Attorney Daniel J. Williams

7.6 Daniel Joseph Williams

Background and Education

Dan was born in Buffalo, NY, and was adopted by his parents when he was three days old. You could say that Dan has been involved in the family courts since the day he was born. At the age of 8, Dan’s family moved to Raleigh, NC, where he spent the next 14 years. Dan attended Cardinal Gibbons Memorial Catholic High School, graduating in 2001. Subsequently, he attended North Carolina State University, where he obtained two majors in four years. Dan obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy with a Concentration in Philosophy of Law, and also a Bachelor of Arts in English, graduating Summa Cum Laude in both majors in 2005.

Upon completion of his undergraduate education, Dan went immediately into law school, moving to Detroit in 2005 to begin his legal education at Wayne State University Law School. During law school Dan participated in the Moot Court Appellate Advocacy Program.

In 2006, Dan was awarded the Arthur Neef Competition Best Oral Advocate distinction, and in 2008, Dan was a member of the National Moot Court Competition Team, where he helped the team win the Sixth Circuit Regional and finish in the top-20 nationally out of 153 participating teams. As part of that competition, Dan was awarded the Justice Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Medal for Excellence in Advocacy by the American College of Trial Lawyers.

During his time in law school, Dan was also elected to the Student Board of Governors, representing the student body on faculty committees, including the Curriculum Committee which helped determine the courses that would be available to students. Dan also assisted Professor Peter Henning as a student assistant with the editing of a definitive compendium related to Federal Criminal Law and Procedure.

Upon completing law school Dan sat for and passed the Michigan Bar Exam as a first time taker, and was licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan in 2008. In March of 2016, Dan was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the United States, a prestigious admission which allows him to file and argue matters before the United States Supreme Court.

In His Spare Time

In his spare time, Dan most enjoys spending time with his family, especially his significant other’s children and their dogs. Dan is an avid reader of all things fiction and history, when he can find time to do so. Cooking, gardening and politics are at the top of Dan’s personal interests.

Dan was elected as a Councilman in November, 2017 to serve a four year term on the City of Grosse Pointe City Council, an endeavor he could not have completed without the support of all of his family, friends, and the voters who supported him.

Dan is a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, knowing all too well what it means to support and root for the underdog.

Employment

Dan is the joint owner and managing partner at Fowler & Williams, PLC. Ms. Fowler and Mr. Williams founded the firm in August of 2017, after they had determined that there was a need for a Family Law and Criminal Law Firm that was more hands on with clients, and who would be willing to take high-conflict divorce and custody matters, without being judgmental or dismissive of the client’s goals and desires.

Criminal Law Experience

Dan has a vast array of experience in Michigan criminal law. As an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, MI, Dan conducted more than 100 felony trials and held more than 400 preliminary exams during his time with that office. From 2006 until 2015, Dan worked at the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Detroit, MI.

From 2006-2008, while still in Law School, Dan worked as an intern, conducting probable cause hearings, known as preliminary examinations in Michigan, and assisting prosecutors in the homicide division and auto theft division prepare and argue motions, including complex evidentiary issues and those relating to whether actions undertaken by police officers were legally or constitutionally permitted.

From November, 2008 until April, 2010 Dan was a contract attorney with the Prosecutor’s Auto Theft Unit, where he reviewed warrants, continued to conduct preliminary examinations, and began trying felony cases in the Third Circuit Court. Dan was also heavily involved and trained to review, investigate and prosecute complex financial crimes cases, including identity theft, credit card fraud, counterfeiting documents and money, and embezzlement.

Past Cases

In April 2010, Dan was hired as a full time Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and was immediately assigned to the Felony Trials division. From April of 2010 until May of 2011, Dan was a Court Room trial prosecutor, handling a felony docket for an assigned judge. Court room prosecutors not only tried felony jury and bench trial, but also handled evidentiary motions, and constitutional challenges which resulted hearings before the Court.

Dan handled the dockets of five different judges during that time, and after a year, he was moved into the Elder Abuse Unit of the Special Victim’s Unit. Dan was in the Elder Abuse Unit from 2011 until March of 2015. As an Elder Abuse Prosecutor, Dan was responsible for vertically prosecuting, from warrant to conclusion, serious felony matters with victims or witnesses who were 65 years and older, who adults who were considered vulnerable persons by State law. Dan prosecuted murders, home invasions, robberies, rapes, carjackings, vulnerable adult abuse and nursing home abuse, but also financial crimes committed by persons taking advantage of seniors.

During his four years, Dan handled numerous media cases, including several high-profile homicides. He also conducted over 100 jury trials during his five years in the trials division and the Elder Abuse Unit. Dan conducted trials with multiple juries, multiple defendants, insanity defense cases, and even worked on an appellate matter related to peace bonds, and the First Amendment right to protest.

Assistant City Attorney Experience

In March of 2015, Dan left the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office after receiving an offer to work for the prestigious firm of Fausone Bohn, LLP, which is based in Northville, MI. Dan’s love for criminal law continued at Fausone Bohn, LLP, as he was able to practice criminal defense work, but also served as Assistant City Attorney for both the City of Westland and the City of Wayne.

As an Assistant City Attorney, part of Dan’s work was prosecuting misdemeanor and traffic offenses for the Cities of Westland and Wayne. However, at that time, Dan also began to handle family law matters, working with several very experienced family law litigators. Within one year, Dan was handling his own docket of family law and probate clients, and was in the family courts in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties on almost a daily basis.

Dan left Fausone Bohn, LLP in August of 2017 to start Fowler & Williams, PLC because the opportunity to work with his long term significant other in their own endeavor, coupled with being able to have an office in Grosse Pointe, rather than having a nearly two-hour round trip commute each day was too good to pass up.

Current Cases

Now, at Fowler & Williams, PLC, Dan focuses his practice on handling divorce matters, including those with and without children, and those with complex financial issues, as well as child custody and support cases, and post-judgment issues that arise when life changes require a revisiting of the final judgment, or when one party fails to do something that they promised they would do in the judgment.

Family law can be very complex, both legally and emotionally, for clients and sometimes for the lawyers. Dan focuses his practice on helping client’s get out of high-conflict court battles and ensuring that clients are heard by the Court and presses for outcomes that ensure the Courts understand the source of the conflict and the best means by which to address the issues.

Dan has substantial experience dealing with psychologically complex divorces, including those that involve narcissistic and borderline personalities, as well as cases that involve allegations of parental alienation, parental estrangement and “gaslighting.”

Criminal Defense Attorney

Dan also works as a criminal defense attorney, representing clients who are charged with serious felony matters, both in State and Federal Court, including white-collar allegations. Dan has a vast well of experience to draw from related to these cases and uses that expertise to assist clients accused of a crime to the best possible outcome.

Most importantly, Dan is not afraid to go to trial for clients. He has handled more jury trials in his nine years of practice than most attorneys handle in their entire career. No matter is too complex or too difficult for Dan to take on, and he will do so fearlessly.

If you want an attorney to take care of you who has the experience, know-how and willingness to fight for you, Dan is your lawyer.

Outside of Work

On off times, you may find Dan out with his law partner and significant other’s two children, Sophia and Ben, spending time shopping, walking, or having fun playing catch in the yard. You may also find him walking their Golden Retriever Charger and their Chocolate Labrador Retriever Abe down the streets of Grosse Pointe.

You can call or text Dan on his cell (313) 421-8083 any time, or send him an email at infonfw@gmail.com.
If a formal meeting in the office isn’t your thing, Dan and Aimee will be happy to meet you at your local coffee shop, favorite restaurant, or even at your home, if that’s your preference.

Contact Daniel Today!