Howard L. Williams

Howard L. Williams


Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP

Recognized since 2003

Greensboro, North Carolina

Practice Areas

Litigation and Controversy - Tax

Tax Law

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Howard Williams has over 40 years of experience representing privately held companies and their shareholders. His diverse practice includes representation in connection with tax planning and litigation, general corporate work, employee benefits and executive compensation, and aviation matters.

Howard has extensive experience representing businesses in tax disputes or controversies in district courts, the United States Tax Court, and before the Internal Revenue Service and North Carolina Department of Revenue. He also advises clients on corporate tax planning and tax strategies.

Before joining Brooks Pierce, Howard worked for the Office of Chief Counsel for the United States Treasury, Washington, D.C. as a tax specialist and litigator. He currently serves as a representative to the Southeastern Liaison Committee to the Internal Revenue Service.

Howard provides counsel on management incentive plans, employee stock ownership plans, deferred compensation, and corporate finance for closely held companies.

Howard provides general corporate counsel on issues related to mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, contract negotiation and document preparation, and tax-related transactions.

Howard represents various businesses and organizations in the transportation and aviation industries on a myriad of issues. His experience includes representing North Carolina’s largest privately held trucking company, representing numerous airlines, and helping to fund and finance one of the nation’s fastest growing aviation maintenance facilities.

Location
  • 230 North Elm Street
    P.O. Box 26000
    Greensboro, NC 27420
Education
  • Wake Forest University, J.D., graduated 1972
  • North Carolina State University, BS, graduated 1969
Bar Admissions
  • North Carolina, United States
Affiliations
  • Community Foundation for Greater Greensboro - Executive Board
  • North Carolina Agricultural Finance Authority - Member At-Large
  • Internal Revenue Service - Member, Southeastern Region Liaison Committee
  • Wake Forest University School of Law - Member, Board of Visitors
  • Greensboro Bar Association - Member
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • North Carolina Bar Association - Member
Court Admissions
  • U.S. District Court for the Middle Districts of North Carolina
  • U.S. District Court for the Western Districts of North Carolina
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th and 8th Circuits
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Litigation and Controversy - Tax
  • Tax Law
Special Focus:
  • COVID-19
Awards:
  • Recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business for Tax Law (2022-2025)

  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in Tax Law and Tax Litigation & Controversy (2003-2025)

  • Recognized in North Carolina Super Lawyers in Business/Corporate Law (2007-2017)
  • Recognized in Super Lawyers Business Edition for Business/Corporate Law (2015)
  • Recognized by his peers for inclusion in Business North Carolina's "Legal Elite" in Business Law and Tax/Estate Planning (2008)
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Health Care Law

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Publications

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