William M. “Bill” Parrish , Esq., JAMS Mediator and Arbitrator

William M. “Bill” Parrish, Esq., brings more than 47 years of experience in intellectual property and complex commercial litigation to his work as a JAMS neutral. His background includes trying cases before juries, judges and arbitration panels; handling appeals in state and federal courts; and advising clients through every stage of high-stakes litigation.

Bill has developed significant experience across the intellectual property landscape, having handled disputes involving trade secrets, trademarks, trade names, trade dress, copyrights and patents. His practice has also encompassed a wide range of business torts, including unfair competition, deceptive trade practices, tortious interference, breach of covenants not to compete and/or nondisclosure/confidentiality agreements, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair advertising practices. In addition, he has handled contract disputes (including software contracts and other business agreements), partnership disputes and other complex commercial disputes. He has also assisted companies and individuals facing inquiries and enforcement efforts by state attorneys general and the Federal Trade Commission.

Bill has worked in a large national firm and a litigation boutique. He has represented plaintiffs and defendants, including in bet-the-company litigation. He has represented Fortune 100 companies and individuals.

As a mediator, Bill draws on this broad base of litigation experience to help parties navigate complex disputes with focus and purpose. He brings a deep understanding of the strategies commonly employed by both sides, as well as the practical pressures facing parties and counsel and the differing considerations that shape settlement decisions across clients and industries. His mediation style is not to be a message carrier, but to be a mediator who brings knowledge and experience to the table. Prior to each mediation session, he carefully reads the parties' mediation statements, as well as the key briefs and motions in the case and seeks an understanding of all the key issues. He also conducts separate calls with counsel for each party to gather additional information before the scheduled session. Known for his thorough preparation and creative solutions, he fosters a productive and constructive negotiation environment, helping parties assess risk, identify opportunities and move efficiently toward resolution.

Representative Matters

Business Commercial

- Served as mediator in a case involving a dispute between a company that imported goods and a financial company that got an ex parte injunction freezing the sale of goods allegedly owned by a third party
- Served as mediator in a partnership dispute between two brothers over a family business
- Served as mediator in a real estate dispute involving claims of fraud and breach of contract
- Served as mediator in a partnership dispute involving claims of breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of partnership assets, fraudulent concealment and other misdeeds
- Served as lead arbitration counsel for Texas ranch owners in environmental contamination and contract claims, securing an award exceeding $25 million along with required remediation
- Defended a software startup and its CEO in an arbitration over alleged pre-IPO stock promises and obtained a complete defense award after a weeklong hearing
- Defended a company and its CEO in a multiweek arbitration involving fraud, breach of contract, breach of partnership agreement and breach of fiduciary duty allegations
- Represented a video game development company in an arbitration involving milestone and royalty disputes
- Represented a recycling equipment manufacturer in a multimillion-dollar contract dispute and recovered assets despite the defendants filing for bankruptcy
- Represented an individual investor in a partnership dispute involving fraud, conversion and misuse of invested funds, resulting in asset recovery after defendants entered bankruptcy
- Represented software companies in breach of contract disputes with customers
- Represented a mail order company in a Texas Attorney General investigation and negotiated a resolution with no claims filed
- Defended a mail order company in a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission
- Represented a brokerage firm in broker dealer disputes

Intellectual Property

- Served as mediator in a patent dispute between an operating company and an international company involving computer motherboard technology
- Served as mediator in a trademark, trade dress and copyright dispute involving packaging used by competitors who imported a consumer product
- Served as mediator in a trademark dispute involving design and packaging of a plumbing-related product
- Served as mediator in a dispute between two manufacturing companies involving multiple claims and counterclaims, including claims for copyright infringement and claims under the Lanham Act for false advertising
- Represented a formulary company in a trade secret dispute against a competitor and former employee, resolving the matter through settlement shortly after trial began
- Defended a corporate entity and company officers in a case involving the alleged theft of trade secrets
- Represented a patent owner in multiple infringement actions that led to licensing agreements with major companies in the video streaming industry
- Defended a Fortune 100 company in a patent dispute involving refinery technology and secured a claim construction that facilitated settlement
- Represented a medical technology company as both defendant and counter plaintiff in a patent dispute involving medical technology software and equipment
- Defended a technology company in a patent infringement case involving traffic management systems; defeated a preliminary injunction and reached settlement
- Served as local counsel for multiple retail companies in patent cases involving LED technology, facilitating settlements
- Represented a technology company in a trade secret dispute involving a competitor’s unauthorized computer hacking of client’s confidential systems and theft of trade secrets; in addition to the civil case, coordinated with the FBI in connection with a criminal prosecution of the defendants
- Represented a technology company in a trade secret matter involving misappropriation by a former employee and competitor
- Represented a technology company in a trade secret case against former employees and a competing venture, resulting in a recovery of approximately $25 million
- Defended a retail business in a trademark and trade name infringement case, prevailing after a weeklong hearing and securing continued use of the branding
- Represented multiple financial institutions in trademark suits involving banks with similar names
- Defended a consumer products manufacturer in a copyright infringement dispute involving a well-known product; pursued a counterclaim and obtained a prompt resolution allowing continued manufacture and sale
- Represented a doll importer in a copyright dispute and product seizure involving similarities between the client’s doll and another well-known doll
- Represented an NFL football team’s cheerleading squad in various trade dress and trademark disputes with knockoff companies
- Represented a major homebuilding company in a copyright dispute involving architectural designs

Honors, Memberships and Professional Activities

Intellectual Property Litigation, ADR and Business Litigation; Texas Super Lawyers; 2006-2010, 2013-2025
Lawyer of the Year, Patent Litigation, Austin, Best Lawyers®, 2020
Bet-the-Company Litigation, Patent Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Commercial Litigation and Mediation; The Best Lawyers in America®; multiple years
AV Preeminent, Martindale Hubbell 1986–2026
AV Preeminent, Martindale Hubble Judicial Edition, multiple years
Life Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Life Fellow, Texas Bar Foundation
Fellow, Austin Bar Foundation
Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court
- Master of the Bench, 1999–2025
- Executive Committee Member, 2000–2006
- President, 2004–2005
Member, American Bar Association
- Dispute Resolution Section
- Early Dispute Resolution Committee
- Intellectual Property Section
- IP Litigation Committee
- Litigation Section
- Mediation Committee
- Patent Litigation Committee
- Trademark Litigation Committee
Member, State Bar of Texas
- Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Section
- Intellectual Property Section
- Litigation Section
Member, Austin Bar Association
- Board Member, ADR Section
- Mentorship Committee
- Historic Preservation Committee

Bar Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal and Fifth Circuits
United States District Court for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of Texas

Background and Education

Managing Attorney – Austin Office, Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth LLP, 2021–2025
Mediator, Parrish Dispute Resolution PLLC, 2019–2021
Managing Partner, Hardy Parrish Yang LLP, 2017–2021
Partner, DiNovo Price Ellwanger LLP, 2010–2017
Shareholder, Winstead PC, 2006–2009
Jenkens & Gilchrist, 1978–2006
- Management Committee Member, multiple years
- Managing Partner (Austin office), multiple years
Mediator Training, Center for Public Policy Dispute Resolution, The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, 2004
J.D., The University of Texas at Austin School of Law, 1978
B.A. (Plan II with honors), The University of Texas at Austin, 1975
- Phi Beta Kappa
- The University of Texas at Austin Outstanding Student (one male and one female named each year)
- Edward S. Guleke Student Excellence Award