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 / Co-Chair Washington, DC Office

Career

Willy Jay leads Goodwin’s Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation practice. He currently serves as co-chair of Goodwin’s Washington, D.C. office. Willy uses his deep experience litigating before the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Courts of Appeals 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 24 times, filed more than 85 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.

Willy has particular experience in appellate cases involving intellectual property (including patent, copyright, and trademark law), financial services, administrative law (with a particular focus on pharmaceutical regulation), environmental law, class action practice, federal preemption of state law, and the First Amendment (including campaign finance regulation, election law, and election crimes).

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

Lawyers in Goodwin’s practice demonstrate ‘deep and insightful strategic thinking‘, according to clients. A popular choice to represent life sciences and technology clients in appellate work, in line with the wider firm’s signature strengths, the group also had strong recent showings in financial services, class actions and social justice-related appeals. In Washington DC, seasoned group co-chair William Jay is widely lauded for his top-level experience, which includes arguing 17 cases before SCOTUS. Jay is currently representing Novartis in appellate matters related to ongoing European patent litigation between it and Eli Lilly. Also in Washington DC, next-generation partner Brian Burgess is singled out as an ‘outstanding writer and oral advocate‘, while Jaime Santos is noted for her record in ERISA, patent, and constitutional law-related litigation. In Boston, key contacts include department co-chair Kevin Martin, highly active associate Gerard Cedrone, and David Zimmer, who has a focus on IP, administrative law, and consumer finance-related matters.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

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