F. John Williams III

Co-Chair, Trusts & Estates Department and Shareholder, Fredrikson & Byron P.A.

Audit Committee | Finance Committee

Terms served: 2026-2029

Career:

F. John Williams III is co-chair of the Trusts & Estates Department at Fredrikson & Byron P.A., where he helps business owners, farmers, ranchers, executives and professionals navigate sophisticated estate planning, business succession, trust administration, and probate matters. Drawing on the work ethic he developed on his family's farm, John is known for building trusted relationships and helping clients address complex family business succession, asset protection, and tax issues. He and his team work closely with clients to develop solutions that are both financially sound and emotionally satisfying.

John has earned numerous professional honors, including recognition in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Trusts & Estates (2021–2025), Trusts & Estates (2021–2025), and Tax Law (2025). He has also been recognized by the Chambers High Net Worth Guide for Private Wealth Law in North Dakota (2017–2025), received Martindale-Hubbell's AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rating (2016–2023), been named a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (2017–present), and been selected as a Great Plains Super Lawyer in Estate & Probate (2017–2022).

John and his wife, Megan Marie (Berg), '97, have two children, Emmy and Freddie.

Community Involvement:

John is active in the Fargo-Moorhead community. He serves as president of the Oak Grove Lutheran School Foundation Board and as a member of the Foundation's Board of Regents. He previously served on the Greater Fargo/Moorhead Economic Development Corporation's Growth Initiative Fund Board (2013–2019), the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Upper Midwest Chapter Board (2009–2014), and the Minnesota State University Moorhead Graduate Studies Advisory Board (2009–2010).