Atty. Thomas M. Williams

• A Member of Stoll Keenon Ogden’s Louisville office since 1995, Tom serves as Co-Chair of the Arbitration & Mediation practice
• He is also part of the Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits practice
• Tom has earned multiple distinctions for his professional accomplishments and community contributions
• He is a past President of the Louisville Bar Association and has been recognized by Chambers USA as a “Leader in Kentucky.” According to the publication, he is “an extremely professional lawyer who treats each of his clients as if they’re number one.” In 2011, for his efforts in creating Thomas Merton Square and success in other civic endeavors, he was named Louisville Peacemaker of the Year by the Interfaith Paths to Peace
• Arbitration & Mediation: Tom approaches all disputes with the goal of securing a fair and equitable course of action and works to guide all parties to an agreement, without the expense and delay of litigation
• Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits: With more than 20 years of experience in this field, Tom offers a full scope of services that range from arbitration of collective bargaining agreements to counseling on workers’ compensation matters
• He is a frequent lecturer, trainer and writer on employment law topics

Public Benefit Corporation Services

• Tom advises existing Public Benefit Corporations on various aspects of governance and compliance
• He also occupies a unique position in the community that enables him to counsel new and existing businesses as they explore whether B Corporation status is appropriate for their needs
• Alcohol & Hospitality: Tom helps clients understand and navigate labor and employment matters specific to the beverage, hotel and travel industries
• Recognition • AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® • Best Lawyers®, Lawyer of the Year, 2016, 2020 • Best Lawyers®, Employment Law — Management, and Litigation — Labor and Employment, 2015-present • Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers®, 2017 • Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honoree, 2007-2022 • Chambers USA, Leading Lawyer for Business, Labor & Employment, 2014-2017 • Louisville Magazine Top Lawyer, Labor & Employment Law, 2012
• Labor & Employment Law-Defense, 2013 and 2014 • "Louisville Peacemaker of the Year" Award, 2011 • University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, Dean’s Service Award, 2009 • Advanced a local ordinance naming "Thomas Merton Square" in downtown Louisville, 2008 • "Spirit of Yes" Award from Leadership Louisville, 2003 • Award for Professional Excellence, Louisville Society for Human Resources Management, 2002 • Advanced congressional legislation creating an inscription at the Lincoln Memorial for Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech, 2000
• The inscription was dedicated on the 40th anniversary of the dream speech in August 2003
• Work Highlights Violations of Agreements and Restrictive Covenants SKO represented a provider of specialty patient care equipment that sued a consultant and its consulting business after an agreed upon Asset Purchase Agreement and Consulting Agreement’s restrictive covenants had been violated by the consultant
• The provider sued for both monetary damages and injunctive relief
• The Jefferson Circuit Court granted the provider’s motion for a temporary injunction against the consultant under the Consulting Agreement, but denied the motion for a temporary injunction against the consultant under the Asset Purchase Agreement
• Because the Asset Purchase Agreement provided greater injunctive protection, the provider filed an interlocutory appeal pursuant to CR 65.07
• The Kentucky Court of Appeals agreed with the provider that the Jefferson Circuit Court had erred in denying injunctive relief under the Asset Purchase Agreement, and reversed the Jefferson Circuit Court’s decision on that issue
• This was a notable decision because the standard of review for a party seeking interlocutory relief from a trial court’s decision to grant or deny a temporary injunction is a clear abuse of discretion

Related Practices

• Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits, Business Litigation, Appellate Kentucky Civil Rights Act & Disability Discrimination Successfully represented a company and one of its executives against claims by plaintiff for alleged disability discrimination, retaliation and intentional infliction of emotional distress
• SKO represented the company during investigations by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• After the EEOC found no wrongdoing, the plaintiff filed claims in the Pulaski Circuit Court
• After three years of litigation, we obtained summary judgment dismissing all claims
• SKO then successfully represented the company on appeal
• The Kentucky Court of Appeals affirmed the Pulaski Circuit Court's order dismissing all claims and denied the Plaintiff's petition for a rehearing

Related Practices

• Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits, Business Litigation News 118 SKO Attorneys Named to “2023 U.S
• News Best Lawyers® in America”, Aug. 18, 2022 SKO Attorneys Selected to 2022 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Jan. 6, 2022 77 STOLL KEENON OGDEN ATTORNEYS HONORED IN “BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA” 2022 Edition, Aug. 19, 2021 THOMAS M. WILLIAMS AND MICHAEL TIERNEY PRESENTED “SKO U” CLE ON WED., JUNE 16, 12 P.M
• EST, June 15, 2021 Member Tom Williams featured in video, Apr. 5, 2021 KENTUCKY SUPER LAWYERS RECOGNIZES 39 STOLL KEENON OGDEN ATTORNEYS, Dec. 11, 2020 73 Stoll Keenon Ogden PLLC attorneys are recognized in the 2021 edition of the Best Lawyers in America®, one of the most respected legal peer-review guides in the world., Aug. 20, 2020 COVID-19’s Impact on Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Kentucky and Indiana, Apr. 17, 2020 One Of My Employees Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
• What Now?, Apr. 16, 2020 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 47 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 27, 2019 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 52 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Dec. 11, 2018 SKO Attorneys Recognized Among 2019 Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 15, 2018 SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Best Lawyers in America, Aug. 16, 2017 Becoming a B Corp Benefits More Than the Greater Community, June 28, 2017 SKO Attorneys and Practices Earn High Marks from Chambers and Partners, May 26, 2017 Five SKO Attorneys Recognized Among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 18, 2016 Best Lawyers in America Chooses 61 SKO Attorneys for 2017 Publication, Aug. 30, 2016 SKO’s Tom Williams is among Louisville Delegation to Speak “Compassion” with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, June 24, 2016 Chambers USA Recognizes 24 SKO Attorneys, Feb. 22, 2016 Lea Pauley Goff and Richard G. Griffith named among Top 50 Kentucky Super Lawyers, Nov. 30, 2015 Hundreds Gather At Louisville Mosque To Paint Over Hateful Graffiti, Sep. 21, 2015 SKO Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®, Aug. 17, 2015 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2016, Aug. 17, 2015 28 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2015, Apr. 1, 2015 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 57 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 24, 2014 Celebrating Compassion in Louisville, Aug. 21, 2014 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2015, Aug. 18, 2014 33 SKO Attorneys Named “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 25, 2014 25 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2014, Mar. 12, 2014 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 42 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, Nov. 26, 2013 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2014, Aug. 19, 2013 22 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2013, June 5, 2013 34 SKO Attorneys Names “Top Lawyer” by Louisville Magazine, Mar. 5, 2013 22 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2013, Feb. 10, 2013 61 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2013, Sep. 7, 2012 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 31 Stoll Keenon Ogden Attorneys, July 20, 2012 SKO Attorney, Tom Williams, Receives Jack Olive International Heart of Compassion Award, Apr. 10, 2012 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2012, Feb. 28, 2012 53 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2012, Sep. 6, 2011 SKO Attorney Tom M. Williams Named “Louisville Peacemaker of the Year”, Aug. 1, 2011 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 25 SKO Attorneys, July 25, 2011 SKO Attorneys Ranked in Chambers USA 2011, June 10, 2011 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2011, Mar. 16, 2011 53 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America® 2011, Aug. 6, 2010 26 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Kentucky Super Lawyers, July 28, 2010 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA, June 14, 2010 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2010, Apr. 15, 2010 Tom Williams Selected for Leadership Louisville Center Connector Project, Mar. 9, 2010 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 27 SKO Attorneys, Aug. 15, 2009 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA 2009, June 15, 2009 Two SKO Attorneys Selected for the 25th Leadership Kentucky Class, Apr. 15, 2009 Thomas M. Williams Elected 2009 Board Chairman of the Leadership Louisville Center, Apr. 15, 2009 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 26 SKO Attorneys, July 29, 2008 Lawyers Honored by Chambers USA, June 19, 2008 39 SKO Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Sep. 19, 2007 Kentucky Super Lawyers Recognizes 24 SKO Attorneys, June 19, 2007 Thomas M. Williams named 2007 President of Louisville Bar Association, Feb. 15, 2007 Louisville Magazine Recognizes SKO Attorneys as Best Lawyers in America, Mar. 15, 2006 Publications U.S
• Supreme Court Rules Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Against LGBT Employees, June 17, 2020 Re-opening Kentucky and Indiana’s Economies: A Summary, Apr. 29, 2020 The Small Business Bankruptcy Reorganization Act
• This New Law May Be Getting Lots of Attention, Apr. 6, 2020 New Department of Labor FAQs Provide More Clarity on Upcoming Paid Leave Requirements, Apr. 1, 2020 Kentucky and Indiana Unemployment Insurance Information and Resource, Mar. 26, 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Signed Into Law, Mar. 19, 2020 Sixth Circuit Holds: Contract Provision Shortening Title VII Statutory Limitations Period is Unenforceable, Nov. 6, 2019 Misclassification of Workers as Independent Contractors Not a Violation of Federal Labor Law, Sep. 16, 2019 Employees May Take FMLA Leave For Medical Parent/Teacher Conferences, Sep. 11, 2019 NLRB Overrules Precedent: Property Owners May Exclude Off-Duty Contractor Employees From Premises, Sep. 4, 2019 Federal Appeals Court Finds the EEOC’s Criminal Background Check Guidance Unenforceable, Aug. 12, 2019 Kentucky Court of Appeals: Non-Lawyers May No Longer Represent Employers During Unemployment Proceedings, May 1, 2019 Kentucky Clarifies Accommodations for Pregnant Workers, Apr. 17, 2019 Senate Bill 7 Restores Kentucky’s Approval of Employment Arbitration Agreements, Mar. 15, 2019 Kentucky Employers Can’t Enforce Arbitration Agreements Required for Employment, Oct. 18, 2018 New NLRB rulemaking may change the joint-employer standard, Oct. 4, 2018 In Landmark Decision, U.S
• Supreme Court Strikes Down Mandatory Union Fees, July 19, 2018 Five Reasons to Contact Your Labor and Employment Lawyer Now, Jan. 11, 2018 The Loan Zone: Curing Late Payments on Loans From Qualified Employer Retirement Plans, Nov. 29, 2017 Labor Secretary Confirms June 9, 2017, Effective Date for Investment Advice Conflict of Interest Rule, June 2, 2017 Is Your Website ADA Compliant?, May 17, 2017 U.S
• Department of Labor to review investment advice conflict of interest rule, Mar. 24, 2017 Federal Court Blocks New Overtime Regulation, Nov. 23, 2016 Kentucky Supreme Court Strikes Down Local Minimum Wage Ordinance, Oct. 24, 2016 Freedom Still a ‘Dream’, Aug. 20, 2013 Seminars Young Professionals Association of Louisville, Develop Series: The Key to Negotiations, PNC/Paycor Department of Labor Overtime Seminar Fellowship of Reconciliation Monthly Luncheon, Compassionate City Initiative Update, Sept. 15, 2011 Leadership Louisville 2012 Class, Connector Project and Social Capital Update, Sept. 13, 2011 Annual Legal Update, Society for Human Resources Management, 2005 to 2008 Affiliations • Louisville Bar Association, President, 2007 • American Bar Association, Employment Rights and Responsibilities subcommittee, 1998-present • Louisville Society for Human Resources Management • Restorative Justice Louisville, Inc., Founding Board Member • Canopy, Inc., Board Chair, 2018-2019 • Charter for Compassion, Board Member, 2017-2020, Executive Committee, 2018-2019 • Partnership for a Compassionate Louisville, Co-Chair, 2011 • Leadership Louisville "Connector," 2010 • Leadership Kentucky, 2009 • Leadership Louisville, Board Chair, 2009, Programs Chair, 2007-2008 • Interfaith Paths to Peace, Board Member, 2008-present • Thomas Merton Institute, Board Member, 2008-present • Bingham Fellows, 2004, 2018 • Leadership Louisville, 2003