Drawing from his 30+ years of experience as in-house counsel, including as Chief IP Counsel for Lear Corporation, Bill offers sophisticated business judgment that is rare in private practice. His in-house experience includes service for the US Army, BASF, SC Johnson, and Detroit Diesel. As evidence of his breadth and depth, Bill has structured acquisitions of technology companies, set up engineering entities in China for developing next generation batteries, cross-licensed IP, and litigated patent and trade secret issues. He knows how to focus on the clients' specific business objectives, regardless of technology or industry. And he delivers results.

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Bill's distinctive style makes him effective as a first chair litigator and as a lead transactional lawyer. He has formed companies and structured acquisitions in the US, Germany, Canada & China. Bill has negotiated on behalf of prime- and sub-contractors to the U.S. government using his mastery of the regulations, including the FARs and DFARs. 

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Bill also continues to author patent applications and opinions across technological disciplines and industries.

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recognition 

Best Lawyers in America, Corporate Law, 2022-2023

Best Lawyers in America, Intellectual Property, 2024-2025

Leaders in the Law, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, 2020

Top Lawyer, DBusiness magazine, 2014, 2017-2019

Leading Lawyers, 2017-2024

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publications & Speaking engagements​​

• Accessing Third Party Technology to Launch New Products, Laches, Apr. 2022 (with Linda Kennedy)

• Protecting IP in Michigan's Defense Corridor, IPLS Proceedings, v. 31, issue 1, 2020 (with Linda Kennedy)

• Developments in the Chinese IP Landscape; The Battery Show, 2019

• How Government Interests Affect Downstream Use of IP; AIPLA Annual Meeting, 2018

• Smart Cars need Smart Protection: Managing your IP in the Connected Vehicle; Connected Car Symposium, 2016  

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Education

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D.

Bradley University, B.S. 

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admissions 

State of Michigan

State of Wisconsin

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

U.S. Court of Federal Claims

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

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