brought under various federal employment statutes, such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), the ADEA, ADA and the FMLA, and the NYS Human Rights Law
- Steve has been consistently named as one of the Best Lawyers in America, and has received various other awards and recognitions
- Further, he has achieved Martindale-Hubble's highest attorney rating for ability and ethics (AV)
Practice Areas Explained
Steven Ward Williams's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Steven Ward Williams handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Personal injury attorneys help accident victims recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain & suffering. Most work on contingency — no fee unless you win.
Steven Ward Williams is one of 264,852 personal injury attorneys indexed nationally. Browse personal injury attorneys in New York →
Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.
Steven Ward Williams is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in New York →
Steven Ward Williams is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in New York →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Steven Ward Williams is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in New York →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New York
Practicing law in New York. Legal matters in New York are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Syracuse are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New York state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New York brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New York courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New York attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Syracuse or all attorneys in New York.
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