William D. Coleman
Retired
Phone
(334) 241-8000
Bill.Coleman@chlaw.com
Born in New Orleans on Mardi Gras Day, Bill Coleman was reared in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He obtained his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Alabama. In law school, Bill was an editor on the Alabama Law Review, and he graduated in Farrah Order of Jurisprudence (Order of the Coif). Upon graduation he served in the U.S. Army, Military Intelligence, became a company commander, and was awarded an Army Commendation Medal.
Bill has over forty years of dispute resolution experience, initially in a diverse civil litigation practice. Over the years his practice became substantially devoted to representing companies involved in the construction industry. Bill became known nationally as a “construction lawyer” and was invited in 2002 to become a Fellow of the American College of Construction lawyers, and he served on the Board of the ACCL (2013-2016).
Bill has been engaged in an alternative dispute resolution practice for over 30 years. He is recognized as a talented and successful mediator of all types of civil disputes, including multi-party disputes arising from construction projects. He has served as a neutral mediator in hundreds of cases and is a member of the Master Mediator Panel of the American Arbitration Association. Most construction contracts provide for resolution of disputes through arbitration, and Bill has been involved in hundreds of arbitrations as an advocate or arbitrator.
Any bio of Bill should include mention of his long and dedicated service to his law firm. He has been an integral part of Capell & Howard, evidenced only in part by the length of his service on its board of directors for over 30 years and as its managing director for 15 years until 2010. In March 2015, Bill retired from the firm and currently retains a retired lawyer’s office at the firm.
News of his retirement led to Bill accepting another “part-time” position until January 2018 as in-house counsel for Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood, Inc., a noted architectural and engineering firm with several offices in Alabama and other southeastern states. Bill continues to work part-time as a neutral mediator or arbitrator for the resolution of disputes. He also continues to be significantly involved in professional, civic and cultural associations within the city and state.
Education
J.D., The University of Alabama School of Law, 1967
B.A., The University of Alabama, 1966
Bar Admissions
Alabama, 1967
Admitted To Practice
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Claims
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama
Honors and Awards
The Best Lawyers in America – Arbitration; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Construction Litigation
Best Lawyers – Montgomery Mediation Lawyer of the Year, 2014
Super Lawyers – Alternative Dispute Resolution
National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
Farrah Order of Jurisprudence/Order of the Coif
Jasons Senior Honor Society
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating Award
President, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society
President, Phi Alpha Delta
President, Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Publications and Lectures
Author, “The Mediation Alternative – Participating in a Problem Solving Process, ” THE ALABAMA LAWYER, 1995
Author, “The Arbitration Alternative – Some Common Issues,” THE ALABAMA LAWYER, 2009
Author, Alabama Chapter, PUBLIC CONSTRUCTION LAW SOURCE BOOK, CCH Publishing, 2001
Author, ALABAMA CONSTRUCTION LAW, Professional Education Systems, Inc. (1981) [and updated versions 1984, 1986, 1987]
Co-author, ALABAMA CONSTRUCTION LAW: What Do You Do When…?,” National Business Institute, Inc., 1988
Co-author, “Government Contracts: Delay, Changes and Differing Site Conditions,” Cumberland Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1990
Co-author, “Lien Law – Online,” Alabama Chapter, Construction Publications, Inc., 2001
Co-author, “Alabama Construction Contracting for Public Entities,” Lorman Education Services, 2001
Co-author, “Public Contract Code and Competitive Public Bidding in Alabama,” Lorman Education Services, 2006
Memberships, Affiliations, and Activities
Fellow, American College of Construction Lawyers (2002-Present; Board of Governors, 2013-2016)
Life Fellow, Alabama Law Foundation
Alabama Supreme Court Commission on Dispute Resolution (1994-Present; Chairman, 1996-1998)
Alabama State Bar, Dispute Resolution Section (Chair, Arbitration Committee)
Alabama State Bar, Construction Industry Section
Alabama Center for Dispute Resolution, Inc. (President, 1994-2018)
American Bar Association (Alternative Dispute Resolution Section, Forum Committee on the Construction Industry, Public Contracts Section, Tort and Insurance Section)
American Arbitration Association, Roster of Neutrals (Arbitrator and Mediator), including Large Complex Case Panel and Large Complex Construction Panel
Master Mediator Panel of the American Arbitration Association
CPR: International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, Panel of Distinguished Neutrals
Member, CPR Construction Advisory Committee
National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals
Alabama Academy of Attorney Mediators
Associated General Contractors, Alabama Branch, Associate Member
Associated Builders and Contractors, Alabama Branch, Associate Member
Leadership Alabama, Board of Directors and Executive Committee (Chair, 2010-2011)
Business Committee for the Arts, Board of Directors (Chair, 2011-2012)
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Committee of 100 (Chair, 2007-2009)
Montgomery Education Foundation, Advisory Board of Directors (2008-2012)
Other Professional Experience
Lieutenant, U.S. Army, Military Intelligence (1967-69), awarded Army Commendation Medal
Contact Information
150 South Perry Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
p: (334) 241-8000
f: (334) 323-8888