Bill is certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Criminal Trial Specialist. In over 30 years of practice, he has successfully tried more than 100 cases in state and federal courts. He has won acquittals for individuals and corporations in a wide variety of criminal matters including securities fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud, bid rigging, health care fraud, antitrust, ERISA fraud, mortgage fraud, insurance fraud, environmental crimes and bribery. Bill achieved the first acquittal in Minnesota using the battered woman's syndrome defense in a murder trial. In one of his many white collar cases, he became the first attorney in Minnesota to try a case against the Office of Independent Counsel. Bill's client, an insurance company CEO, was acquitted of all charges after a lengthy trial in Washington, D.C. Bill also won an acquittal for the former Chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota for alleged illegal corporate campaign contributions, and an acquittal for a highly regarded Twin Cities pediatrician on criminal sexual assault charges.
Bill is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers-an honor limited to the top 1% of lawyers in the Nation- and a Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers-the highest professional honor for a criminal defense lawyer. For over 30 years, Bill has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America for White Collar Criminal Defense and Criminal Defense General Practice. He has been named as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Minnesota and has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 1991.
Bill is admitted to practice in the United States District Court, District of Minnesota, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, United States Supreme Court and United States Tax Court. He also is admitted to practice in the State of Wisconsin.
White Collar Crimes
Tax Crimes
Cyber Computer Crimes
Responding to Grand Jury Subpoenas
Criminal Sexual Conduct
Drug Crimes
DWI and Criminal Vehicular Crimes
Terroristic Threats
Expungements
Criminal Trial Specialist, National Board of Trial Advocacy, 1985
Criminal Law Specialist, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2010
Minnesota, 1973
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota, 1974
U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit, 1998
U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1975
U.S. Supreme Court, 1976
U.S. Tax Court, 1986
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
J.D. cum laude - 1973
Carleton College
B.A. - 1969
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers, 2002 - Present
Fellow, American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2009 - Present
Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee of Criminal Procedure, 1981 - 1995
Minnesota Supreme Court Task Force on Jury Trial Procedure, 2000 - 2002
United States District Court, District of Minnesota (Federal Practice Committee), 1985 - Present
Hennepin County Bar Association (Criminal Law Committee), 1973 - Present
Minnesota Bar Association (past President, Criminal Law Section)
American Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section, Complex Crimes Committee), 1983 - Present
Federal Bar Association (Criminal Justice Section, Complex Crimes Committee), 1983 - Present
Minnesota Trial Lawyers Association
Academy of Certified Trial Lawyers of Minnesota
Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Board of Directors), 1991 - 1994 and Present
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (President's Commendation), 1979
National Board of Trial Advocacy: Certified Criminal Trial Specialist
Minnesota State Bar Association: Certified Criminal Trial Specialist
American Board of Criminal Lawyers, 2009 - Present
American College of Trial Lawyers, 2002 - Present
"Law Searches", Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota Criminal Justice Institute Seminar
"Prosecution Discovery: Criminal Defense Lawyers Response", Minnesota Trial Lawyer
"Street Encounters", Minnesota Trial Lawyer
"Accosting Citizens", Minnesota Trial Lawyer
"Automobile Searches", Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota Criminal Justice Course
"Jury Impeachment", Continuing Legal Education, Minnesota Criminal Justice Course
"Misdemeanor Appeals", Advanced Legal Education, Appellate Practice Institute, Seminar on Appellate Advocacy
"Prosecution Discovery, Keeping the Prosecutor Out of Your Drawers", Advanced Legal Education, Federal Criminal Practice Seminar
"Container Searches", Minnesota Criminal Justice Course
"404(b): Other Crimes Evidence", Advanced Legal Education, Criminal Practice Seminar
"Sentencing Alternatives", Advanced Legal Education, Criminal Practice Seminar
"Multiple Representation", Continuing Legal Education, Criminal Justice Institute
"Defending Lawyers Involved in Criminal Activity", Advanced Legal Education, Criminal Practice Seminar
"Keeping the Character Door Closed", Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Evidence in Criminal Cases
"Expert Testimony in Criminal Trials", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minnesota Evidence Seminar
"Confrontation", Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Criminal Justice Course
"Grand Jury Practice", Continuing Legal Education, Criminal Justice Course
"What To Do About Criminal Fraud and Abuse Allegations, Minnesota Continuing Legal Education, Long Term Care and The Law Seminar
"Expert Testimony on Ultimate Issues", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Minnesota Evidence Seminar
"Managing Multiple Front Litigation", Federal Bar Association, Federal Court Practice Seminar
"Document Production in White Collar Cases", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education
"Foreign Corrupt Practices Act: Defending Fraud Cases Internationally", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Government Contract Fraud Seminar
"Criminal Defense Considerations and the Internal Investigation", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Government Contract and Program Fraud
"Trial Strategies in Fraud Cases", Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Seminar
"Response Strategies to Medicaid & Medicare Investigations", Care Providers of Minnesota, Fraud and Abuse Seminar
"Are You Being Served?", Bench and Bar of Minnesota
"Recent Trends in Automobile Searches: The Defense Perspective", Continuing Legal Education, 29th Annual Criminal Justice Institute Seminar
"Criminal Investigation Issues in the Bankruptcy Context", Minnesota State Bar Association, 1995 Bankruptcy Institute Seminar
"Dealing with the Media in Criminal Cases", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Dealing with the Media Seminar
"Dealing with the Media in Criminal Cases" , Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Dealing with the Media Seminar
"Responding to Government Requests for Information", Law & Politics, Crimes and Misdemeanors Seminar
"Less Boring Direct Examination", Minnesota State Bar Association, 32nd Annual Criminal Justice Institute Seminar
"Lessons Learned from Defending Against the Office of Independent Counsel", Law & Politics, Crimes and Misdemeanors Seminar
"Confrontation and Hearsay", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Strategic Approaches to Minnesota Evidence Seminar
"Ethical Issues for Criminal Defense Lawyers", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Ethical Issues & Elimination of Bias Seminar
"Presenting a Convincing Theory of Defense in Financial Crime Trials", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, Financial Investigations Seminar
"The Discovery Room: Issues and Procedures for Complete Discovery in Complex Cases", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education, White Collar Crime Seminar
"Demonstrative Evidence", Minnesota Institute of Legal Education Seminar
