Bill joined Smith Haughey in 1975, and has twice served as the firm’s CEO. For a number of years he practiced in the areas of health law, medical malpractice defense, general litigation, and the defense of professional liability actions.

In the past 20 years, Bill has transitioned his practice and built a highly successful mediation/alternative dispute resolution practice on his solid reputation as a seasoned trial attorney and devotion to the legal community. A certified facilitative mediator by the U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, he has served as mediator and case evaluator for hundreds of cases in the state and federal courts throughout Michigan. Representative cases include catastrophic personal injury, complex multi-party commercial litigation, and complex trademark and intellectual property matters.

Recently (in 2020) Bill was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Civil Trial Mediators. The College is made up of approximately 150 mediators from around the country. Selection to this prestigious and exclusive group is by invitation only and is based on experience, skill, reputation, ethical standards, and commitment to alternative dispute resolution.  Bill is one of only four fellows from Michigan, one of only two actively mediating cases in the state, and the only one in West Michigan. It is a singular and well deserved honor.

Bill has trained lawyers in advocacy skills for individual law firms in several states and has also trained litigation counsel for a number of national insurance carriers. In addition, he is very active in both his profession and community, having held a number of elected positions and memberships in legal and community organizations.