Meet Taylor Williams // Trademark & Business Attorney, Williams Law
Taylor is the founding attorney and owner of Williams Law, a modern law firm for the modern business owner, and The C-Suite*, a contract templates shop. Her practice focuses on helping business owners protect their businesses and their brands via contracts and intellectual property protection. Taylor is committed to making the legal world accessible and approachable—a departure from the “old school” practice of law that many business owners dread having to deal with.
*Taylor has exclusively offered the Each is Every community 10% off all items in The C-Suite, featuring attorney-drafted, easy to use contract templates for the modern business owner. Shop here and use code EIE10 at checkout!
EiE: Tell us who you are in just a few words or sentences.
Taylor: I’m Taylor (she/her). I was born and raised in Colorado and still live here with my husband and two cats. I founded my own trademark and business law practice, Williams Law, and recently launched my second business, The C Suite, providing attorney-drafted contract templates to business owners!
What led you to pursue a career in law—specifically trademark law? Was there a particular moment or person that inspired you?
I studied criminal justice in undergrad and had a minor in pre-law studies. I always wanted to become an attorney, but never considered it really feasible. I thought I would graduate college and become a cop. When I graduated, I remember talking with my aunt who encouraged me to just go for it: to take the LSAT and apply for law school. So, I did.
I started law school with the thought that I would become a transactional attorney (i.e. not the litigation attorney that deals with trial-bound cases), but that didn’t exactly pan out like I had thought it might. During law school, I joined the civil litigation program and got a job clerking for a corporate and commercial litigation firm. I also clerked for a solo trademark attorney for a brief period of time, but after I passed the bar, I stayed with the litigation firm and started my practice there.
I worked with a litigation firm for almost four years. However, I was unhappy. I didn’t enjoy the practice, and I knew it would be more fulfilling to help business owners create strong and legally legitimate businesses to avoid litigation, rather than represent them after the fact—during litigation. So I started considering what exactly that practice would look like, spent months brainstorming and soul searching, and created the practice that is now Williams Law.
Please outline your offerings and services for anyone who might not know.
I am, generally, a trademark and contract attorney. I work with clients located anywhere in the U.S. on protecting their brands, including trademark and copyright applications, and IP enforcement. I also work with Colorado-based businesses on their contracts, which includes contract review and drafting. Outside of my practice, I run a contract template shop called The C-Suite, where business owners who may not be located in Colorado—or who may not be able to hire an attorney for their contracts just yet—can purchase attorney-drafted contract templates.
Did you always know you wanted to start your own practice? What sets Williams Law apart from other firms?
Absolutely not. In fact, if you had told me in 2019 that I was going to start my own practice, I’d never have believed you. I always thought that I would work and grow within another firm. Starting my own practice was unimaginable to me.
Williams Law is different from other trademark and business law firms because it is better tailored to meet the needs of modern business owners. My goal is to make legal understandable and approachable which, in my opinion, is a deviation from traditional law firms that do not take a people-first approach and that do not make an effort to make sure you understand the legal side of your business.
What did your academic journey look like leading up to where you are now? What’s your advice for others pursuing rigorous educational paths?
I worked full time in undergrad (+ on nights and weekends), then went straight to law school, during which I also worked full time through graduation. I was part of the “evening program” in law school, so I worked 9-5, and then had class some nights until 10pm. It was certainly not easy, and some days it felt like there was no end in sight, but my advice for other women pursuing rigorous educational paths is that you do not need to know exactly how you will see it through from start to finish or even what that finish line looks like. You just have to take the first step, and keep putting one foot in front of the other. It will be challenging, it will not always be fun, but it will be rewarding beyond your wildest dreams.
Tell us about a time where a “failure” became a turning point for you.
When I graduated law school, I wanted to work for the trademark attorney I clerked for during school. She made me a salary offer that was less than the litigation firm offered to pay me, but I had accepted it anyway. Then, at the last minute, she sent me an email cutting that salary offer to less than half of what it was previously and even less than what I had made as a clerk for the litigation firm. It was not feasible to accept the offer, so I had to accept the offer for the litigation firm. What felt like a “failure” at the time turned out to be the biggest and best possible redirection. I had no idea at the time that it was actually setting Williams Law in motion.
How has social media played a part in your professional journey and the success of your business?
I started my social media account almost as a “blog.” I just enjoyed sharing educational content. I’ve made connections and friends on social media that have made me feel less alone in my own business-building journey (because, let’s face it, we all get a little lonely on this road sometimes).
Describe your perfect day off.
It definitely starts with a big breakfast because I’m a breakfast person through and through, then a good workout, a clean house and all laundry done, some time to read a book, dinner on a patio with a bottle of my favorite wine, and in bed early. My life can be so go-go-go, that I love a more relaxing day off.
The C-Suite offers attorney-drafted, easy to use contract templates for the modern business owner. Enjoy 10% off all items in The C-Suite with code EIE10 at checkout!