John R. Williams

Member

T: 318-227-3311

F: 318-227-3811

INDUSTRIES/PRACTICES

  • Corporate Law and Transactions

  • Partnership Tax and Planning Areas

  • Complex Estate and Trust Planning

  • Private Equity

  • Federal and State Taxation

BAR ADMISSIONS

  • Louisiana, 1988

  • Texas, 1990

BIOGRAPHY

John’s practice primarily involves business related issues including corporate and partnership planning areas with an emphasis in tax planning. He has represented many local and regional clients in a variety of business transactions and has extensive experience in developing sophisticated estate plans in both Texas and Louisiana.  He received his undergraduate degree in accounting from Louisiana Tech University, his J.D. degree from Louisiana State University Law Center, and his L.L.M. degree in Taxation from Georgetown University. John was admitted to practice in Louisiana in 1988 and in Texas in 1990.

John began his practice in the tax section of the law firm of Vinson & Elkins in Houston, Texas. He is a Board Certified Tax Law Specialist under the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization and is a Board Certified Estate Planning and Probate Specialist under the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. John is a past Chairman of the Tax Section of the Louisiana State Bar Association and also of the Louisiana Tax Law Advisory Commission of the Louisiana State Bar Association.  He has served on the Board of Directors of The Tax and Estate Planning Council of Shreveport for a number of years.

    • Served as lead counsel in the sale of a large chemical application company to a publicly traded company

    • Served as lead counsel in the establishment & operation of an energy transportation company and its ultimate sale to a large hedge fund

    • Currently serves as outside tax counsel for Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc.

    • Advise high net worth individuals on structuring business transactions and transitioning wealth to the next generation

    • Represent landowners in negotiating oil and gas leases, pipeline right of ways and drill sites

    • Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. in Taxation

    • Louisiana State University Law Center J.D., 1988

    • Louisiana Tech University, B.S. in Accounting

    • Louisiana Super Lawyer for 14 years

    • “AV” rating in Martindale-Hubbell

    • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for tax law and corporate law 2010 -2023

    • Listed as Best Lawyer in Corporate Law 2023

    • Listed as Best Lawyer in Tax Law 2017

    • Listed in Super Lawyers for Louisiana in the fields of tax, estate & probate, and business/corporate law

    • Listed in SB Magazine as one of Shreveport’s Top Attorneys

    • Board Certified Tax Law Specialist, Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization

    • Board Certified Estate Planning and Probate Specialist, Texas Board of Legal Specialization

    • Louisiana State Bar Association, Taxation Section

    • Texas State Bar Association

    • The Tax and Estate Planning Council of Shreveport

    • Louisiana Tax Law Advisory Commission of the Louisiana State Bar Association

    • Tax Considerations in Granting Powers Over Trusts

    • Post-Mortem Tax Planning

    • Federal Taxes Specifically Applicable to Retirement Benefits

    • Tax Issues in Buying and Selling a Business

    • Sophisticated Estate Planning Techniques