WILLIAM J. WILLIFORD
Accident Injury Attorney
"Where there's a Will, there's a way!"
BEGINNINGS
Will is a native son of Kentucky – born in Louisville-Jefferson county but raised and hailing from Wax, Grayson county – and started his legal career working as attorney Mike Breen and judge Kerry Morgan's law clerk at the age of 18 immediately after high school.
(L) Attorney William Williford as (R) Attorney Mike Breen's law clerk (Bowling Green, Kentucky, 2006)
(L) Attorney Mike Breen and (R) Attorney William Williford as law partners (Bowling Green, Kentucky, 2023)
MILITARY SERVICE
He later joined the United States Army, serving in the Judge Advocate General's Corps as a non-commissioned officer (Staff Sergeant / E-6) for two enlistments; was a paratrooper in the 82d Airborne Division, Joint Special Operations Command, and 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne); and deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) where he was awarded the combat action badge.
While in uniform, he was also awarded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization International Security Assistance Force Medal Ribbon (NATO ISAF), the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon with bronze star device, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the Army Good Conduct Medal with two knot device, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with double bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal Ribbon, parachutist badge, Chilean foreign parachutist wings, and the Army Meritorious Unit Citation with double bronze oak leaf cluster.
Attentive to veteran issues, Will is a Department of Veterans Affairs accredited attorney, a Paid Up For Life Member (PUFL) of the American Legion, an American Veterans Life Member (AMVETS), a Disabled American Veterans Life Member (DAV), and a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Legacy Life Gold Member. Will is also a volunteer for Hospice of Southern Kentucky in the Veteran to Veteran program and has proudly served on the Kentucky Bar Association Military and Veterans Law Committee since 2024 when he was appointed by the KBA President.
Attorney, then Specialist (E-4), William Williford deployed overseas / Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan, 2010)
Attorney, then Specialist (E-4), William Williford re- deployment photo from Afghanistan back to the United States (82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2011)
Attorney, then freshly minted Sergeant (E-5), William Williford motorpool promotion ceremony (82d Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 2011)
Attorney William Williford is interviewed about his military service by the Warren County Public Library as part of the Library of Congress Veterans Oral History Project (Bowling Green, Kentucky, 2017)
STATE BAR ADMISSIONS
FEDERAL BAR ADMISSIONS
United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
(L) Attorney William Williford and (R) Hon. Steve R. Dozier (Tennessee swearing-in) / Division I of Tennessee 20th Judicial District Criminal Court (Nashville, Tennessee)
(L) Attorney William Williford and (R) Supreme Court of Kentucky Chief Justice John D. Minton Jr. (ret.) (Kentucky swearing-in) (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
EDUCATION
A three-time graduate of Western Kentucky University, Will holds a B.A. in Political Science and a B.A. & M.A. in English; he received his J.D. from Nashville School of Law.
Will was a member and Vice President of his law school Honor Council, a keynote speaker (Benedictarian) at his law school graduation, and was voted by his graduate program English professors to receive The Outstanding Master of Arts Student Award.
A staunch supporter of students, starting in 2022, Will has volunteered his time acting as advisor and judge of the Logan County High School Law Club where he counsels and coaches the student members in their mock trial competitions.
In 2024, Will partnered with Western Kentucky University's English Department and Western Kentucky University's Philantropy and Alumni Engagement Department to create the Barbara Ann Williford Memorial High School Writing Contest to honor his Grandma. The goal for this contest is to reinforce the importance of reading and writing for Kentucky high school children and help ease the financial burden of associated with higher education.
Eager to teach, Will also volunteers his time as an instructor for the Society for Lifelong Learning at Western Kentucky University. He also has a rank II Kentucky teaching license issued by the Kentucky Department of Education (EPSB ID No.: 201237927).
Attorney William Williford / Nashville School of Law graduation composite (Nashville, Tennessee)
Attorney William Williford / law school graduation (Nashville, Tennessee)
Attorney William Williford delivers his law school class graduation benediction (Nashville, Tennessee)
Attorney William Williford / Western Kentucky University recognition (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Will is a licensed attorney in both Kentucky (Member Id: 99844) and Tennessee (BPR No.: 039888). He is also a member of the American Bar Association (Member Id: 05785789), the Tennessee Bar Association, the Bowling Green – Warren County Bar Association, the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association, the Kentucky Justice Association, the Melvin M. Belli Society, and is a Kentucky Bar Foundation Life Fellow.
PROFESSIONAL AWARDS
2023 Bowling Green Daily News Best of Bowling Green: Best Personal Injury Lawyer
2023 Bowling Green Daily News Best of Bowling Green: Best Law Firm
2024 The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys: Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in Kentucky
2024 The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Kentucky
2024 VIP Bowling Green Magazine Leaders in Law recognition (August 2024 issue)
2024 VIP Bowling Green Magazine 40 Under 40 recognition (September 2024 issue)
2024 MyLegalWin Top Attorneys Under 40 - Top 10 in Kentucky
2024 Bowling Green Daily News Best of Bowling Green: Best Personal Injury Lawyer
2024 Bowling Green Daily News Best of Bowling Green: Best Law Firm
2025 The National Academy of Personal Injury Attorneys: Top 10 Personal Injury Attorneys Under 40 in Kentucky
2025 The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Kentucky
PRACTICE AREAS
He primarily practices in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death; this includes automobile, trucking, and motorcycle accidents, product liability, bad faith insurance claims, on-the-job injuries, premises liability, and other tort actions.
(L) Attorney William Williford and (R) Paralegal Alea K. Scott (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
TRIAL VERDICTS
Attorney William Williford representing Plaintiff(s):
Kentucky - Barren Circuit Court 13-CI-00487 / Velma Decker, et al. v. Greg Meredith, et al. v. Scotty's Contracting and Stone, LLC and VanMeter Contracting, Inc.: judgment: $22,500,000.00. (December 2023) (Bowling Green Daily News article) (WBKO article)
Kentucky - Warren Circuit Court, Division II, 18-CI-00162 / Doyel v. Neblett & State Farm: unanimous jury verdict: $545,000.00. (April 2023) (WBKO article)
Doyel v. Neblett & State Farm jury instructions and verdict form (Bowling Green, Kentucky April 2023)
Attorney William Williford of Breen & Williford, Injury Lawyers, PSC (Bowling Green, Kentucky)
IF YOU LIKE WINNING, CALL ATTORNEY WILLIAM J. WILLIFORD AT (270) 782-3030
The injury law firm you choose can make a difference.