Joseph P. Williams
Partner
Joe is co-chair of the Real Estate, Environmental, Energy, Land Use and Construction Department. A skilled litigator and trial lawyer, Joe draws on his more than 25 years of wide-ranging dispute resolution experience to help clients proactively identify and prevent issues that can otherwise derail or delay real estate and construction projects. He is known across the state of Connecticut and throughout New England as a fearless, fair-minded and effective advocate for his clients.
Joe regularly represents developers, investors and owners in a wide array of real estate-related proceedings, including land-use permitting and litigation, site-development applications, administrative appeals, adverse possessions, boundary and easement disputes, injunction actions, and eminent domain and affordable housing matters. He also advises clients on constitutional claims involving takings, religious freedom and fair housing, among other areas. Well-versed in environmental law, Joe has counseled numerous clients in clean-up and cost-recovery actions.
Credentials
Education
- The American University, B.A., 1991, magna cum laude
- Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1994, cum laude
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut, 1994
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of NY, 2005
- U.S. District Court, District of CT, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 1997
- U.S. Supreme Court, 2004
Distinctions
- AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Listed in Chambers USA, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use (2023-2024), Band 1 (2023-2024); Environment (2007; 2012-2017)
- Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Land Use/Zoning (2006-2023)
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" (2023, 2025): Best Lawyers® New Haven Region Litigation - Real Estate
- Named "Lawyer of the Year" (2017): Best Lawyers® Hartford Region Environmental Litigation
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®: Litigation - Environmental (2009-2025); Litigation - Land Use and Zoning, Litigation - Real Estate (2013-2025)
- Hartford Business Journal, 40 Under Forty (2004)
- Connecticut Law Tribune, New Leader of the Law (2002)
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association: Section of Environment, Energy and Resources; Section of Litigation
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee, Environmental Law Section; Executive Committee, Planning and Zoning Section
- Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce: Board of Directors
- Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Connecticut: Board of Directors
- CREW - The Real Estate Exchange
- Connecticut Developers Council
- Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Central Connecticut
Community Involvement
- Bushnell Park Foundation: Past President and Member of Board of Directors
- Connecticut General Assembly Task Force on Climate Change and Shoreline Preservation: Member
- Glastonbury Education Foundation: Past Chairman and Member of Board of Directors
- Glastonbury Hartwell Soccer Club & Glastonbury Lacrosse Club, Former Coach
- Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity: Past Build-a-Thon Team Leader, several committees
- Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Central Connecticut Charitable Foundation: Served on Board of Directors and as Chair of Grants Committee
- iQuilt Plan, Board of Corporators: Member
- Leadership Greater Hartford Participant (Quest, 2002)
- United Way of the Capital Area, Shipman & Goodwin Annual Appeal: Past Campaign Chair