Shoran Williams

General Counsel and Chief Regulatory Officer

FLURESH

Shoran Reid Williams’ litigation practice spans more than 25 years.  It ranges from in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 insurance company to law firm practices in both Georgia and Michigan.  In addition, she has spent several years as an adjunct law professor, author and small business owner.
Litigation Practice

Ms. Williams’ litigation practice experience extends into the areas of administrative law, civil litigation, appellate law, personal injury and family law.  Regardless of the type of dispute, as an experienced lead attorney she is adept at working with a wide-range of clients on:

Advising on legal implications
Drafting and arguing briefs
Negotiating agreements
Resolving cases through appropriate dispute resolution including mediation, arbitration and trial
Ms. Williams has successfully obtained favorable results for her clients in state and federal courts and before government agencies.

Cannabis and Hemp Industry

Ms. Williams is a trusted advisor on legal issues related to the rapidly growing and evolving cannabis and hemp industry in North America.  Two noteworthy bills that have accelerated the interest in the industry are the United States 2018 Farm Bill and Michigan’s activation of authority pursuant to the United States 2014 Farm Bill being utilized to launch the State’s Industrial Hemp Ag pilot.

Ms. Williams is familiar with the ins and outs of the 2018 Farm Bill and including the fact that marijuana remains a Schedule 1 drug in the U.S.  She can counsel Michigan entities on the licensing process, THC testing procedures, inspections, disposal of plants carrying >0.3% TNS and record keeping.

Ms. Williams assists business owners with issues related to being in the cannabis and hemp industry or wanting to do business with growers and suppliers in this industry.  Some of the legal issues that intersect including: compliance, trade secrets, finance, interstate transportation, dispute resolution, and acquisitions.

Change Agent and Thought Leader

Ms. Williams works with clients to gain their respect through realistic, strategic initiatives that anticipate the changing needs of the workforce, building a winning culture and driving continuous improvement. She endeavors to decrease the costs and complexity of initiatives in order to optimize resources focused on business outcomes.

Ms. Williams is an advocate for sustainable change with regard to diversity and believes that requires involving the right parties and effectively engaging with them on issues.

Professional Affiliations and Activities

Ms. Williams is a member of the American Bar Association Personal Injury Law Section.  She is also a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.  She is licensed in the state of Georgia and practiced in Atlanta for a number of years. She continues to be a member of the Georgia State Bar, and is a past member of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association and the Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.

Ms. Williams was an adjunct professor at Florida Coastal School of Law for several years. She created and taught the Personal Injury Law course in addition to Pre-Trial Litigation and Contract courses.

In 2020, Ms. Williams was accepted into the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) Fellows Program.  The program accepts mid-career attorneys with strong leadership and relationship skills who are committed to fostering diversity within the country’s leading law firms and largest companies, and the legal profession at large.

Publications and Presentations

Ms. Williams is the author of “Waking the Sleeping Demon: 26 Hours of Terror in Atlanta”, a non-fiction account following the life of a prosecutor during the hours that Brian Nichols escaped from and eluded police.  The book was selected as a Freshmen Reading Experience by Tiffin University and was later made into a MSNBC documentary.  She spoke across the country on topics raised in the book.

She is a requested presenter and author for topics related to the burgeoning hemp industry.  In Winter 2020, Ms. Williams authored the article, “The Best-Laid Plans. Social Equity Programs and the Cannabis Space.” in MiCIA Magazine, the official trade journal of the Michigan Cannabis Industry Association.  In June 2019, Ms. Williams presented “Is Hemp Worth the Hype?” at the Business of Marijuana in Michigan seminar in Grand Rapids. The conference offered continuing education credits and was hosted by the Rossdale Seminar Group out of Miami, Florida.  She is also sought-after by civic organizations and community groups for monthly meetings.  In addition, Ms. Williams was interviewed for the article “A Legal State: Women in Marijuana Give Their Perspective on Michigan’s Green Frontier” in West Michigan Women’s Lifestyle magazine in the March 2019 issue.

Community Activity

Ms. Williams is always exploring avenues and ways to give back to the community especially in areas that impact women and families. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the Womens’ Resource Center and is a member of Inforum – women’s alliance.

Education

Ms. Williams earned her J.D. from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 1994.  She participated in the St. Anne’s College of Law Program at Oxford University.  She was on the National Moot Court Team.  Ms. Williams received a Bachelor of Public Administration degree from Miami University in Ohio in 1991.

She is licensed to practice in Michigan and Georgia.