Benjamin L. Williams

Member

Recent News:

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Ben focuses his practice on construction law and government contracts. He represents a diverse range of clients, including project owners, design builders, construction managers, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, IT and defense contractors, as well as insurers, and sureties. Ben advises his clients and litigates their disputes involving procurement challenges, contract negotiation and interpretation, requests for equitable adjustment, delays and disruptions, performance and design defects, terminations for default, past performance, compliance, mechanic’s liens, and payment and performance bond claims for large, complex infrastructure and construction projects, and public procurements.

Before he became a practicing litigator and attorney, Ben studied architecture and then served as a construction project manager for a decade, specializing in performance building envelope systems for both public and private projects, both domestic and international. His insight and subject matter expertise are unique in the construction law and government contracting practice areas. As a counselor and trial attorney, Ben leverages his experience as an estimator, project engineer, safety officer, quality control/assurance representative, project manager, and even as a litigation fact witness to successfully serve his clients’ needs and mitigate their risk.

Ben is ranked in the 2024, 2023, and 2022 editions of Chambers USA for construction. He was also recognized as a Washington, D.C. “Rising Star” for 2017-2024 in the areas of Government Contracts by Super Lawyers magazine. He was recognized in 2021, and 2023-2025 as one of the “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” for Construction Law and Construction Litigation by The Best Lawyers in America.

Ben earned his bachelor’s degree from Middlebury College in art and architecture. Ben earned his law degree, cum laude, from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Recognized as Washington, D.C., Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

April 22, 2024

Seven attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and four were named Rising Stars, a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

14 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2023 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

May 30, 2023

Super Lawyers has named 14 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2023 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Cozen O'Connor Promotes 29 Attorneys to Member

March 20, 2023

Cozen O'Connor is proud to announce the promotion of 29 attorneys to member.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

13 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys Named 2022 D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

July 12, 2022

Super Lawyers has named 13 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its 2022 Washington D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Education

  • The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 2015
  • Middlebury College, B.A., 2002

Awards & Honors

Washington, D.C. “Rising Star” Government Contracts, Super Lawyers, 2017-2024

“Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch” for Construction Law and Construction Litigation, The Best Lawyers in America, 2021, 2023-2025

Chambers and Partners USA, 2022-2024

Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023

Lawyers of Distinction, 2023

  • District of Columbia
  • Virginia
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court -- Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court -- District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court -- Colorado
  • U.S. District Court -- Maryland
  • American Bar Association, Forum on the Construction Industry, Member
  • American Bar Association, Section of Public Contract Law, Member
  • D.C. Bar Communities, Government Contracts and Litigation, Member
  • Virginia State Bar Association, Construction Law and Public Contracts Section, Member
  • National Trust for Historic Preservation, Member
  • DC Preservation League, Trustee
  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED Accredited Professional (AP)