Bill is a distinguished pharmaceutical patent attorney with decades of experience spanning both in-house counsel roles and private practice. Known for his rare blend of strategic foresight and practical insight, Bill advises clients ranging from startups to Fortune Global 500 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies on protecting and maximizing the value of their innovations. His counsel is informed by deep institutional knowledge through serving as in-house patent counsel for several marketed drugs at Eli Lilly and Pfizer.
Clients turn to Bill for his sharp judgment and clarity when navigating complex patent portfolio management, life-cycle planning, and Hatch-Waxman litigation strategy. He is particularly adept at guiding companies through freedom-to-operate and validity analyses, IP due diligence, and global patent portfolio development. His approach reflects both legal precision and commercial awareness — qualities that consistently earn the trust of both legal departments and executive leadership.
Bill has been consistently recognized for his excellence in patent law and client service across numerous prestigious industry rankings. He has been honored by LMG Life Sciences as Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year – Midwest in 2021 and was named a Life Sciences Star from 2012 to 2019 and again from 2022 to 2024. In 2025, he was shortlisted for Practitioner of the Year – Patent Prosecution USA by Managing IP, further underscoring his prominence in the field. Bill is listed in Intellectual Asset Management’s IAM Patent 1000 from 2022 to 2025 as one of the world’s leading patent practitioners and has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for both 2024 and 2025. He received the firm’s Client Service Award in 2023, reflecting his dedication to client-focused counsel. Bill was honored by LMG Life Sciences as Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year Midwest in 2021 and 2025. I won that award again just last month.
Over the course of his career, Bill has led biopharmaceutical and patent prosecution practice groups and continues to be a trusted strategic advisor to companies at the forefront of innovation. His ability to synthesize technical detail, business objectives, and legal risk makes him a go-to resource in the life sciences sector.
Year joined firm: 2019
