Bill Burke concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation, professional liability defense, and investigations.  He has successfully represented clients in federal and state courts, arbitrations, and federal regulatory proceedings throughout the United States.

Bill has extensive experience representing corporations and their officers and directors in contract disputes, fraud cases, class actions, securities litigation, shareholder derivative actions, and other types of complex civil litigation. 

In the field of professional liability defense, he has defended major law firms in malpractice actions, grand jury investigations, and SEC investigations, has represented individual lawyers in ethics proceedings, and has defended state court judges in lawsuits asserting federal civil rights claims.  He also serves as a member of Williams & Connolly’s Ethics Committee.

In addition to his litigation practice, Bill represents public companies, boards of directors, and audit committees in internal investigations regarding accounting issues, whistleblower complaints, insider trading, and alleged violations of the securities laws, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the False Claims Act.  

Representative Experience

  • Defended Fortune 50 company from class action fraud claims in Alabama state court
  • Defended financial institution from fraud claims in Illinois state court
  • Defended Fortune 50 company from class action fraud claims in U.S. district court
  • Lead trial counsel for real estate developer in breach of contract trial in D.C. Superior Court
  • Represented law firm in legal malpractice lawsuit in Virginia state court
  • Defended state court judges in two lawsuits in U.S. district courts alleging violations of federal civil rights
  • Represented audit committee of public company in internal investigation of whistleblower allegations regarding accounting irregularities and related SEC investigation

Education

Admissions

Other Government Service

Captain, Judge Advocate General’s Department, United States Air Force, 1995-2000

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