November Alumni Spotlight: Sean Williamson

The McConnell Center, founded in 1991, now has an alumni network of over 250 graduates. To help bridge the gap between alumni and current McConnell Scholars, the Center, in partnership with current Alumni Relations Chair Camryn McPherson ('25), will highlight distinguished alumni throughout the year. These alumni exemplify the best of the McConnell Center's three pillars: leadership, scholarship, and service.

This month, we are excited to feature 2011 graduate Sean Williamson for his continued dedication to service.

About Sean

Williamson is a partner in the Louisville offices of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP. As a member of the law firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Service Team, Williamson’s practice extends to all phases of trial and appellate proceedings. He represents a broad range of clients in complex commercial disputes. Williamson’s experience includes fiduciary litigation, trademark actions, sales disputes under the Uniform Commercial Code, products liability and warranty matters, securities litigation, class actions, and constitutional challenges. In addition, Williamson advises businesses and innovators on the protection of valuable, competitive information, such as trade secrets and non-competition issues.

Williamson was born and raised in Ashland, Kentucky. In 2011, he graduated from the McConnell Scholars Program and the University of Louisville with a B.A. in both history and political science. Then, in 2014, Williamson earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Before joining Wyatt, Williamson served as a law clerk to the Honorable Charles R. Simpson III in the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.

For the past nine years, Williamson has coached the McConnell Center’s moot court program—first as an assistant and then as the head coach. Each year, he dedicates himself to helping McConnell Scholars prepare and compete at regional and national levels; he has been a great part of our continued success in moot court competitions.

Earlier this month, Williamson attended the Capital University Classic regional moot court tournament with six McConnell Scholars. Under Williamson’s dedicated coaching, two teams earned bids to nationals.

Williamson also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Volunteers of America Mid-States, Inc., and the Litigation Committee of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.

At home, Sean and his wife, Lauren, are busy chasing after their two young daughters, Eliza (3) and Claire (1).

Q&A

The McConnell Center asked Williamson about lessons on service he's learned through his work. His responses are included below:

What does service mean to you?

"The Service pillar is about using your experience, training, and gifts for the benefit of others. As McConnell Scholars, we all have the ability to make a meaningful contribution. And we can serve in any number of ways—through our professions, mentoring, volunteering, etc."

What lessons have you learned through your continued dedication to service?

"Be picky about what opportunities you pursue. Many organizations will approach you to sit on their boards or participate in their events. You may feel pressure to accept for professional reasons. But it is easy to become overextended. If you devote your time to the organizations you truly care about, the experience will be more rewarding for you and those people you are trying to help."

What should be known about the important work you are doing?

"It has been my pleasure to serve as coach for the McConnell Center’s moot court program. We recently had four students qualify for the national tournament, which will take place this coming January. If any attorney alumni are interested in being guest judges at our practices, I welcome you to reach out to me. You will be impressed by how these undergraduates argue the complex and controversial questions in this year’s case. Many of the students also plan to attend law school and would benefit from being exposed to more practicing attorneys. I must give special thanks to Neil Salyer, for establishing this amazing program, and to Jacob Abrahamson, who is helping me continue it as an assistant coach.

I also need to raise awareness for the great work of Volunteers of America (VOA). VOA is significantly expanding its addiction recovery services across Kentucky. It is difficult to find someone whose life has not been touched by substance abuse. If you, a family member, or a friend are struggling with addiction, I encourage you to contact VOA for help."

Williamson’s dedication to service is a wonderful picture of what service means to the McConnell Center; he uses his experiences, education, and talents as tools to benefit those around him, displaying humility every day. We are grateful for him and proud to call him a McConnell Scholar alumnus.
-Alumni Relations Chair Camryn McPherson ('25)

Have questions about becoming a featured alumnus? Email Camryn McPherson.

Founded in 1991, the non-partisan McConnell Center at the University of Louisville seeks to identify, recruit and nurture Kentucky's next generation of great leaders. Our core principles—leadership, scholarship and service—guide us as we (1) prepare top undergraduate students to become future leaders; (2) offer civic education programs for teachers, students and the public; and (3) conduct strategic leadership development for the U.S. Army.