Lynnette D. Espy-Williams

Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
Member

Recent News:

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

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.

Lynnette serves as the firm's chief diversity officer. She has experience in litigating a wide variety of civil and commercial matters, including matters pertaining to mass and complex torts, professional liability, premises liability, product liability, contract disputes, and extracontractual disputes, including defending bad faith claims.

Lynnette has extensive experience in defending many high-exposure product liability and premises liability matters. With respect to product liability cases, Lynnette routinely represents manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of allegedly defective products in negligence actions stemming from allegations, including, but not limited to, failure to warn, breach of implied and express warranties, and any other theory in tort or contract. She also frequently defends various entities in premises liability matters involving acts of negligent third parties, negligent or improper maintenance of premises, and inadequate security. Lynnette is thoroughly versed in tender and indemnification issues and routinely assists companies in determining where the risk of liability can be shared or absolved completely.

Lynnette handles cases in state and federal courts and she has been involved in every phase of litigation including, taking and defending fact and expert depositions, preparing and arguing key motions, negotiating with opposing counsel, drafting motions for summary judgment and motions in limine, and participating in pre-trial conferences. She has substantial experience handling consumer class action litigation, including cases involving alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Lynnette is the former president of the Gate City Bar Association, the oldest African-American bar association in the state of Georgia. She is also actively involved with the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, American Bar Association, Atlanta Bar Association, the Atlanta Council of Younger Lawyers, and a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel.

Named as a Georgia Rising Star (2012-2016), Lynnette was included in Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 for 2018, Georgia Trend ’s Legal Elite and also Georgia Trend’s 40 Under 40 for 2016. She is also a member of LEAD Atlanta (2013), Outstanding Atlanta (2012), was selected as one of Atlanta’s Power 30 Under 30 (2010) and, most recently, was recognized as one of Georgia's 40 Under 40 (2013), a list developed by The Daily Report that showcases the top Georgia lawyers under 40 who should be on readers' radar.

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.

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

Cozen O'Connor Launches DEI Practice, Names Group Leader

January 10, 2024

Cozen O'Connor, in collaboration with Healy+ and Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, has announced the launch of their DEI Strategies & Solutions Practice.

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 diversity, equity & inclusion 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 Diversity 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.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

2024 ABA Litigation Section Annual Conference

May 01, 2024 - Washington, D.C.

What Keeps Nonprofit Lawyers Up At Night?

June 22, 2023 - Philadelphia, PA

The Impact of the Pandemic on Woman in Law

September 28, 2021 - Webinar

The BLSA 45th Annual Scholarship and Awards Banquet

February 28, 2020 - Baltimore, Maryland

Industry Sectors

Education

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

Awards & Honors

The 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, 2022 Most Influential Black Lawyer

Atlanta Business Chronicle 2018 40 Under 40

Georgia Trend’s 2016 40 Under 40

Outstanding Atlanta's Class of 2012

  • 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