Mr. Joseph D. Williams

Mr. Williams is a legal partner for school districts, healthcare organizations, and employers throughout Tucson and Arizona. As outside general counsel, he assists with day-to-day operations and integrates into clients’ workforces as a teammate, strategist, and problem-solver.

From student discipline and special education disputes to contract negotiations and policy development, Mr. Williams provides comprehensive legal guidance to school districts. He’s an authority on education statutes and topics, including student and employee due process, Title 15 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), and Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) regulations. Mr. Williams understands schools’ unique challenges today and works proactively to mitigate risk and ensure compliance.

Healthcare organizations rely on Mr. Williams’ understanding of the regulatory landscape. He advises hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act), Stark Law (Physician Self-Referral Law), Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), the Health Care Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA), National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), provider contracts, and a myriad of other healthcare regulations. Mr. Williams helps healthcare organizations avoid costly legal pitfalls and focus on patient care.

Mr. Williams represents public and private employers in all aspects of employment law. He provides strategic guidance on contracts, claim prevention, internal investigations, employee handbooks, and comprehensive training programs. He has expertise in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act), Arizona Earned Paid Sick Time (EPST), state-specific wage and hour laws (including minimum wage, overtime, and break requirements), state-specific anti-discrimination laws, state-specific family leave laws, and other state and local employment regulations.

Mr. Williams is a sought-after speaker and trainer on education, employment, and health law. He regularly shares his insights with industry groups and organizations, empowering them to navigate the ever-evolving legal landscape.

Community Involvement

•The Mayfly Project
•Big Brothers Big Sisters
•Victim Witness Services of Coconino County
•AmeriCorps, The Pacific Crest Trail Association
•Equal Justice Works fellow, San Francisco Housing Assistance Program
•KTDT Tucson, 99.1 FM
•The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Justice Thomas A. Zlaket Orientation on Professionalism