Long time UFC attorney Colby Williams leaves for Red Rock Casinos
The UFC's best trial attorney is reportedly gone from the antitrust case by September
It’s exactly the kind of headline that would normally fly under the radar, but the ramifications are too big to ignore.
J. Colby Williams, attorney for the UFC since the Zuffa era, will no longer represent the company as of September. The veteran trial attorney will become both the Executive Vice President and General Counsel for Red Rock Casinos.
The UFC was a major client of the Las Vegas law firm Campbell & Williams.
Current UFC EVP & CBO Hunter Campbell is the son of Don Campbell, Colby Williams’ long-time law partner.
Campbell & Williams has represented and currently represents significant clients in Nevada-based legislation, including Dana White and TikTok. This recent 2025 Eighth Judicial Court video demonstrates the silky smooth Colby Williams in action:
Colby Williams is one of the most trusted individuals in the orbit of Frank & Lorenzo Fertitta. You don’t have to take my word for it.
“On behalf of the entire organization, I want to thank Jeff for his leadership and contributions that have positioned us for continued success, and to wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement,” said Frank Fertitta III, Chief Executive Officer of the Company. “We are looking forward to welcoming Colby, a longtime and trusted advisor to the Company and to me. His successful and impressive legal track record and his intimate familiarity with our organization will ensure a seamless transition.”
Mr. Williams is expected to join the organization on or around Sept. 8, 2026 and will oversee and execute the Company’s legal, regulatory and compliance matters. Mr. Williams is a founding partner of the litigation boutique Campbell & Williams. Over his thirty-plus year career, he has handled numerous precedent setting cases in the fields of complex commercial litigation, high stakes administrative proceedings, catastrophic personal injury, and First Amendment Law. In that role, Mr. Williams has worked closely with the Company’s executive team and legal department for two decades. In addition to many other awards and accolades Mr. Williams has held an AV “Preeminent” ranking for two decades, which is the highest rating for legal skill and ethical practices designated by Martindale-Hubbell. In March 2025, Mr. Williams was inducted into the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor reserved for the top 1% of trial attorneys in the country.
This is a big deal.
For our little corner of the fight world, Colby Williams leaving the UFC antitrust case is by far the biggest legal bombshell to date.
Simply put, Colby Williams is the best trial attorney UFC had access to. For him to leave the case should signal a red flag.
There are a few reasons why this development is important to track.
