Bill maintains both a transactional and litigation business practice. He represents all types of business ventures, both publicly and privately owned.
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 contractual arrangements central to the movement of products in intrastate, interstate and foreign commerce. Bill regularly consults clients regarding co-employer claims related to independent contractor relations 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 PUC, DMV, and CHP, as well as the U.S. DOT and other federal agencies.
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 consisting of 98 law firms and nearly 5,000 lawyers 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
"The Force of Force Majeure in Supply Chain Contracts," Corporate Law Alert (March 2020)
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Presentations
"Impact of Commercial Drones on the Freight Broker Industry," speaker, Transportation Law Institute (November 2018)
“Drafting Transportation Contracts: Negotiating Key Terms in Shipper, Carrier and Broker Agreements," Strafford Publications Webinar (October 2018)
Transportation Industry Summer Legal Forum, USLAW (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," co-presenter, 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)
Bibliography of papers and presentations provided upon request.
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Press
"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 (April2016)
"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 Northern California - Transportation Law, Best Lawyers® (2019-2021)
The Gold Standard, Martindale-Hubbell™ (2020)
Best Lawyers in America®, Transportation Law (2020)
Top Rated Lawyer in Northern California, ALM (2019)
2019 Top Lawyer, Sacramento Magazine (2019)
Northern California's Top Rated Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell™ (2018, 2019)
Northern California Super Lawyers, Transportation (2004, 2006, 2012-2019)
Top Lawyer, Sacramento Magazine (2016, 2019)
Best of the Bar, Sacramento Business Journal (2014-2019)
Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation Law, The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel (2014)
Top Rated Lawyer in Transportation Law, Martindale-Hubbell™ (2013, 2014)
Transportation Lawyers Association Lifetime Achievement Award (2006)
Transportation Lawyers Association Distinguished Service Award (1995)