Lynnette D. Espy-Williams

Chief Culture Officer
Member

In addition to serving as the firm’s chief culture officer, Lynnette has nearly 20 years’ experience as a litigator in a wide variety of civil matters. Specifically, Lynnette handles general and complex business litigation, mass and complex torts, hospitality, and general and professional liability matters. Clients rely on Lynnette’s extensive experience in defending high-exposure liability claims and disputes. She acts as National Coordinating Counsel for several major clients and directs the assignment of hundreds of commercial litigation matters nationwide. Lynnette also serves as the office co-managing partner in Washington, D.C.

Lynnette frequently provides legal counsel to diverse companies and municipalities in contract drafting, negotiation, and advising on best business practices. Moreover, she routinely advises on ways to identify, minimize, and manage potential risks and is thoroughly versed in tender and indemnification issues.

In both state and federal courts, Lynnette has been involved in every phase of litigation. She has substantial experience handling matters pertaining to the hospitality industry by working alongside in-house counsel to reduce claims, better manage risk and devise effective defense strategies against claims and litigation. Lynnette is known for consistently advising clients on identifying and mitigating liability risks, including strategies for risk-sharing or full absolution.

Lynnette regularly speaks on industry-relevant topics through conferences, panels and podcasts. Her litigation management and client service have made Lynnette a leader at the firm; she is an elected member of the firm’s board of directors, the Management Committee, and is an active member of the firm’s Culture and Belonging Committee.

Lynnette currently serves on the board of directors for the Washington School for Girls and is on the Board of Visitors for the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. Lynnette is also a member of the Washington Bar Association, the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, and is the former president of the Gate City Bar Association, the oldest African-American bar association in the state of Georgia. Lynnette is also a former member of Corporate Counsel Women of Color’s Advisory Board.

Among Lynnette’s many awards and honors are her inclusion in Savoy Magazine’s Most Influential Black Lawyers in Corporate America; Georgia Trend ’s Legal Elite; and The Chief Navigators Magazine’s Top 10 Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion. The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law’s Black Law Students Association named her Graduate of the Year, the Washington Business Chronicle honored her with its Diversity in Business award, and the Women’s Executive Network presented her with its Canadian Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (CEDI) Award.

Lynnette has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She currently serves as a commissioner for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC Water) as a representative for Prince Georges County, Maryland.

Prior to earning her JD from the University of Maryland, Lynnette graduated from Spelman College, cum laude, with honors in economics. While at the University of Maryland, Lynnette was a staff member for The Business Lawyer as well as an associate articles editor for the Journal of Business and Technology Law. Following law school, Lynnette served as a judicial intern to former Chief Justice Leah Ward Sears of the Supreme Court of Georgia.

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Experience

News

Lynnette Espy-Williams Named to 2024 Most Influential Black Lawyers in Corporate America List by Savoy Magazine

August 23, 2024

Lynnette Espy-Williams, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer and member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, has been named one of the 2024 Most Influential Black Lawyers in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine.

WXN honors Lynnette Espy Williams with CEDI Awards

April 26, 2024

The Women’s Executive Network has named Lynneette Espy-Williams as a recipient of the 2024 Canadian Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI) Awards.

Cozen O’Connor Announces New Group Chairs, Office Managing Partners, Other Promotions

February 15, 2024

The firm announced several new practice group chairs, office managing partners, and leaders of firm committees and initiatives

Thriving Together: Cultivating Allyship, Safety & Diversity in Law Firm Culture

November 14, 2023

Lynnette Espy-Williams, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer and member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, joined Yasmin Zand on the “CMO Series Represents” podcast.

Lynnette Espy-Williams Named to 2023 Top 10 Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion List by The Chief Navigators Magazine

November 03, 2023

Lynnette Espy-Williams, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer and member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department, has been named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion by The Chief Navigators Magazine.

Cozen O’Connor Holds Annual Board of Directors Election

September 07, 2023

Jeremy Glenn, Kathy Jaffari, Howard Schweitzer, and Lynnette Espy-Williams will each serve a three-year term.

Lynnette Espy-Williams on "Standing in the Gap” Podcast

July 18, 2022

Lynnette Espy-Williams, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, visited the "Standing in the Gap" podcast to discuss the importance of sustaining a purposeful and inclusive culture.

Lynnette Espy-Williams on "Topping the Curve" Podcast

April 18, 2022

Lynnette Espy-Williams, Equity Partner and Chief Diversity Officer, visited the "Topping the Curve" podcast to discuss her practice as a commercial litigator.

Cozen O’Connor Announces Changes to Firm Management 2022

March 23, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the following changes in firm leadership positions for the 2022 year.

Lynnette Espy-Williams Named to 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers List by Savoy Magazine

March 02, 2022

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Lynnette Espy-Williams, member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Department and chief culture officer, has been named by Savoy Magazine as one of the 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyers.

Lynnette Espy-Williams Named a 2021 Diversity in Business Honoree by the Washington Business Journal

February 24, 2021

Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce that Lynnette Espy-Williams, the firm’s Chief Culture Officer, has been named a 2021 Diversity in Business Honoree.

Publications

Rescission: An Underutilized Tool [2015 GDLA Law Journal]

June 01, 2015

Alycen Moss and Lynnette Espy-Williams discuss the statutory requirements regarding rescission, the contestable period, rescission methods, waiver considerations, the most common defenses to rescission, and a closing note on a likely claims from the insured – bad faith.

Industry Sectors

Education

  • University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, J.D., 2006
  • Spelman College, B.A., cum laude, 2003

Awards & Honors

Women’s Executive Network, 2024 Canadian Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (CEDI) Award
The Chief Navigators Magazine, 2023 Top 10 Most Influential Women in Diversity & Inclusion
Savoy Magazine, 2024 Most Influential Black Lawyer
Washington Business Chronicle, 2021 Diversity in Business Honoree
The University of Maryland, Francis King Carey School of Law’s Black Law Students Association’s, 2019 Graduate of the Year

 

 

  • Georgia
  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland
  • Georgia Court of Appeals
  • Georgia Superior Court
  • Georgia Supreme Court
  • U.S. District Court -- Middle District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Georgia
  • U.S. District Court -- Southern District of Georgia
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • American Bar Association
  • Atlanta Bar Association
  • Gate City Bar Association
  • Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys
  • Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel