10/28/2025
Bayard, P.A. Welcomes The Honorable Zuberi "Judge Zu" Williams (Ret.) to the Firm as Chair of the Firm's Business ADR Practice
The Honorable Zuberi B. Williams (Ret.) brings more than 15 years of judicial and mediation experience to Bayard, where he now serves as Chair of the firm’s Business ADR Practice.
At just 36 years old, Judge Zu became one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Maryland. Over the next 10.5 years on the bench, he wasn’t content to simply inherit the system—he worked to build new approaches and expand what was possible. Known for his energy, fairness, and creativity, he helped resolve hundreds of high-stakes civil, commercial, employment, and government matters, always balancing rigor with empathy.
Before joining the judiciary, Judge Zu cut his teeth in Big Law, sharpening his litigation skills on cases that demanded precision, speed, and strategy. He then served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, representing the government and its agencies in matters that shaped public trust—an experience that gave him a deep understanding of how law intersects with people’s daily lives.
Beyond the courtroom, Judge Zu has been on a mission to build and modernize ADR itself—chairing the Maryland District Court’s ADR Subcommittee, seeking to modernize programs across the state, and shaping practices that help parties in high-conflict disputes find resolution with clarity and respect.
His path reflects both depth and range: clerkships with Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of Maryland’s highest court and Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s legendary “Rocket Docket,” followed by years as an Administrative Law Judge, and ultimately as a Maryland District Court Judge in Montgomery County.
A dedicated teacher and thought leader, Judge Zu continues to serve on the faculties of Georgetown Law and American University’s Washington College of Law and School of Public Affairs, where his classes—from Torts to “Law & Popular Culture”—connect legal education with real-world impact. He also trains lawyers nationwide as a faculty member with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), where he teaches trial skills and advocacy.
He holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, an M.B.A. in Management & Entrepreneurship from AU’s Kogod School of Business, and a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University.
Click here to view Judge Zu's Announcement.
At just 36 years old, Judge Zu became one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Maryland. Over the next 10.5 years on the bench, he wasn’t content to simply inherit the system—he worked to build new approaches and expand what was possible. Known for his energy, fairness, and creativity, he helped resolve hundreds of high-stakes civil, commercial, employment, and government matters, always balancing rigor with empathy.
Before joining the judiciary, Judge Zu cut his teeth in Big Law, sharpening his litigation skills on cases that demanded precision, speed, and strategy. He then served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, representing the government and its agencies in matters that shaped public trust—an experience that gave him a deep understanding of how law intersects with people’s daily lives.
Beyond the courtroom, Judge Zu has been on a mission to build and modernize ADR itself—chairing the Maryland District Court’s ADR Subcommittee, seeking to modernize programs across the state, and shaping practices that help parties in high-conflict disputes find resolution with clarity and respect.
His path reflects both depth and range: clerkships with Chief Judge Robert M. Bell of Maryland’s highest court and Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia’s legendary “Rocket Docket,” followed by years as an Administrative Law Judge, and ultimately as a Maryland District Court Judge in Montgomery County.
A dedicated teacher and thought leader, Judge Zu continues to serve on the faculties of Georgetown Law and American University’s Washington College of Law and School of Public Affairs, where his classes—from Torts to “Law & Popular Culture”—connect legal education with real-world impact. He also trains lawyers nationwide as a faculty member with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) and the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), where he teaches trial skills and advocacy.
He holds a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, an M.B.A. in Management & Entrepreneurship from AU’s Kogod School of Business, and a B.B.A. from Texas Christian University.
Click here to view Judge Zu's Announcement.