More about Our Firm

Our firm was founded in 2005 by four attorneys, who left a larger firm with the goal of providing high-quality legal representation in a more client-focused and economical manner.

Today, our attorneys have a combined experience of over 60 years in the legal industry and have tried cases throughout Kentucky in state and federal trial and appellate courts. Our firm has achieved significant high marks from our peers, which include listings in U.S. News & World Report and Best Law Firms. Our attorneys are listed in Kentucky Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers and have received high ratings in Martindale-Hubbell for competency and ethics.

Our attorneys focus their practice primarily on civil and regulatory litigation matters affecting a wide range of industries, including the mining industry and healthcare. Whether you are dealing with litigation, employment matters, a workplace safety investigation, buying or selling a business or need assistance reviewing and drafting contracts, we can help.

Meet The Team

John M. Williams

Attorney & Partner

Phone: (859) 245-1059 EXT. 1026

Areas of Practice: Mineral & Energy | Commercial Litigation | Business Organizations and Transactions | Construction Claims | Occupational Safety (Defense)

Background

John M. Williams is a native of Loyall in Harlan County, Kentucky. John graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Business & Economics with a Bachelor of Business Administration (Finance) in 1984 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 1987. He has earned an "AV® Preeminent^TM" rating by Martindale Hubbell. John is a member of the Kentucky, Fayette County, American and Federal Bar Associations. John is a volunteer counselor with the Kentucky Bar Association Lawyer's Assistance Program.

John has extensive litigation experience in federal and state courts throughout Kentucky. Although his practice is primarily in mineral and energy and commercial litigation, John has experience in personal injury, construction claims, architect and engineer defense and collection matters. His experience in mineral law includes drafting and reviewing lease agreements, contract mining agreements and other transactions plus litigation of contract disputes, boundary disputes and personal injury matters. In the commercial litigation area, John has represented parties in business torts, lender liability and a wide variety of contract disputes. John also advises small to medium-sized business on a broad range of corporate matters, including business organization, governance and transactions.

John represents numerous coal companies in mine safety matters before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. He regularly represents operators in special investigations conducted by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and as well as advising these clients on compliance matters. He is also a frequent speaker on mine safety matters at local and national seminars.

John serves on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Kentucky, Inc., and served as Board Chair for two years. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Kentucky Bar Association Lawyers Assistance Program Foundation, Inc. and a past member of the Kentucky State Corrections Commission. John is also a member of the board of directors of Shepherd's House, Inc. John was also on the Board of the Lexington Children's Museum, Inc. for almost ten years, during which he served as Board Chair for five years. He also received the 2015 Community Service Alumni Award from the University of Kentucky College of Law and 2017 Fayette County Bar Association Citizen-Lawyer Award.

John has been with the firm since 2005.

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

Education

Publications

"Stand Out Firm of the Month, Rajkovich, Williams, Kilpatrick & True, PLLC", Attorney At Law Magazine
29 Energy & Min. L. Inst. 299 (2008), The MINER ACT: Keeping Out of Trouble, John M. Williams and Deanna L. Talwalkar
"That Undesirable Client", Attorney At Law Magazine
"Kentucky Lawyers Assistance Program Foundation, Inc.", Kentucky Bench and Bar Magazine, November 2014

Presentations

Classes & Seminars

honors & awards

Associations & Memberships

Past employment

pro bono activities

Melanie Kilpatrick

Attorney & Partner

Phone: (859) 245-1059 EXT. 1023

Areas of Practice: Mineral And Energy | Employment Law | Education | Commercial Litigation

Background

Melanie J. Kilpatrick practices in the areas of mineral and energy, employment law, and commercial litigation. She has authored articles and given presentations on topics of interest in the mineral and energy, employment and education law fields. She is experienced in arguing appellate cases before the United States Court of Appeals, the Kentucky Court of Appeals and the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission. Ms. Kilpatrick has been admitted to practice before the Kentucky Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth and D.C. Circuits.

Ms. Kilpatrick serves on the Board of Directors for the Thomas D. Clark Foundation and Radio Eye, Inc. She is a member of the Fayette County, Kentucky, Federal and American Bar Associations. Ms. Kilpatrick serves on the Scholarship Committee of the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation. She has been recognized in the listing of Kentucky Super Lawyers from 2012-2018.

Ms. Kilpatrick was Articles Editor (1995-96) and a Staff Member (1994-95) for the Kentucky Law Journal. She served as law clerk to the Honorable Eugene E. Siler, Jr. on the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals from 1996-97. Ms. Kilpatrick received her B.A. degree with High Honors in 1992 from the University of Virginia and her J.D. degree (valedictorian) from the University of Kentucky in 1996.

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

Education

University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, Kentucky

J.D. summa cum laude – 1996
Honors: Valedictorian
Honors: Order of the Coif
Law Journal: Kentucky Law Journal, Articles Editor, 1995 – 1996
Law Journal: Kentucky Law Journal, Staff Member, 1994 - 1995

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

B.A. magna cum laude - 1992
Honors: With High Honors
Major: French
Major: Foreign Affairs

Fraternities/Sororities

Kappa Delta

Publications

Classes & Seminars

Presenter, Mineral, Energy and Employment Law Fields
Mine Safety & Health Review, Energy & Mineral Law Foundation & University of Kentucky Mineral Law Center
Coal Mine Mapping, U.S. Department of Labor & Energy & Mineral Law Foundation (EMLF)
MSHA's Right to Information, Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation & EMLF
Legislation by Mine Plan, Energy & Mineral Law Institute
MSHA Enforcement over Engineers and Engineering Consultants, Society of Mining Engineers
Temporary Reinstatement Under The Mine Act, Special Institute on Mine Safety & Health
Challenges to MSHA Enforcement of its POV Rule, EMLF
Mining Regulation, University of Kentucky
Recent Decisions and Trends in Labor and Employment Law, Society for Human Resource Management

honors & awards

Associations & Memberships

Past employment

pro bono activities

Frank Miller, Jr.

Of Counsel

Phone: (859) 245-1059 EXT. 1028

Areas of Practice: General Commercial and Civil Litigation | Transportation Law | Business Organizations and Transactions | Healthcare and Insurance | Probate and Estate Planning

Background

Frank is a native of Bowling Green, and a graduate of Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky College of Law. He practices civil litigation throughout the State, trying cases and arguing appeals on behalf of a wide variety of clients.

Frank is experienced in personal injury, product and professional liability cases, as well as transportation matters, including Board of Claims, railroad, maritime and FELA defense work. He advises business on general corporate and employment issues, and has expertise in liability and health insurance coverage and compliance.

Areas of Practice

Bar Admissions

Education

Associations & Memberships

Past employment

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES

Why work with us?

Experience

Our partners combine more than 60 years of legal experience in these complex practice areas. Who better to represent you than an attorney with that first-hand experience?

Credibility

We have worked with healthcare organizations, mines, and Fortune 500 companies across the country in matters such as hiring, regulatory compliance and workplace health and safety. We also have a lengthy track record of success in federal and state courts.

Teamwork

As our client, you will benefit from the collective knowledge and experience of our entire team of partners, who all bring fresh perspectives and their own unique skills to each case to help you find the best solution.

How can we help?

Contact one of our Attorneys directly to schedule a consultation. Not sure where to start? Feel free to call our firm directly at 859-245-1059 or email our Office Administrator at [email protected].

CONTACT US

PHONE

859-245-1059

FAX

859-245-1231

ADDRESS

3151 Beaumont Centre Circle, Suite 375, Lexington, KY 40513

More about Our Firm

Meet The Team

John M. Williams

Publications

Presentations

Honors and Awards

Melanie Kilpatrick

Frank Miller, Jr.

Why work with us?

Experience

Credibility

Teamwork

How can we help?

FOLLOW US

CONTACT US

PHONE

FAX

ADDRESS