Bill is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who also maintains an active appellate practice. He has lost only two trials in thirty years. In addition to his regular trial work, he has argued thirty-seven cases on appeal, including two to the U.S. Supreme Court, prevailing in thirty-one of those appeals.
Bill is currently serving as Special Master in Kansas v. Nebraska and Colorado, No. 126, Original (U.S.S.Ct.). He is also currently representing three owners of former nuclear generating plants seeking recoveries for New England rate-payers from the DOE for its refusal to remove spent nuclear fuel, and a national bank in a series of class actions consolidated in an MDL proceeding in Florida. Previously, he represented the California Public Utilities Commission in obtaining recoveries for rate payers from wholesale energy sellers who signed long term electricity contracts with the state during the energy crisis in 2000 and 2001.
During the past few years he represented the world's major car manufacturers in a series of consolidated state and federal antitrust class actions, successfully securing decertification and summary judgment, while also representing the nation's largest disability insurer in defeating class certification in a series of consolidated, national ERISA class actions. Previously, he secured a $60 million recovery for a nuclear plant owner after a trial in Delaware.
Honors & Distinctions
In 2010, Bill received the Maine Bar Foundation's Dana Award for his career-long pro bono work on behalf of low-income Maine citizens. Bill has also been recognized by the Disabilities Rights Center, the Maine Equal Justice Project and the Maine Children's Alliance for pro bono service to disabled Maine children.
Bill is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America for its highest "Bet-the-Company Litigation" and "Commercial Litigation" rankings. He is also recognized by Chambers USA and was named one of the top 500 litigators in the U.S. by Lawdragon Magazine.
Professional Activities
Fellow and Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers
Member, ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, 2007-2010
Member, The American Law Institute
Chair, Magistrate Judge Selection Committee, U.S. Dist. Ct. Me., 2007
Chair, Maine's Campaign for Justice, 2006
President of the Maine Bar Foundation, 2004
Chair of Maine's Professional Ethics Commission, 2002
Co-chair of the Legal Services Response Team, 2001-2003, which helped coordinate legal aid projects in Maine
Maine's representative to the ABA Summit on Civil Justice Improvements, 1993
Chair of the Maine Board of Bar Examiners, 1988-1990
Civic Activities
Member, University of Maine School of Law Board of Visitors
Member, Board of Pericles Foundation