Bill maintains transactional and litigation business practices representing both public and private ventures.
Bill’s transactional practice includes
M&A advice and counsel for both domestic and international deals, corporate reorganizations and other strategic business plans.
Bill has significant experience in all aspects of the transportation industry throughout the U.S. and global markets. He is well-versed in all areas of domestic and international logistics law and policy. He has a keen understanding of the intricate multi-party contractual arrangements and business relationships central to the movement of products in intrastate, interstate and foreign commerce, including the sale or purchase of companies in or out of this market. Bill regularly consults with and defends clients regarding co-employer or misclassification claims related to independent contractor relationships in this industry.
Whether in transportation or any other enterprise, Bill has represented private and publicly-traded corporate clients in asset and equity-based mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, successorship planning, complex contract strategies and negotiations. He provides day-to-day counseling and assists business clients with internal and external legal requirements, including regulatory compliance matters before local, state and federal administrative agencies. He regularly represents clients in hearings before administrative agencies with jurisdiction over enforcement and compliance issues, including the California's PUC, DMV, and CHP, and CARB, as well as the U.S. DOT, FMCSA and other federal agencies, including defensive structural options in order to minimize exposure to such actions.
Bill is frequently called upon to address industry associations regarding contract issues and related litigation strategies.
Bill is a past president of the Transportation Lawyers Association and the founder of Hanson Bridgett's Transportation and Logistics Practice Group. He served as President of Globalaw LTD (2012-2014), an international legal network of firms located throughout the world. Hanson Bridgett is the Northern California representative of Globalaw.
Representative Work
Business formation strategies and implementation of founder's business plans and goals.
Shareholder disputes and resolution of associated business conflicts.
Managing stock and/or asset transfers from origin to closing.
Providing advice and counsel to both emerging and mature companies regarding the legal consequences and implications of internal and external management initiatives for safety and hazardous materials violations.
Administrative agency proceedings at all levels with a focus on regulatory permitting and compliance.
Defend complex independent contractor misclassification cases at regulatory, litigation and appellate levels.
Publications
“California’s Proposition 22: It Passed, Now What?” The Transportation Lawyer (February 2021)
"The Force of Force Majeure in Supply Chain Contracts," Corporate Law Alert (March 2020)
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Presentations
"The Scope of and Addressing Issues Related to the Disruptions in the Supply Chain Due to COVID and Related Capacity Conditions," ATA Law Review Webinar (September 2021)
"Who Wins: A Debate on Developments and Challenges of Trucking Contracts," ATA Litigation Center Trucking Legal Forum (July 2021)
"The Crystal Ball – Transportation and Logistics After COVID," Transportation and Logistics Counsel Seminar (February 2021)
Transportation Lawyers Association, Chicago Regional Seminar and Boot Camp (January 2021)
"Updating Force Majeure Clauses in Operating Agreements," USLAW NETWORK Worldwide Virtual Retreat: Lightning Round: USLAW’s Practice Group 5-Minute Drill on Transportation and Logistics (October 2020)
"Impact of Commercial Drones on the Freight Broker Industry," Transportation Law Institute (November 2018)
“Drafting Transportation Contracts: Negotiating Key Terms in Shipper, Carrier, and Broker Agreements," Strafford Publications Webinar (October 2018)
USLAW Transportation Industry Summer Legal Forum (September 2018)
"The Evolutionary Foundation Supporting and Nurturing the Development of Contract Relationships in Motor Transportation: The Short Version of a Long History," 50th Anniversary of The Transportation Law Institute (November 2017)
"Put It In Writing! Current Strategies in Drafting & Enforcing Transportation Contracts," American Trucking Associations Forum for Motor Carrier General Counsel (July 2017)
"The Transportation Industry in the Trump Era," Supply Chain Cargo & Security Summit (June 2017)
"The Development and Use of the Autonomous Truck," USLAW 2017 Spring Client Conference (April 2017)
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Press
"Trucking Industry Braces After 9th Circ. Preemption Loss," Law360 (April 2021)
"3 Takeaways From The 9th Circ.'s Meal And Rest Break Ruling," Law360 (January 2021)
"Transport Cos. Prep For Impact Of Calif.'s Dynamex Bill," Law360 (September 2019)
"3rd Circ. Offers Gig Workers Tool To Blunt Arbitration Pacts," Law360 (September 2019)
"Arbitration Pacts Dented By Amazon Transpo Worker Ruling," Law360 (April 2019)
"Trucking Cos. Hit Rough Patches in Calif. Classification Fights," Law360 (April 2019)
"Agency Deference May Snag 9th Circ. Meal, Rest Break Row," Law360 (February 2019)
"Transportation Cases To Watch In 2019," Law360 Transportation (January 2019)
"9th Circ. Truckers Ruling Drives Home Limits Of Preemption," Law360 (September 2018)
"NYC Uber Cap A Harbinger Of More Hard-Line Rules," Law360 (August 2018)
"Trucking Cases To Watch In The 2nd Half Of 2018," Law360 (July 2018)
"5 Key Questions Raised By Hanjin Shipping's Bankruptcy," Law360 (September 2016)
"Second Ship from Bankrupt Hanjin Allowed into California Ports," Reuters (September 2016)
"Port Truck Drivers and Warehouse Workers in California End Unfair Labor Practice Strike," Bloomberg BNA: Daily Labor Report (June 2016)
"The 7 Uber Cases to Watch," Law360 (April 2016)
"Truckers Weigh Doing Business In Calif. Amid Tougher Regs," Law360 (March 2016)
"New Container Weight Rule Sparks Shipper Angst," Law360 (March 2016)
"The DOT Rules that Could Reshape The Trucking Sector," Law360 (January 2016)
Honors
Best Lawyers in America©, Transportation Law (2018-2023)
Lawyers of Distinction, Excellence in the Practice of Law (2021)
Lawyer International's Legal 100, Transportation & Logistics Law Firm of the Year Contact (2021)
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent for Peer and Judiciary (2013-2014, 2018-2022)
Super Lawyers, Transportation Law (2004, 2006, 2012-2019, 2021-2022)
The American Registry - Most Honored Lawyers (2022)
American Lawyer Media, Top Rated Lawyer in Northern California (2019)
Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer (2016, 2019)
Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar (2014-2019)
The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel, Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation Law (2014)
Transportation Lawyers Association, Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)
Transportation Lawyers Association, Distinguished Service Award (1995)