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Demi Williams Coles

Demi Williams Coles

Senior Counsel, Dallas
214.953.6121
dswilliams@jw.com
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Biography Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Community Involvement Client Results News & Insights
Demi Williams Coles

Demi Williams Coles

Senior Counsel, Dallas
214.953.6121
dswilliams@jw.com
Email LinkedIn vCard Print
Recognition & Accolades Publications & Speeches Community Involvement Client Results Attorney News

Practice Areas

  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Business Litigation
  • Employment & Governmental Investigations
  • Entertainment Litigation
  • Entertainment, Digital, & Sports
  • Export Controls Enforcement
  • Global Anti-Corruption Compliance and Defense
  • Investigations & White Collar Defense
  • Media
  • Media Litigation
  • Sports

Biography

Demi Williams Coles’ practice focuses on sports, investigations, and complex business litigation. A skilled trial attorney, Demi has successfully tried more than 20 cases in state and federal court. She thrives in spaces like the courtroom, where flexibility, poise, and confidence are vital.

Practicing in the Entertainment, Digital, and Sports Group at Jackson Walker, Demi’s matters have involved athlete name, image, and likeness (NIL), athlete eligibility, defamation, copyright infringement, music publishing rights, and more. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, Demi served as a litigator and prosecutor, with experience in complex civil litigation, criminal prosecution, federal government investigations, and school law. Her practice included defending public, private, and charter schools across Texas and continues to include representing individuals and entities in investigations by the Department of Justice and other governmental entities. Relying on over a decade of experience, Demi has mastered meeting each client’s nuanced needs through attention to factual and legal detail and effective communication.

Demi honed her trial skills as an assistant district attorney in San Francisco and in pro bono immigration defense matters. Outside of the law, Demi has worked in various capacities within the sports industry, including with collegiate athletic departments and, currently, as a speaker to athletes and coaches.

Education

B.A., summa cum laude, Pepperdine University

  • Most Outstanding Psychology Graduate
  • Spanish Immersion, Universidad CatĂłlica Argentina

J.D., University of California, Berkeley

  • Berkeley Journal of Entertainment and Sports Law, Co-Founder and Opinions Editor
  • Prosser Prize for Civil Trial Practice
  • American Jurisprudence Award for Clinical Work
  • Dean’s Fellow

Bar Admissions

Texas
California

Court Admissions

U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
  • Vinson & Elkins Pro Bono Award, 2013
  • MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Fellow, 2009-2012

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association Fireside Chat (March 2025)
  • Panelist, “Navigating the NIL Landscape,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Houston Bar Association (October 2024)
  • Guest Lecturer, “NIL Entrepreneurship,” Texas Christian University’s Neely School of Business, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (October 2024)
  • Panelist, “Navigating NIL: Legal Implications for the Evolution of the Student Athlete,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association (August 2024)
  • Panelist, “Building Brands in the NIL Age,” American Advertising Federation (AAF) Fort Worth (May 2024)
  • Panelist, “NIL’s New Frontier: Legal Ramifications in High School & College Athletics,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of Dallas Bar Association (August 2023)

  • The Ready Athlete
    • Founder
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • J.L. Turner Legal Association

Texas Federal Court Dismisses Doctor’s $100M Defamation Suit Against CNN, Setting Useful Precedent for Cases That Interject Political Debate Into Courthouses

October 25, 2022

More Client Results

Demi Williams

April 1, 2025
Speaking Engagements

Demi Williams Coles Joins Sports and Entertainment Law Fireside Chat Celebrating Women’s History Month

Demi Williams Coles took part in an inspiring all-women fireside chat in celebration of Women’s History Month. Hosted by the SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association, the event brought together leading female attorneys in the sports industry to share their stories, career advice, and insights.

Demi Williams

December 27, 2024
Speaking Engagements

October Highlights: Demi Williams Coles Leads NIL Discussions

During the month of October, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams Coles participated in three NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) events, providing valuable insights into this evolving legal landscape.

Demi Williams

September 17, 2024
Speaking Engagements

Demi Williams Joins NIL Panel Discussion at Dallas Bar Association CLE

On Wednesday, August 28, Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams participated in a panel discussion entitled “Navigating NIL: Legal Implications for the Evolution of the Student Athlete,” hosted by the Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association as part of their continuing legal education (CLE) program.

Best Lawyers 2025 edition graphic - 306 attorneys recognized, 81 specialty areas, 75 Ones to Watch, and 9 Lawyers of the Year

August 15, 2024
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Features 306 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2025 Edition, Including 9 “Lawyers of the Year” and 75 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 306 Jackson Walker attorneys across 81 specialty practice areas in its 2025 edition, including 9 Lawyers of the Year and 75 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (75 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (55 attorneys) and the addition of 27 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

Demi Williams

May 29, 2024
Speaking Engagements

Demi Williams Joins NIL Panel Discussion Presented by American Advertising Federation Fort Worth

Jackson Walker senior counsel Demi Williams will be a panelist at a discussion hosted by the American Advertising Federation (AAF) Fort Worth on Thursday, May 30.

Dallas Bar Association Entertainment CLE - Featuring Kheana Pollard, Demi Williams, Shayan Gaziani, Andrew Rhoden, and Justin Jones

August 23, 2023
Speaking Engagements

Shayan Gaziani and Demi Williams Speak on NIL Panel Presented by Dallas Bar Association’s Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section

The Dallas Bar Association’s Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section on August 23, 2023, hosted a CLE panel featuring Jackson Walker attorneys Shayan Gaziani and Demi Williams along with Justin Jones (Fee Smith & Sharp), Andrew Rhoden (Masterly Legal Solutions), and Kheana Pollard (Bell Nunnally & Martin).

USA flags

August 17, 2023
Attorney News

‘The Best Lawyers in America’ Honors 287 Jackson Walker Attorneys in 2024 Edition, Including 12 “Lawyers of the Year” and 80 “Ones to Watch”

The Best Lawyers in America has recognized 287 Jackson Walker attorneys across 5 offices and 82 specialty practice areas in its 2024 edition, including 12 Lawyers of the Year and 80 Ones to Watch. In this year’s guide, Jackson Walker saw the largest number of attorneys in the areas of Commercial Litigation (66 attorneys) and Real Estate Law (60 attorneys) and the addition of 35 attorneys as Best Lawyers.

JW Perspectives Newsletter 2022

November 17, 2022
Newsletters

JW Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter – November 2022

View Jackson Walker’s November 2022 Diversity & Inclusion Newsletter, Perspectives.

JW Media Group VIA eNewsletter

October 29, 2021
Newsletters

JW Media | VIA ePostcard – October 2021

View the October 2021 edition of the JW Media | VIA ePostcard.

More Attorney News

Recognition & Accolades

  • The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White Inc.), Commercial Litigation, 2024-2025
  • Vinson & Elkins Pro Bono Award, 2013
  • MCCA Lloyd M. Johnson, Jr. Fellow, 2009-2012

Publications & Speeches

Speaking Engagements

  • Panelist, SMU Dedman Sports and Entertainment Law Association Fireside Chat (March 2025)
  • Panelist, “Navigating the NIL Landscape,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Houston Bar Association (October 2024)
  • Guest Lecturer, “NIL Entrepreneurship,” Texas Christian University’s Neely School of Business, Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (October 2024)
  • Panelist, “Navigating NIL: Legal Implications for the Evolution of the Student Athlete,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of the Dallas Bar Association (August 2024)
  • Panelist, “Building Brands in the NIL Age,” American Advertising Federation (AAF) Fort Worth (May 2024)
  • Panelist, “NIL’s New Frontier: Legal Ramifications in High School & College Athletics,” Entertainment, Art & Sports Law Section of Dallas Bar Association (August 2023)

Community Involvement

  • The Ready Athlete
    • Founder
  • Dallas Bar Association
  • J.L. Turner Legal Association

Practice Areas

  • Trial & Appellate Litigation

Experience

  • Business Litigation
  • Employment & Governmental Investigations
  • Entertainment Litigation
  • Entertainment, Digital, & Sports
  • Export Controls Enforcement
  • Global Anti-Corruption Compliance and Defense
  • Investigations & White Collar Defense
  • Media
  • Media Litigation
  • Sports

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