Biography
A full time mediator and arbitrator since opening the Chicago JAMS/ENDISPUTE office in 1982, Bill’s international practice includes the resolution of over 1,000 complex matters arising in 50 states and foreign countries, as well as appointments by federal and state judges in 10 states, co-mediations with a sitting federal judge and a variety of experts, and training for state, federal, and foreign governments in Asia and Eastern Europe.
Prior to 1982, he practiced law, concentrating on commercial, employment, and insurance related litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants.
Representative Surety/Fidelity Bond Experience: Coverage, Construction, Banking, and Securities Issues
Bill's Surety and Fidelity Bond experience arises out of dozens of Construction, Banking, Securities and Insurance matters successfully mediated. Particularly in multiparty construction matters involving defects, delay, or liquidated damages, there are generally direct or indirect surety issues. He has worked with a majority of the major carriers and their clients in both public and private construction, FDIC, and broker related matters.
- Banking/FDIC Bank closures involving Employee Fraud and related novel Issues. Mediation of several FDIC insured Bank closures after significant employee fraud and a variety of novel issues involving Fidelity Bonds.
- Building Failure: 33 international parties, 32 stories, $42M damages/coverage issues. Allocation of damages among viable and non viable but insured and bonded parties.
- Substantial Public Wastewater Management Project involving Capture Shafts to capture overflow storm water. 9 figure claim involving Sureties, Builders Risk Design and construction issues
- Condominium Construction/Roof Collapse. Claim by Association against a bankrupt builder.
- 70 year old Condominium Split Open During Adjacent Excavation. Allocation of damages among viable and non viable but insured parties.
- Nuclear, Coal, and Turbine Power Plant Construction. Several mediations involving owners claims against semi viable and bankrupt contractors and subcontractors.
- Oceanfront Construction. Mediation involving 100+ member class, 16 separate defendants (several directly represented by their surety) and the construction of a luxury, ocean front condominium.
- Public Construction. Complex public construction projects involving stadiums, airports, universities, sewage treatment facilities involving bonded distressed contractors and subs.
- Securities. Several mediations arising out of claims generated by a very successful former indicted lawyer who successfully changed his identity, joined several securities firms and bilked hundreds of investors and several brokerage firms, and subsequently vanished.
- Honors
- Ranked among the Top 10 ADR Neutrals in Illinois, Leading Lawyers, 2014
- Recommended “Leading Lawyer” Commercial ADR Law
- Memberships & Professional Activites
- Former Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern University
- Kellogg School of Management
- Pritzker School of Law
- Trainer, 30 forums in 15 states, Hong Kong, Latvia, and Lithuania
- Member, Regional Utility Mediation/Arbitration Outage Allocation Panels
- Active Member, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution and SPIDR (now ACR), 1981-present
- Member, Unitarian Church of Evanston
- Former Adjunct Faculty, Northwestern University
- ADR Profile
- "The mediation toolbox," ADR Profile, Chicago Lawyer Magazine, September 2016
- J.D., Northwestern University (Law Review, First Place, Moot Court Competition; National Moot Court team), 1975
- B.S., cum laude, Political Science, Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA, 1972
- Born 1949, Two children, Extensive travel in Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa, Asian/European Russia, Eastern/Western Europe, Caribbean, Central America, and each of the 50 United States
Counsel Comments
- "Bill is an extraordinarily quick study, who thoroughly prepares and thus is very credible in the discussion of strengths and weaknesses. He understands my business, the law and kept us focused on the practical issues driving our dispute.”
-from Feedback: Secrets of Successful (& Unsuccessful) Mediators 2007 Studies II and III
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Practice Areas
- Agribusiness
- Antitrust
- Arbitration
- Banking
- Business/Commercial
- Construction
- Employment
- Energy/Utility
- Engineering and Construction
- Entertainment and Sports
- Environmental
- Estates/Probate/Trusts
- Federal Law
- Franchise
- Health Care
- Insurance
- Intellectual Property
- International & Cross-Border
- Personal Injury/Torts
- Pharmaceuticals/Mass Tort
- Professional Liability
- Securities
- Special Master/Discovery Referee
- Surety
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This page is for general information purposes. JAMS makes no representations or warranties regarding its accuracy or completeness. Interested persons should conduct their own research regarding information on this website before deciding to use JAMS, including investigation and research of JAMS neutrals. See More