Bill Devine has a diverse practice in federal and state courts, arbitration panels and before governmental agencies throughout Virginia and in state and federal courts around the country. Bill works closely with management and in-house counsel to attain the client’s strategic objectives throughout the litigation process. Practicing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where cases routinely go to trial within six to eight months of filing, has taught Bill to hone in on the critical issues in cases and to focus discovery and aggressive motions practice on these areas. Recognizing the importance of early, accurate risk assessment and budgeting in litigation, and the potential benefits of alternative dispute resolution in appropriate cases, Bill applies legal project management principles to case analysis and strategy, staffing, information management and budgeting in order to increase efficiency of case management and maximize the predictability of litigation expenses.
Bill Devine has a diverse practice in federal and state courts, arbitration panels and before governmental agencies throughout Virginia and in state and federal courts around the country. Bill works closely with management and in-house counsel to attain the client’s strategic objectives throughout the litigation process. Practicing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, where cases routinely go to trial within six to eight months of filing, has taught Bill to hone in on the critical issues in cases and to focus discovery and aggressive motions practice on these areas. Recognizing the importance of early, accurate risk assessment and budgeting in litigation, and the potential benefits of alternative dispute resolution in appropriate cases, Bill applies legal project management principles to case analysis and strategy, staffing, information management and budgeting in order to increase efficiency of case management and maximize the predictability of litigation expenses.
Bill handles complex commercial litigation involving contracts; intellectual property; business torts; unfair business and trade practices; interference with contracts and business expectancies; misappropriation of trade secrets and proprietary information; breach of fiduciary duties; fraud and deceptive business practices; business conspiracies; oppressive conduct; dissolution of corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and other business entities; defamation; and multiple claimant litigation on behalf of a wide variety of clients. Some of his clients include national retailers, municipalities, manufacturers and suppliers, distributors, lenders, real estate developers, resorts and malls. Bill has represented national retailers in recovering overcharges of common area maintenance, taxes, and insurance and has defended national manufacturers and retailers against antitrust, intellectual property, unfair business practice, trade secrets and related claims, as well as a wide variety of contract and business tort actions. Bill has defended municipalities in toxic tort actions and against claims of improper rezonings and constitutional violations and has represented developers in challenging the inclusion of property in special tax districts and the denial of development permits. He has represented businesses and individuals in insurance coverage disputes and commercial disputes.
Bill is a member of the firm's State and Local Taxation practice group, focused primarily on property tax assessments. He has represented numerous commercial and industrial property owners in challenging property tax assessments, resulting in significant recoveries of taxes and interest, as well as reducing future tax burdens for the owners. Bill is an active member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation.
Bill has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (2010-present) and recognized by Virginia Business magazine as one of Virginia’s “Legal Elite" (2008-2011, 2013-2014). He has been listed in Virginia Super Lawyers magazine (2007-present) and as a leading litigation attorney by Chambers USA (2009-2010, 2012-2014). He has also been named a "Local Litigation Star" by Benchmark Litigation (2012-present).
He has also lectured widely at continuing legal education programs focused on a variety of litigation topics, including the challenge of trying cases in the Eastern District of Virginia. Martindale-Hubbell has rated Bill an AV attorney, its highest rating available.
Bill is a permanent member of the Judicial Conference of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys, Virginia Bar Association, Local Government Attorneys of Virginia, American Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute and the National Retail Tenants Association. He serves as a member of the board of directors of Hampton Roads chapter of U.S. Lacrosse and previously served on the board of directors of the Naval Base Little League.
Bill received his law degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary in 1986, where he was a member of the William & Mary Law Review and was inducted into the Order of the Coif. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in politics, cum laude, from Washington & Lee University in 1983. Bill was a partner at Hofheimer Nusbaum, P.C., which merged with Williams Mullen in 2004.
- Represented real estate investment limited partnership in breach of contract and breach of warranty claims against a roofing company for in roofs installed on 27 building apartment complexes.
- Represent national financial institution in enforcing an arbitration award.
- Williams Mullen defended a government contractor sued for False Claims Act violation regarding translation services provided to Army. Potential damages exceeded $1 billion and suspension or debarment.
- Served as local counsel for broadband communications company-client against allegations by a competitor of patent infringement related to Voice Over Internet Protocol.
- Defended real estate investment trust against tort claims arising from incidents during shopping mall renovation.
- Represented an outdoor patio furniture manufacturer in arbitration over client's alleged failure to pay royalties, pursuant to a patent license agreement between the parties, on artificial wicker used in outdoor patio furniture, on which Plaintiff owned an entire portfolio of patents. At issue were hundreds of our client's products, along with multiple types of artificial wicker and more than ten different patents. Following one hearing with live witnesses on a matter of contract interpretation, the case settled.
- Defended international tool manufacturer against commercial breach of contract action.
- Defended municipality from breach of contract and torts claims.
- Defended police officers in section 1983 action involving multiple constitutional claims brought by pro se prisoner litigant.
-
10.13.2020
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2021; 15 Attorneys Recognized
-
05.07.2020
35 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 13 Named 2020 Rising Stars
-
09.30.2019
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment & Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2020; 14 Attorneys Recognized
-
08.15.2019
119 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
04.10.2019
47 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2019 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 17 Named 2019 Rising Stars
-
12.03.2018
Williams Mullen’s Litigation and Labor, Employment and Immigration Practices Named in Benchmark Litigation 2019; 11 Attorneys Recognized
-
08.15.2018
110 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in Latest Edition of The Best Lawyers in America©
-
10.04.2017
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Recognized in 2018 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
-
08.14.2017
114 Williams Mullen Attorneys Listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2018
-
04.14.2017
54 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2017 Virginia Super Lawyers List; 21 Named 2017 Rising Stars
-
10.19.2016
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Honored in 2017 Edition of Benchmark Litigation
-
08.15.2016
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2017 Best Lawyers in America
-
02.17.2016
56 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2016 Virginia Super Lawyers; 22 Named 2016 Rising Stars
-
10.19.2015
Williams Mullen’s Litigation Practice Honored by Benchmark Litigation
-
08.17.2015
106 Williams Mullen Attorneys named 2016 Best Lawyers in America
-
04.10.2015
Williams Mullen Virginia Attorneys Named 2015 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
-
12.01.2014
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2014 “Legal Elite”
-
10.24.2014
Benchmark Litigation Names Williams Mullen a ‘Highly Recommended’ Firm in Virginia for 2015
-
08.18.2014
100 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2015 Best Lawyers in America
-
06.20.2014
Williams Mullen Virginia Attorneys Named 2014 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
-
05.23.2014
Williams Mullen Recognized by Chambers USA for 2014
-
05.12.2014
North Carolina Update: State Tax Developments Spring 2014
-
12.04.2013
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2013 “Legal Elite”
-
11.20.2013
Benchmark Litigation Names Williams Mullen a ‘Highly Recommended’ Firm in Virginia
-
06.21.2013
Williams Mullen Virginia Attorneys Named 2013 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
-
05.24.2013
Williams Mullen Attorneys Recognized by Chambers USA for 2013
-
09.13.2012
104 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2013 Best Lawyers in America
-
06.19.2012
Ninety-Five Virginia Williams Mullen Attorneys Recognized by “Super Lawyers” for 2012
-
06.08.2012
Williams Mullen Recognized by Chambers USA for 2012
-
12.01.2011
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2011 Virginia “Legal Elite”
-
09.29.2011
Williams Mullen Attorneys Named 2012 Best Lawyers in America
-
06.27.2011
47 Williams Mullen Attorneys Named “Virginia Super Lawyers” and 35 Named “Virginia Rising Stars” for 2011
-
12.02.2010
Seventy-two Williams Mullen Attorneys Named to 2010 "Legal Elite"
-
08.06.2010
Ninety-Eight Williams Mullen Attorneys Named "Best Lawyers in America" 2011
-
06.23.2010
2010 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Announced
-
06.11.2010
Williams Mullen Recognized as a Leader in Business Law in 2010 by Chambers USA
-
12.01.2009
Williams Mullen Attorneys Receive More ‘Legal Elite’ Distinctions than Any Other Firm in Virginia
-
07.30.2009
Eighty-five Attorneys Named "Best Lawyers in America" 2010
-
06.25.2009
2009 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Announced
-
06.12.2009
Williams Mullen Recognized as a Leader in Business Law by Chambers USA
-
12.05.2008
Eighty-one Williams Mullen Attorneys Named “Legal Elite” in Virginia
-
06.26.2008
Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars for 2008 Announced
-
04.08.2008
Six Williams Mullen Lawyers Included in Inaugural Issue of "Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition"
-
09.08.2014
Top Ten Ways to Win a Case
-
09.24.2013
10 Pitfalls to Avoid in Pre-Litigation Disputes
-
10.07.2012
National Retail Tenants Association’s Annual Conference
-
09.13.2011
Are You Leaving Money on the Table? How to Maximize Recovery on Lease Audit Claims
-
09.12.2011
Key Lease Provisions for Pass-Through Expense Litigation
-
12.14.2010
Preserving Your Litigation Rights in the Audit Process
-
05.20.2010
Third Annual Advanced Business Litigation Institute
-
01.13.2010
Emerging Issues in Lease Cost Recovery
-
12.09.2008
The Rocket Docket: Trying Cases in the Eastern District of Virginia