The Art of Law: Lane Wilson’s Master Perspective

Our chapter hosted an informal evening of camaraderie, cocktails, and snacks as we interviewed former federal judge Lane Wilson about his career twists and turns: what he does, how he does it, and where he attributes his success.

Lane Wilson was named Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Williams in April 2017. He manages Williams’ legal, government affairs, and compliance teams. Lane had previously been appointed to the federal bench as a Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma, presiding over both civil and criminal matters, including substantial civil mediation responsibilities. He served on the Tenth Circuit Judicial Council and was the Northern District’s designated judge on electronic discovery issues in criminal cases. In 2016, he was appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Criminal Law by Chief Justice John Roberts.

Prior to his judicial service, Lane was a partner and member of the Board of Directors for Hall, Estill in Tulsa. His practice focused on complex commercial litigation, including both trial and appellate work. The team of litigation attorneys and paralegals Lane managed represented energy, telecommunications, technology, and construction companies. Prior to attending law school, Lane worked for Exxon (now Exxon/Mobil).

Lane received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from The University of Tulsa in 1989, and his Juris Doctor degree with Honors from The University of Tulsa College of Law in 1994, where he served as the Managing Editor of the Tulsa Law Journal. While an undergraduate at The University of Tulsa, Lane was a member of the school’s varsity men’s tennis team, winning an individual conference championship.