James V. Meath

Jim Meath is the chairman of the board of directors for Williams Mullen. In practice for over 30 years, he served as chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice from 1984 to 2004. He served as the vice chairman of the firm from 1994 to 2011, when he was elected chairman of the board. Mr. Meath has extensive experience in representing businesses across numerous industry groups throughout the U.S. and internationally in all areas of traditional labor and employment law. In addition to his private sector expertise, he also counsels public sector clients. Mr. Meath also represents business clients in internal investigations and white collar crime matters.

Jim Meath is the chairman of the board of directors for Williams Mullen. In practice for over 30 years, he served as chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice from 1984 to 2004. He served as the vice chairman of the firm from 1994 to 2011, when he was elected chairman of the board. Mr. Meath has extensive experience in representing businesses across numerous industry groups throughout the U.S. and internationally in all areas of traditional labor and employment law. In addition to his private sector expertise, he also counsels public sector clients. Mr. Meath also represents business clients in internal investigations and white collar crime matters.

Mr. Meath regularly advises international companies who are seeking advice on acquiring businesses, relocating their existing business and/or doing business in the United States. He has advised local and state governments interested in opening resident offices in foreign countries. Recently, he has focused on Asian companies and inbound investment in to the United States primarily in the manufacturing sector.

Throughout his career, Mr. Meath has been hailed by the legal and business communities as a top attorney. Mr. Meath is a fellow of the prestigious College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and the Virginia Law Foundation. He was listed as the number-one “Employment: Defendant Attorney” in Virginia by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Business Lawyers in 2003 and went on to receive top honors in subsequent editions. Year after year, Mr. Meath has been recognized on Virginia Business magazine’s list of “Legal Elite” and in The Best Lawyers in America for Labor and Employment Law. In 2011, he was named the “Richmond Best Lawyers Labor & Employment Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America. In 2010, Best Lawyers named Mr. Meath the Richmond Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year for Labor & Employment. In addition, Mr. Meath has been named a “Super Lawyer” for Employment Litigation: Defense by Virginia Super Lawyers magazine. In 2009, Virginia Super Lawyers magazine identified Mr. Meath as one of the "Top 50 Virginia Attorneys” and in 2007 he was listed in the "Top 10 Virginia Attorneys." Martindale Hubbell has ranked Mr. Meath an AV attorney, its highest rating available.

Mr. Meath has been a member of the American Arbitration Association since 1985. In that time, he has served as an arbitrator on the Commercial Panel, Employment Panel, and Large Complex Case Panel. In addition, Mr. Meath is active in the American Bar Association, serving on a variety of committees, including the Alternate Dispute in Labor and Employment Law Committee. Mr. Meath is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Sections of the American Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar, Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association. He has held leadership roles in these organizations including, section or committee chair and in particular, has served as chairman of the board of governors of the Virginia Bar Association in 2003 and was the 115th president of the Virginia Bar Association in 2005. Mr. Meath is the chairman for the Virginia Bar Association’s Committee on Veterans Issues.

Mr. Meath serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond T.C. Williams School of Law. He also conducts seminars for industry groups in both the public and private sectors on a variety of legal topics.

Mr. Meath is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

He earned his juris doctor degree from the T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond and holds a master’s degree in urban affairs from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Mr. Meath earned a bachelor’s degree from Old Dominion University. In 2007, Old Dominion University presented Mr. Meath with the Distinguished Alumni Award from College of Arts and Letters.