About William Chad
William Chad McLain began his legal path after earning a J.D. from the University of Tulsa College of Law in 2001. He had earlier completed a B.A. in Finance at Wofford College in 1991. Those two degrees set the stage for a career that ties financial understanding to courtroom work.
He joined the Oklahoma State Bar in 2002 and has remained an active member since. He is admitted to practice in Oklahoma and before the Tenth Circuit, handling matters that arise in both state and federal settings. Over the years he has built a practice that engages with litigation across multiple forums rather than staying confined to a single courtroom.
McLain participates in a number of professional organizations. He holds an officer role in the Oklahoma Association for Justice and serves as president of Tulsa Lawyers for Children. He keeps memberships in the Oklahoma County and Tulsa County bar associations, the American Association for Justice, The National Trial Lawyers, and the Oklahoma State Bar. Those affiliations reflect sustained involvement in local and national legal communities and regular interaction with peers on trial practice and case development.
Colleagues describe him as someone who moves comfortably from procedural details to the courtroom. He has experience in contested settings and in coordinating the steps that take a case from filing to resolution. Membership in trial-oriented groups has shaped his approach to cases that require courtroom preparation and witness examination. He often handles matters that require familiarity with federal practice because of his Tenth Circuit admission.
Much of McLain’s work unfolds out of the Graves McLain head office. He maintains a practice there and participates in its day-to-day litigation work. His role at the firm ties together client intake, case strategy, and the management of litigation tasks. He also remains active in bar and nonprofit circles, balancing firm responsibilities with organizational leadership.
Over two decades after law school, he continues to work on cases in Oklahoma and at the federal level. He is currently practicing at Graves McLain, where his work centers on litigation in Oklahoma and matters before the Tenth Circuit.
