Biography

Bill, a shareholder with Clausen Miller P.C., focuses his practice on complex tort litigation. He frequently defends manufacturers in product liability actions, and construction entities sued following workplace accidents. Bill has handled the defense of numerous premises liability matters, and has defended consumer class action lawsuits in Illinois, New York, and Louisiana. Bill has represented municipalities, police and private security officers, dispatchers, and ambulance companies in civil rights and tort matters.

Bill regularly represents clients following large-scale fire and explosion losses, involving deaths, personal injuries, and property damage. He often begins handling such matters in the immediate aftermath of a loss, retaining appropriate experts to investigate origin, cause, and spread issues. If suit is filed, Bill participates in all aspects of litigation through trial. Representative fire and explosion cases Bill has handled include:

• Defending a product manufacturer in a lawsuit involving 100 deaths and over 200 personal injuries resulting from a Rhode Island nightclub fire.
• Obtaining summary judgment in favor of a sprinkler contractor following a fire at an Illinois casino causing over $80 million in damages.
• Defending a commercial property developer in a lawsuit alleging tens of millions of dollars in property damage resulting from a wildfire on California’s Catalina Island.
• Defending a product manufacturer after a warehouse fire in Iowa caused tens of millions of dollars in property damages.
• Defending a commercial tenant following an explosion during the manufacturing process at an Indiana warehouse causing a multi-million dollar loss.

Bill has successfully mediated and tried many cases, and has briefed, argued, and won appeals in the Illinois Appellate Courts, the Illinois Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Bill joined Clausen Miller in 1994, after serving as an Assistant Illinois Attorney General, and an Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney. He is a graduate of the Teaching Advocacy Skills program of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has an AV Preeminent rating with Martindale-Hubbell indicating the highest ranking in legal ability and ethical standards as determined by his peers in the legal community.

• Chicago

  Illinois 60603

  10 South LaSalle Street

  Chicago, Illinois 60603

  T: 312.855.1010 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick

• New York

  New York 10005

  28 Liberty Street 39th Floor

  New York, New York 10005

  T: 212.805.3900 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

• Mission Viejo

  California 92691

  27285 Las Ramblas

  Suite 200

  Mission Viejo, California 92691

  T: 949.260.3100 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

• Florham Park

  New Jersey 07932

  100 Campus Drive

  Florham Park, New Jersey 07932

  T: 973.410.4130 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 973.410.4169 Office Managing Partner: Carl M. Perri

• Michigan City

  Indiana 46360

  200 Commerce Square

  Michigan City, Indiana 46360

  T: 219.262.6106 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partners: Paige M. Neel, Kimbley A. Kearney

• Appleton

  Wisconsin 54914

  4650 W. Spencer Street

  Appleton, Wisconsin 54914

  T: 920.560.4658 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 920.968.4650 Office Managing Partner:

• Stamford

  Connecticut 06902

  68 Southfield Avenue

  2 Stamford Landing Suite 100

  Stamford, Connecticut 06902

  T: 203.921.0303 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 212.805.3939 Office Managing Partner: Matthew J. Van Dusen

• Tampa

  Florida 33609

  4830 West Kennedy Boulevard, One Urban Center

  Suite 600

  Tampa, Florida 33609

  T: 813.509.2578 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick

• San Francisco

  California 94111

  100 Pine Street

  Suite 1250

  San Francisco, California 94111

  T: 415.287.2744 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 949.260.3190 Office Managing Partner: Ian R. Feldman

• Houston

  Texas 77019

  2929 Allen Parkway

  American General Center, Suite 200

  Houston, Texas 77019

  T: 346.229.4612 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

• Dallas

  Texas 75201

  325 N. Saint Paul Street

  Suite 3100

  Dallas, Texas 75201

  T: 469.942.8635 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Ramy P. Elmasri

• Boca Raton

  Florida 33434

  7777 Glades Road

  Suite 405

  Boca Raton, Florida 33434

  T: 561.765.5305 TF: 800.826.3505 F: 312.606.7777 Office Managing Partner: Dennis D. Fitzpatrick