William Jay > Goodwin > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Goodwin Offices

Goodwin
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20001
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
Visit website 1 202 346 4000 1 202 346 4444

William Jay

William Jay photo
202 346 4190 wjay@goodwinlaw.com

Position

Partner

Career

Willy Jay is a partner in Goodwin’s Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation practice. After ten years leading that practice, he recently became co-chair of Goodwin’s broader Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Willy uses his deep experience litigating before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Courts of Appeals, including more than 75 oral arguments, to help clients formulate winning appellate strategy. His appellate skill led Benchmark Litigation to name him the nationwide Appellate Lawyer of the Year for 2020. A former Assistant to the Solicitor General and Supreme Court clerk, he has argued 17 cases before the Supreme Court, briefed more than 50 Supreme Court cases on the merits, and briefed more than 150 cases at the certiorari stage. In recent years he argued five of the most significant intellectual-property cases at the Court, involving patent, copyright, and trademark law.

Willy has handled cases in every federal court of appeals as well. He has filed more than 250 briefs in federal and state appeals courts and argued in 11 federal circuits. He has notable expertise in the Federal Circuit, where he has argued 26 times, filed more than 100 briefs in patent appeals, and been recognized as “Appellate Litigator of the Year” by Managing IP. Willy also regularly counsels clients on appellate strategy at the trial level, preparing and arguing key motions and post-trial briefing before district courts and federal and state administrative agencies.

Education

JD, 2001, Harvard Law School (magna cum laude) / Artium Baccalaureus, Government, 1998, Harvard College (magna cum laude)

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

(Hall of Fame)

William Jay – Goodwin

The appellate practice at Goodwin finds favor for its ‘ability to synthesize complex and nuanced legal issues’. Historically best known for its record in life sciences and technology-related appeals, where it can lean on the wider firm’s dominant industry offerings, the group additionally handles a steady stream of class actions, financial services and transport-related cases. In Washington DC, high-profile appellate specialist William Jay contributes experience in arguing seventeen cases before SCOTUS; he recently scored a win for Boeing—and co-defendant Southwest Airlines—at the Fifth Circuit in a case concerning Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft. The DC team also draws on Brian Burgess, who co-chairs the FDA litigation practice, and up-and-coming appellate partner Jaime Santos, who has a focus on ERISA litigation, patent litigation, constitutional law and product litigation. Recommended in Boston are experienced department head Kevin Martin; David Zimmer, who specializes in IP, administrative law and consumer financial services; and newly promoted partner Gerard Cedrone.

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