R. Scott Williams

Scott Williams focuses his practice on bankruptcy, reorganization and creditors’ rights and commercial litigation. He represents creditors and debtors in complex bankruptcy matters and has substantial experience in handling complex commercial litigation cases. In addition, Scott’s experience extends to litigation and transactional work in a number of areas including: automotive, energy, healthcare, and municipal finance sectors. Scott further has ongoing experience as a Future Claims Representative under the Bankruptcy Code and serves the Congoleum and Shook & Fletcher Asbestos Trusts.

Scott is active in the Bankruptcy Bar on both local and national levels. He was a contributing editor to Collier on Bankruptcy, and co-authored Bankruptcy Litigation Manual: What Civil Litigators Need to Know (American Bankruptcy Institute, In 2007, Scott became the first practicing attorney from Alabama to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute (“ABI”) and served as vice president and a member of the Executive Committee. He also served as Co-Chair of the ABI Litigation Skills Symposium and is a frequent lecturer and author on bankruptcy and commercial law topics.

Prior to entering private practice, Scott served as Counsel to U.S. Senator Howell T. Heflin on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Courts and Administrative Practice (1988-1992). Scott played a significant role in drafting the United States Bankruptcy Code Amendments enacted in 1995, while serving as Counsel to Senator Heflin. Two provisions of the Bankruptcy Code that Scott played a key role in their enactment are 524(g) and 1114. Scott also served as a law clerk for the United States District Judge Sharon Lovelace Blackburn.

Community

•Highlands United Methodist
•Homewood (AL) City School Board

Past President

•Youth Sports Coach

Awards & Honors

•AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
•Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy: Business, 2009-2010, 2013-2014, 2016-2024
•Birmingham Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2021

Articles & Presentations

•Presenter, 'New Law, Old Practices, and Some Insights on Best Practices,' Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, 52nd Annual Seminar, March 2026
•Author, 'Guest Notebook: Are There Storm Clouds on the Horizon for Birmingham?,' Birmingham Business Journal, December 2025
•Author, 'Down the Rabbit Hole: Bankruptcy Practice in Uncertain Times,' Bankruptcy Strategist and Law.com, June 2025
•Co-presenter, 'Trial by Ambush-Showing Up With a Witness,' Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute, 51st Annual Seminar, March 2025
•Panelist, 'Business Bankruptcy Strategies: Navigating Complex Financial Reorganizations and Restructurings Webinar,' The Knowledge Group, March 2025
•Author, 'Rising Bankruptcy Filings Make Today’s Headlines, But Keep An Eye on Historic Policies,' ALM's Bankruptcy Strategist, January 2025
•Presenter, 'Bankruptcy 101: What Corporate Counsel Needs to Know,' ACC Alabama Chapter Lunch & Learn, October 2024
•Moderator, 'Chapter 9: An Overview,' Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors (AIRA), 40th Annual Bankruptcy and Restructuring Conference, June 2024
•Moderator, 'How to Take and Defend Depositions,' American Bankruptcy Institute Winter Leadership Conference, December 2022
•Author, 'Nursing Home Distress - What Does the Doctor Order?' Business Alabama, November 1, 2022
•Host, 'Legally Qualified Podcast: State of the Insolvency World: A Look at Recent Trends that May Affect Bankruptcies and Restructuring in theYear Ahead,' May 4, 2022
•Author, 'Surviving a Rough Patch,' Published in 'Modern Restaurant Management,' June 29, 2020
•Co-author, 'COVID-19 Navigating a Pandemic: A Practical Guide For Businesses,' March 2020
•Author, 'Small Business Bankruptcy Reforms You Need to Know,' Business Alabama, March 5, 2020
•'Top Tips to Resurface After a Bankruptcy,' Business Alabama, April 18, 2019
•'Art of Persuasions: Trial Techniques to Win Your Case', 12th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute/SMU Litigation Skills Symposium, 2013
•'Navigating Uncertain Times: How retailers can outlast a bankruptcy,' Chain Store Age Magazine, April 2019
•'A Fork in the Road, What Happens When Things Don’t Go Right: Considerations for Bankruptcy Protection,' Energy & Mining International, Volume 17, Issue 1, January 24, 2019
•Moderator, “Auctions: Law, Tips and the Cutting Edge,' 34th Annual Meeting of the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, June 2018
•'How to Successfully Litigate a Relief-from-Stay-Motion,' American Bankruptcy Institute 36th Annual Spring Meeting, April 20, 2018
•Author, 'Pay Attention to These Financial Warning Signs,' Hardware Retailing, May 2019
•'Evidence Demonstration: Using Experts at Trial,' Alexander L. Paskay Seminar on Bankruptcy Law & Practice, Stetson Law School, 2011
•Collier on Bankruptcy (15th Ed. Rev.), Chapters 501 and 502 (2005); Contributing Editor
•'Art of Persuations: Trial Techniques to Win Your Case', 8th Annual American Bankruptcy Institute/Tulane University Law School Litigation Skills Symposium, 2009
•'When Things Go Bad: An Overview of Bankruptcy', Alabama Society of CPAs, 32nd Annual Sandestin Continuing Professional Education Conference, 2008
•'Bankruptcy Litigation for Non-Bankruptcy Lawyers', Birmingham Bar Association, 2008
•Bankruptcy Litigation Manual: What Civil Litigators Need to Know (American Bankruptcy Institute, 2007) (Co-Author)
•'Mock Presentation with an Evidentiary Focus on Privileges: Lawyer/Client, Fifth Amendment, Waiver, Trade Secrets, Financial Privacy, Turnover, & Alternatives', American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Spring Meeting, 2005
•'Proposed Exemptions in Alabama' Cumberland School of Law Annual Bankruptcy Seminar, 2003
•'Nuts and Bolts of Effective Bankruptcy Trial Practice' American Bankruptcy Institute Annual Spring Meeting, 2003

Scott's News and Insights

04.27.2026
Media Mentions

Scott Williams Weighs in on Rising Bankruptcy Filings in Birmingham Business Journal

Bankruptcy filings are rising across the U.S. and in Alabama,...

03.18.2026
Events

Scott Williams Shares Litigator’s Perspective on Emerging Bankruptcy Issues

Scott Williams spoke at the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute’s 52nd...

12.03.2025
Bankruptcy and Restructuring

Guest Notebook: Are There Storm Clouds on the Horizon for Birmingham?

Bankruptcy and commercial litigation attorney Scott Williams shared insights in...

06.09.2025
Bankruptcy and Restructuring

Down the Rabbit Hole: Bankruptcy Practice in Uncertain Times

The world - and particularly the U.S. economy - is...

Photo: shutterstock.com/Svetlana_Smirnova

05.13.2025
Firm News

Scott Williams Honored as a fellow of the Birmingham Bar Foundation

RumbergerKirk partner Scott Williams, along with the other members of...

03.20.2025
Events

Trial by Ambush-Showing Up With a Witness

We stipulate, consent, and agree. So what happens when opposing...

03.03.2025
Beyond the Bio

A Tasty Success: RumbergerKirk’s Chili Shines at the 21st Annual Exceptional Foundation Cook-Off

RumbergerKirk’s Cookin’ Counselors - Rebecca Beers, Fred Clarke and Scott...

03.06.2025
Events

Business Bankruptcy Strategies: Navigating Complex Financial Reorganizations and Restructurings

In today’s volatile economic landscape, businesses facing financial distress must...

01.09.2025
Bankruptcy and Restructuring

Rising Bankruptcy Filings Make Today’s Headlines, But Keep An Eye on Historic Policies

Nearly 50 years has passed since the last major change...

Photo: Shutterstock.com/Summit Art Creations

11.21.2024
Firm News

Three RumbergerKirk Attorneys Listed in the 2024 Mid-South Super Lawyers

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., November 21, 2024 -RumbergerKirk is pleased to announce...