Fax: 518-432-5221

Nancy S. Williamson joined Gleason, Dunn, Walsh & O’Shea in November of 2018, and became a principal in January 2022.  She previously served as the General Counsel at The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York.  Her earlier positions included serving as the Senior Vice President and General Counsel at University of Maryland University College (UMUC) in Adelphi, Maryland, where she was in the Office of Legal Affairs for 15 years. Before joining UMUC, Ms. Williamson was a Claims Counsel at United Educators and a Staff Attorney at The Johns Hopkins University.

Ms. Williamson advises on a wide range of labor and employment issues including harassment and discrimination, new hires and terminations, drafting and review of separation and severance agreements, collective bargaining agreements, grievances, and immigration.  In addition, she drafts and revises employee handbooks and policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  Ms. Williamson has conducted numerous internal investigations of harassment and discrimination in the workplace and has handled many of charges of discrimination filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state and local agencies.  In addition, Ms. Williamson conducts training on harassment and discrimination, compliance, and workplace behaviors.

Ms. Williamson’s practice also includes advising higher education clients on matters including compliance with federal and state law and regulations, Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and other privacy issues, responding to requests pursuant to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), and financial aid audits.

In addition to labor and employment and higher education matters, Ms. Williamson’s practice includes business formation, compliance with not-for-profit corporation law, drafting and reviewing contracts, and handling trademark applications.

Bar Admissions
  • New York
  • Maryland
  • District of Columbia
  • United States District Court, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of Maryland
Education
  • J.D., Cum Laude, University of Baltimore School of Law, 1995
  • B.A., The American University, 1992  
Professional Associations
  • New York State Bar Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association 
  • Albany County Bar Association 
  • National Association of College and University Attorneys (1999-2018)
Published Work and Speaking Engagements
  • July 9, 2021, Moderator – New York State Bar Association, Career High: New York’s Marijuana Regulation Act and Its Impact on the Public Sector
  • March 3, 2021 – Presenter, National Business Institute, FLSA and Wage and Hour Compliance: What Employers Must Know
  • June 8, 2020, Presenter – National Business   Institute, Internal Investigations (as part of the Advanced Employment   Law: What You Need To Know seminar)
  • November 7, 2013, Co-Presenter – National Association of College and University Attorneys, Title IV of the Higher Education Act: Complying with Rules while Watching the Regulatory Horizon
  • December 4, 2012, Co-Presenter – Education Advisory Board, COE Forum, Ask the Expert Panel on Federal Financial Aid Issues
  • October 26, 2012, Presenter – Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions, State Authorization Regulation and the Impact on Distance Education Courses and Placement of Students in Clinical Rotations
  • October 10, 2012 – Co-Presenter – University Professional Continuing and Education Association (UPCEA) Mid-Atlantic Conference, Panel on Implications of Federal Regulations on Distance Education, Gainful Employment, Credit Hours, Financial  Aid Fraud, MOOCs, and Accreditation
  • November 11, 2011 – Co-Presenter – National Association of College and University Attorneys, Legal Ethics and the Role of Counsel in Compliance
  • August 15, 2011, Co-Presenter – Sloan-C 17th Annual Sloan Consortium International Conference on Online Learning, Pre-Conference Workshop, Online  Learning Forum Session entitled, “State Authorization: Out of the Woods and  Into the Forest?”
  • October 22, 2010, Keynote Speaker – University System of Maryland Women’s Forum  Conference entitled “Beyond Sisterhood – Enlightened Women of the 21st Century”
  • June 30, 2010 – Co-Presenter – National  Association of College and University Attorneys Annual Conference, Due Diligence and Contract Review when Dealing with Foreign Universities
  • 2002-2014 – Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Maryland University College (now University of Maryland Global Campus), Legal Ethics, Advanced Legal Research, Employment Law for Business, Principles and Strategies of Successful Learning, and Negotiation Strategies
Community Involvement
  • Shaker Rowing Association, Fundraising Committee
  • D.C. Bar Pro Bono Clinics - Small Business Brief Advice, Nonprofit, and Employee Onboarding & Hiring Legal Clinics
Who We Are
GDWO is committed to providing excellence in legal representation.

Located in New York's capital – Albany, our highly skilled and experienced attorneys are admitted to all state and federal courts in New York, as well as Connecticut, and the United States Supreme Court. We have the experience, knowledge and integrity to represent our clients in a competent, vigorous and professional manner.

Client success is our mission.