In 1951, Marcus J. Williams, a Somerset County native and a graduate of the University of Maryland Law School, began the practice of law at 3 South Main Street, Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland. Mr. Williams shared offices, but did not form a partnership with, William H. Scott, a private practitioner, Daniel T. Prettyman, later Administrative Judge for the Circuit Court for Worcester County, and Edward H. Hammond, Sr., the Court Reporter for the Court of Appeals of Maryland.
In the summer of 1964, Mr. Williams employed Edward H. Hammond, Jr., a student at the University of Georgia School of Law, as his law clerk. Mr. Hammond was joined in 1966 by Joseph E. Moore, then attending the University of Maryland School of Law, who was also hired as a law clerk and as a property surveyor. Mr. Hammond became Mr. Williams’ associate upon his discharge from the Army in 1969, and Mr. Moore also became an associate after completing his active duty service in the Army Reserve later in 1969.
By 1973, Moore and Hammond were made partners of the firm, which was then known as Williams, Hammond & Moore. 1974 marked the arrival of Raymond C. Shockley, who retired from the Maryland State Police in 1970 and joined the firm as a partner after departing the Berlin law firm of Sanford, Bolte & Shockley. Joseph G. Harrison, Jr., joined the firm, then known as Williams, Hammond, Moore & Shockley, in 1975, but by 1978, when Mr. Harrison was made a partner, the firm was known as Williams, Hammond, Moore, Shockley & Harrison.
Richard Collins, law clerk for the Honorable Charles D. Edmondson of the Circuit Court for Dorchester County, joined the firm in 1984. Regan J.R. Smith, law clerk for the Honorable Marvin Smith, Maryland Court of Appeals, and formerly of the Towson firm of Cook, Howard, Downes & Tracy (now Venable LLP), joined the firm in 1988. Brian D. Shockley became the first second-generation member of the firm in 1995 after having been an associate of the Towson firm of Morrow & Hassani. Christopher T. Woodley, law clerk for the Honorable Theodore Eschenburg and the Honorable Thomas Groton of the Circuit Court of Worcester County, joined the firm in 2000. J. Richard Collins, Regan Smith and Brian Shockley were made partners in the firm in 2000.
In July of 2002, Mr. Hammond left the firm to act as the full-time County Attorney for Worcester County after holding that position on a part-time basis since the 70s, and the firm became known by its current name of Williams, Moore, Shockley & Harrison.
In 2010, Christopher T. Woodley was made a partner. Brian Shockley left the firm in 2012 and was sworn in as a Circuit Court Judge for Worcester County, a position he continues to hold today. In 2016, Chris S. Mason joined the Firm after having practiced in Salisbury, Maryland for over 20 years. Peter S. Buas, law clerk for the Circuit Court for Worcester County for the Honorable Thomas C. Groton, Richard R. Bloxom, Brian D. Shockley, Mary M. Kent, and Beau H. Oglesby, joined the firm in the Fall of 2018. Morgan A. Fisher, law clerk for the Circuit Court for Worcester County for the Honorable Bran D. Shockley, Mary M. Kent, and Beau H. Oglesby, joined the firm in the Fall of 2019.
The law firm of Williams, Moore, Shockley & Harrison, LLP has a long history of service and commitment to the Worcester County community. Its members and associates have varied and extensive abilities and specialties creating a comprehensive law firm for the service to its clients and the citizens and visitors to Worcester County.