Madeline Lipe Williams

Madeline has a versatile practice, with a primary focus on community associations, business law, and land use and zoning matters. 

As a community associations attorney, Madeline frequently advises boards regarding the formation of new community associations, corporate governance, procedural requirements, governing document amendments, fiduciary duties, inspection rights, collection issues, and rule adoption and enforcement.

Madeline also devotes a portion of her practice to helping clients navigate zoning and land use issues, including, but not limited to, zoning and rezoning matters, special use permits, conditional rezonings, and variances.

Additionally, Madeline works with businesses and their ownership and management teams on various transactions and regularly assists companies with business entity formations and general corporate and contractual matters.

In 2019, Madeline was a Ward and Smith summer associate. Prior to joining the firm, She served as a judicial extern for North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby, where she wrote legal memoranda and researched state and federal law as it pertains to civil and criminal matters, including business law and community associations matters.

Education

• J.D., cum laude, Campbell University School of Law, 2020
• B.S., magna cum laude, Appalachian State University, 2013

Honors and Distinctions*

• Leadership Wilmington, Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, Class of 2025
• Encounter Wilmington, Fall 2023
• Calhoun Advocacy Award – Awarded for the best performance in the trial and appellate advocacy program.
• Order of Barristers – National society recognizing outstanding performance in the art of advocacy.
• Leadership High Point, Class of 2015

Professional and Community Affiliations

• CREW Network, Cape Fear Chapter
• The Community Associations Institute – North Carolina Chapter, Legislative Action Committee, Secretary, delegate, present - 2024
• Attorney Roundtable, CAI-NC, Committee Chapter

Related News

• Ward and Smith Sponsors Work on Wilmington as Attorney Madeline Williams Leads Volunteer Effort
• Ward and Smith Attorneys Reflect on the Impactful Work of the Community Associations Institute's North Carolina Legislative Action Committee
• Madeline Lipe Williams Named CAI-NC Legislative Action Committee Secretary

Admitted to Practice

• North Carolina, 2020

* Please see the following websites for an explanation of the membership standards for the following recognitions: www.bestlawyers.com; businessnc.com/special-sections/legal-elite/; and www.superlawyers.com/north-carolina.