William R. Cawthorn was born in Petersburg, Virginia. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctor degree in 1972 from the University of Richmond School of Law where he was a member of the McNeill Scholastic Honor Society. Mr. Cawthorn served in the Artillery Branch of the United States Army in 1966 to 1970 and attained the rank of First Lieutenant.
Mr. Cawthorn is the founder of the firm, retired in 2015, and serves as Of Counsel to the firm.