William E. Reynolds
Partner / Co-Team Leader, Pharmaceutical & Medical Device Litigation Team
Introduction
William Reynolds is a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Complex Commercial Disputes practice, based in our Albany office. He is an experienced trial attorney who represents clients from a wide array of industries in complex litigation. Bill has also successfully represented major governmental agencies and authorities in litigation both in New York State and Massachusetts, where he served for four years as an assistant attorney general.
My focus
I focus my practice on complex civil litigation in both federal and state trial and appellate courts. I have successfully represented Fortune 50 corporations in complex commercial disputes and litigation. I have handled numerous complex matters involving intellectual property, health care, life sciences, antitrust, bankruptcy and appellate matters. For example, I have recently represented a major medical device company in complex federal litigation in multiple jurisdictions. I also have represented a major health care institution in an antitrust class action. I also draw upon my experience as a former Massachusetts assistant attorney general to work on behalf of governmental entities and parties in resolving their disputes.
Representative experience
- Obtained a $74.9 million federal court judgment in a complex commercial business dispute.
- Won five appeals in U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in complex commercial business dispute, successfully defending large money judgment, civil contempt sanctions against adversaries and asset-freezing preliminary injunction.
- Successfully opposed two petitions for writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
- Won appeal in New York Appellate Division, First Department, obtaining dismissal of complaint asserting various business torts against business entity client.
- Obtained favorable settlement after litigating complex breach of contract claims in Supreme Court, Albany County, Commercial Division on behalf of publicly traded, international client.
- Served as co-lead counsel in an eight-week trial of constitutional challenge to state education aid to eight urban New York school districts.
- Obtained civil contempt sanctions against multinational defendants, including fines of $70 million per year and an arrest warrant for a defendant CEO.
- Obtained a worldwide asset-freezing preliminary injunction against multinational defendants.
- Won trial on denial of ERISA disability benefits against a Fortune 100 insurance company.
- Won a summary judgment in a multimillion-dollar contract/IP dispute.
- Successfully represented a major hospital in antitrust class action brought by nurses alleging conspiracy to suppress wages.
Looking ahead
Commercial litigation will continue to become even more complex with the growth of electronic discovery, elaborate motion practice, extensive expert evidence and disputes that cross multiple jurisdictions. Clients in the future will have a great need for litigators who can synthesize large amounts of evidence and information to pick the best and most effective arguments. These skills will enable clients to obtain successful, cost-effective results.
In the news
- Albany Business Review
Twin Bridges, County Waste fight in court over tactics
Albany Complex Commercial Disputes partner Bill Reynolds and associate Erin Huntington are mentioned in this article for representing County Waste in a suit against Scott Earl, owner of Twin Bridges Waste and Recycling LLC, for poaching customers by making false and disparaging statements and other unlawful tactics.Dec 21, 2020 - Law360
Rival can't shake AngioDynamics' $145M racketeering suit
This article mentions Albany Complex Commercial Disputes partner Bill Reynolds for his representation of AngioDynamics, which a judge ruled is allowed to continue its racketeering claims against a competitor.Sep 26, 2019 - Law360
AngioDynamics says rival must stay in $145M damages row
Albany Complex Commercial Disputes partner Bill Reynolds is mentioned in this story for his representation of AngioDynamics Inc. in an ongoing dispute with Biolitec AG.Sep 19, 2018 - Law360
Attorney cites 1st Circuit in seeking contempt in Biolitec IP case
Albany commercial litigation partner Bill Reynolds is mentioned in this story for his representation of AngioDynamics Inc. in an ongoing dispute with Biolitec AG.April 26, 2018 - Law360
Company Punished for Dodging Discovery Tied to $75M IP Loss
Albany commercial litigation partner Bill Reynolds is mentioned in this article for his representation of AngioDynamics Inc., which has spent years trying to collect a $75 million IP judgment from Biolitec AG. The latter company now faces up to $1 million in fines if it does not comply with discovery requests.March 30, 2018 - New York Law Journal
Schools Claim $1.1B in Aid Lost Due to Funding Policies
This article notes that eight small-city school districts are requesting funding to eliminate existing inequities. Albany Commercial Litigation partner Bill Reynolds is noted among the districts’ counsel.Dec 8, 2015 - Law360
Justices Reject Biolitec's $70M Contempt Appeal
Albany Commercial Litigation partner Bill Reynolds, counsel for AngioDynamics, is quoted in this feature article discussing the Supreme Court’s decision in Biolitec AG, et al. v. AngioDynamics, Inc. The Court rejected Biolitec AG’s challenge to a $70 million contempt penalty and an arrest warrant for its CEO for going through with a merger expressly forbidden by a lower court’s order.Nov 30, 2015 - Law360
Nixon Peabody Adds Former Bond Schoeneck Partner
This feature story highlights the arrival of Albany Commercial Litigation partner Bill Reynolds.Sep 24, 2015
Admitted to practice
Massachusetts
New York
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Education
Cornell Law School, J.D., cum laude
Harvard College, B.A., magna cum laude
Recognition
- Selected, through a peer-review survey, for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in the fields of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation, and he was selected as the 2023 Appellate Practice “Lawyer of the Year” in Albany. Bill has been listed in Best Lawyers since 2013.
- Named by The BTI Consulting Group, Inc. as a 2022 Client Service All-Star
Insights And Happenings
View AllProfessionals in the Practice Area
View AllAnthony Barron
Partner / Chair, Litigation Department- San Francisco
- Office:+1 415.984.8309
- abarron@nixonpeabody.com
-
Robert Fisher
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Government Investigations & White Collar Defense- Boston
- Office:+1 617.345.1335
- rfisher@nixonpeabody.com
-
Jenny L. Holmes
Partner / Deputy Leader, Cybersecurity & Privacy- Rochester
- Office:+1 585.263.1494
- jholmes@nixonpeabody.com
-
John Ruskusky
Partner / Practice Group Leader, Complex Disputes- Chicago
- Office:+1 312.977.4460Mobile:+1 708.606.8720
- jtruskusky@nixonpeabody.com
-