Calvin W. "Woody" Fowler, Jr.
Woody Fowler serves as chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Williams Mullen, in addition to being a respected litigator. For businesses involved in legal disputes, Woody assists with complex commercial litigation, banking and financial services litigation, education litigation, consumer class actions, health care litigation, business torts, products liability and insurance coverage disputes. For clients looking for alternatives to the courtroom, he is also experienced in alternative dispute resolution and serves as an arbitrator and mediator.
Admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1987, Woody has diverse and extensive litigation experience. He has helped companies in several industries with litigation, including colleges and universities, health care systems, insurance companies, nursing homes and assisted living facilities, and more. While Woody is focused on helping his clients work toward their goals, he recognizes that just because you can do something does not mean you should. He works to gain a fuller understanding of what the client's goals and objectives are and then takes those actions that will assist in reaching those goals and objectives. Sometimes the solution lies where you least expect it.
Legal project management principles are a great tool in increasing the efficiency of case management and maximizing the predictability of litigation expenses. Woody applies these principles to case analysis and strategy, staffing, information management and budgeting.
Woody has also been listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation (2009-present) and Best Lawyers® for Richmond "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Banking and Finance (2021); recognized by Chambers USA for Litigation (2014-present); selected to the Virginia Super Lawyers for Business Litigation (2006-present), "Top 50: Virginia" (2011), "Top 100: Virginia" (2012-present), "Top 50: Richmond" (2012-present), "Top 10: Virginia" (2014); "AV-Rated" by Martindale-Hubbell; named a "Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2008-present); named a Fellow by the Virginia Law Foundation (Class of 2018) and named to Am Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, Adjusters and Expert Service Providers.
Woody serves on the board of directors of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges and RVA757 Connects. He is a member of the advisory board to the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation and the American Heart Association's Greater Richmond Chapter. Woody is also a member of the Richmond Management Roundtable.
Woody earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.
- University of Virginia School of Law (J.D.)
- University of Virginia (B.A.)
- Politics Honors Program
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- Defense Research Institute
- Richmond Bar Association
- Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys – Former Board of Directors, Former Chair of Commercial Litigation Section
- Virginia Bar Association
Community Involvements
- Virginia Chamber of Commerce – Board Member
- Greater Richmond Bar Foundation – Advisory Board
- Richmond Management Roundtable – Member
- Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges – Board Member
- American Heart Association – Greater Richmond Chapter, Advisory Board Member, Former Board Chair and Heart Walk Chair
- University of Virginia College of Arts & Sciences – Richmond Regional Trustee Board Member
- Forum Club
- Richmond Sports Backers – Former Board Member
- RVA757 Connects – Board Member
Bar Admissions
- Virginia State Bar
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
Benchmark Litigation – Litigation Star for Virginia (2008-present)
Best's Directory of Recommended Insurance Attorneys, Adjusters and Expert Service Providers
The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation, Banking & Finance Litigation, Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation (2009-present)
Chambers USA – Litigation (2014-present)
Inside Business – Richmond's "Top Forty Under 40"
Martindale-Hubbell – AV-Rated
Virginia Law Foundation – Fellow (Class of 2018)
Virginia Business - "Legal Elite," (2008-present)
Virginia Super Lawyers – Business Litigation (2006-present), Top 50: Virginia (2011), Top 100: Virginia (2012-present), Top 50: Richmond (2012-present), Top 10: Virginia (2014)
Best Lawyers® – Richmond "Lawyer of the Year," Litigation - Banking and Finance (2021)
Experience
THE CASES LISTED BELOW ARE ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE MATTERS HANDLED BY THE FIRM. CASE RESULTS DEPEND UPON A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. NOT ALL CASE RESULTS ARE PROVIDED. CASE RESULTS DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE UNDERTAKEN BY THE LAWYER.
- Defended Sweet Briar College in multiple lawsuits arising from announced closure of college.
- Defended county school board in litigation concerning entitlement of a child with special needs to private education. Defense verdict.
- Defended county school principal in § 1983 civil rights litigation in federal district court. Summary Judgment.
- Represented private university in insurance coverage dispute related to RICO claims. Summary Judgment.
- Represented multiple nursing homes and assisted living facilities in personal injury and wrongful death litigation.
- Defended psychiatrist in high profile medical malpractice/sexual assault litigation. Settled.
- Defended dental practices in breach of contract claim brought by practice management company. Defense verdict.
- Defended manufacturer of screw conveyors in $17 million products liability litigation in federal district court. Defense verdict.
- Defended manufacturer of pressure gauges in multimillion-dollar products liability litigation in federal district court. Summary Judgment.
- Defended manufacturer of friction products in multimillion-dollar wrongful death asbestos litigation. Defense verdict after a two-week trial.
- Defended manufacturer in mass diet drug litigation.
- Defended third-party administrator in complex ERISA litigation in federal district court and in Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Defense verdict.
- Represented regional funeral home chain in Lanham Act litigation in federal district court. Summary Judgment.
- Defended radio station and its employees in defamation litigation. Defense verdict.
- Defended national corporation in multi-million dollar malicious prosecution and defamation litigation in federal district court. Summary Judgment.
- Defended one of the world’s largest insurance carriers in $23 million bad faith litigation (excess carrier v. primary carrier) in federal district court. Partial Summary Judgment and then Settled.
- Represented insurance carrier in dispute over coverage for $42 million hurricane-related property damage claim.
- Defended title insurance company against fraud claims asserted by State Department of Insurance.
- Represented travel insurance carrier regarding issues related to insurance “opt-out” provisions for vacation rentals.
- Represented corporation in claims against multiple domestic and London market insurance carriers for coverage for thousands of asbestos exposure claims/lawsuits.
- Represented publicly traded corporation in pursuing indemnification claims for breaches of representations and warranties in stock purchase agreement. Arbitration award.
- Represented real estate developer in litigation against environmental engineering firm for failure to identify "wetlands." Jury verdict for client. Damages awarded.
- Represented petroleum distributor in federal court litigation against environmental waste management firm for causing oil spill. Settled through mediation.
- Defended corporation against FCRA and ECOA class action claims. Settled.
- Defended regional bank against EFTA class action. Class Certification denied and case settled.
- Defended multiple consumer class action lawsuits asserted against national retailer related to warranties and re-stocking fees.
- Represent distributor of forklift trucks in multiple wrongful death claims.
- Represent one of the world’s largest banks in litigation arising out of residential mortgage claims.
