Judge Zuberi Bakari Williams (Ret.) is a Partner and Chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Practice at Bayard P.A., where he focuses on mediation, arbitration, and complex dispute resolution across commercial, intellectual property, employment, and civil matters. A former Associate Judge of the District Court of Maryland for Montgomery County, he brings more than a decade of judicial leadership and a career spanning high-stakes litigation, government enforcement, and private practice.

Appointed to the bench at age 36, Judge Williams was among the youngest judges in Maryland history. During his tenure, he presided over thousands of cases across civil, criminal, and business dockets, including trials, evidentiary hearings, and emergency proceedings. He is widely recognized for his ability to manage complex cases, facilitate resolution, and translate legal doctrine into practical outcomes.

Prior to his judicial service, Judge Williams served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, litigating employment, tort, constitutional, and civil rights matters on behalf of the city. He also practiced at Venable LLP in its White Collar Defense and Investigations group, representing corporations and executives in high-stakes government investigations.

Judge Williams clerked for Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of Maryland’s highest court and for Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Judge Williams is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches Torts and integrates doctrinal rigor with trial strategy and real-world application. He also teaches Trial Advocacy and related courses at American University Washington College of Law and serves as faculty with leading national advocacy organizations, including the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), where he trains lawyers and government attorneys in litigation and trial skills. He is known for a dynamic teaching style that blends doctrine, storytelling, and real-world simulation.

A nationally recognized thought leader in alternative dispute resolution, mediation, and trial advocacy, Judge Williams frequently speaks on effective advocacy, decision-making, and the future of dispute resolution. He is deeply committed to mentorship, professional development, and expanding access to the legal profession.

Judge Williams earned his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. He also holds an M.B.A. from American University’s Kogod School of Business and a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University (TCU).