Bill has considerable experience litigating complex commercial matters on behalf of domestic and international clients, including securities, RICO, and fraud cases. In addition, Bill's practice has included assisting in conducting internal investigations and preparing reports for a range of different clients in a variety of matters including securities fraud and contractual disputes. He has also defended individuals in white collar crime cases in federal court. He has been a part of trials in both state and federal courts in Washington, D.C. and other jurisdictions throughout the country. Bill is also a regular contributor to the firm's
Federal Securities Law Blog which was selected by LexisNexis as one of the Top 25 Business Law Blogs in 2011 and is devoted to highlighting current issues in securities law and discussing the ramifications of those issues for today's businesses.
Bill's practice in securities cases has included bringing an action against a New York-based securities broker which resulted in a settlement package valued at more than 60% above the demand in the complaint and bringing an action on behalf of a high-tech company based in Tel Aviv against two U.S.-based and two Canadian-based mutual funds for violations of the Investment Company Act, resulting in a favorable settlement. He has also defended individuals and entities in securities cases, including successfully defending a federal court action against English and Swedish entities alleging RICO and securities law violations based on the takeover of a United Kingdom company, representing a member of the English House of Lords in the successful defense of an action alleging securities and racketeering violations in state court and defending a federal court action against an English Merchant Bank alleging RICO and securities law violations based on the takeover of a mutual fund, resulting in dismissal of the claims against the merchant bank and a favorable settlement for the remaining defendants. His practice has included assisting in an internal investigation for a London-based company in a matter involving securities fraud. In addition, he participated in trials defending individuals accused of securities fraud and wire fraud in criminal cases brought by the Department of Justice.
Bill has handled a variety of matters on behalf of banking institutions, including: representing an English merchant bank which obtained a jury verdict of $24.6 million at the completion of a five-month trial; successfully defending a mortgage company in a state court action in Florida alleging state racketeering and fraud counts; obtaining a dismissal of an action brought against three Swedish entities against a $45 million claim based upon lender liability theories in state court; and obtaining a dismissal of fraud, negligence and breach of contract claims brought against a Florida lender.
Bill's practice also has included representing companies in a variety of matters in state and federal court, such as obtaining a dismissal from a federal court action of an $80 million antitrust claim against a Washington-based office supply company; defending a New Jersey-based plastics distributor and its officers in various federal courts against breach of contract claims; obtaining a dismissal from a federal court action for an Ohio accounting firm accused of malpractice; successfully bringing a trademark infringement action in federal court in Maryland; preventing the hostile takeover of a District of Columbia corporation; and representing a west coast-based telecommunications company in federal court against claims of fraud and conspiracy.
In addition, prior to joining Porter Wright, Bill was a member of the trial team in a six-month jury trial concerning the manipulation of the silver futures market, which resulted in a favorable $197 million judgment.
Bill also serves as the Administrative Partner of the firm's Washington DC office.