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Williams Names Former Judge as New General Counsel

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The Williams Companies announced that United States Magistrate Judge T. Lane Wilson will become the Company’s senior vice president and general counsel, succeeding Sarah Miller, who previously announced her resignation.

Judge Wilson will report directly to Williams President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Armstrong.

Judge Wilson, who will lead Williams’ legal team, brings extensive legal expertise and experience to the Company. He has served as the U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma since 2009. In 2016, Judge Wilson was appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Criminal Law by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Prior to his appointment as a U.S. Magistrate Judge, Wilson was a shareholder and member of the board of directors for Oklahoma-based law firm, Hall Estill from 1994 to 2008. At Hall Estill, he managed a team of lawyers that specialized in trying complex commercial litigation matters focused in the areas of oil and gas, construction, telecommunications and intellectual property. Wilson also has prior energy industry experience, having previously worked for Exxon early in his career.

Judge Wilson has also served as an Adjunct Settlement Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma from 2003 to 2008 and was a member of the Grievance Committee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma from 2007 to 2008.

Judge Wilson earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering in 1989 from the University of Tulsa and earned his Juris Doctor degree with honors from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 1994. While an undergraduate at Tulsa, Wilson was also a member of the school’s varsity men’s tennis team, winning an individual conference championship. He is currently a volunteer tennis coach at Tulsa Booker T. Washington High School and has served as president of the Eisenhower International School Foundation in Tulsa. He was also recognized in 2013 with the Northeastern Oklahoma Black Lawyers Association Service Award.

Judge Wilson is expected to join Williams on April 17, 2017.