Laura A. Williams is an associate in the Atlanta office of Powell Goldstein LLP, where she concentrates her practice in environmental law and in toxic tort and products liability litigation. Her primary focus is to counsel clients on environmental regulatory matters, including compliance with a variety of federal and state statutes.  As federal and state laws are amended, additional statutes and regulations are passed, and as courts issue new interpretations of existing laws, Ms. Williams uses her knowledge to help clients stay ahead of the curve.  Ms. Williams also represents both manufacturers and consumers in civil litigation.  These matters include in several products liability actions involving breach of warranty and strict liability as well as complex litigation cases involving multi-million dollar contracts.  In addition to helping clients with the intricate legal issues in these cases, Ms. Williams also implements her practical experience from her work as a paralegal for three years before law school.

At the University of Virginia School of Law, Ms. Williams served on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal and as an Articles/Notes Editor for the Journal of Law & Politics.

Ms. Williams representative experience includes:

• Counseled several nationally-recognized clients regarding environmental issues arising in connection with real estate, financial and corporate transactions, including negotiation of environmental provisions of transaction documents and evaluation of environmental liabilities.
• Advised large and small corporations regarding compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, such as the federal Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), the Georgia Hazardous Site Response Act (HSRA), and various other state laws governing brownfields redevelopment and hazardous waste.
• Negotiated settlement agreements on behalf of several companies with enforcing authorities, and developed environmental management systems for those companies--and others--to ensure future regulatory compliance.
• Developed comprehensive environmental review guidelines for public housing funding authority, including elements of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and OSHA regulations.
• Performed broad-spectrum review of environmental due diligence documents and provided advice regarding compliance with EPA "all appropriate inquiry" regulations for numerous clients.
• Assisted public housing authority in defense against multiple lawsuits alleging injury from exposure to lead-based paint.
• Advised managed health care company in complex, multi-district litigation matter involving numerous plaintiffs and defendants.
• Counseled national restaurant chain regarding environmental matters arising in connection with numerous real estate transactions and construction of new facilities.