Clark Hill Thorp Reed lawyers exemplify the firm’s commitment to hard work, high ethical standards and dedication to client service. Our attorneys practice in diverse areas of law, and combine a multidisciplinary approach to solving legal problems. The bottom line: Clients of Clark Hill Thorp Reed benefit from attorneys whose expertise and commitment deliver effective client outcomes and superior legal service.

William M. Wycoff has tried a variety of cases over 35 years. He focuses his practice on corporate, contract, securities and class action litigation, and most of his work has been defense-oriented. In 1989, two of his cases were among the top 25 verdicts in the U.S. - one was an antitrust case, and the other was negligence on behalf of a quadriplegic. Recently, Bill's cases have involved corporate governance, as well as shareholder derivative and securities claims. He also recently has tried a number of insurance coverage cases and has defended law firms in professional negligence cases.

In recent years, Bill has been called upon to serve as an arbitrator or mediator, primarily in commercial litigation disputes. He has been involved in over 30 matters including contract disputes, insurance coverage matters, securities matters, and construction contracts.

Bill has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for ten years in the categories of both Business and Personal Injury Litigation. In 2006 he was named one of only five Pittsburgh lawyers in the new “Bet the Company” listing. He was also selected by the National Law Journal as one of the top ten Commercial Litigators in Pennsylvania. For several years, most recently in 2011, Bill has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, an honor bestowed upon the top five percent of Pennsylvania lawyers. In 2005 and 2006, Bill was named one of Pennsylvania’s Top 100 Super Lawyers and one of Pittsburgh’s Top 50 Super Lawyers. He is a Fellow in and the State Chair of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

In their directory, Chambers & Partners USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business said that Bill has “garnered respect for his record of success,” as well as for his “dynamic style” in the courtroom. He has been recognized in Chambers in each of the years of its publication.

Education

• J.D., Northwestern University School of Law
• B.A., Government, Cornell University

Professional / Civic Activities

• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
• Former Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Member, Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers
• Arbitrator, Early Neutral Evaluator and Mediator, Western District of Pennsylvania
• Board of Directors, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and Past President
• Board of Trustees and past President of Pressley Ridge
• Immediate Past President and Board Member, Pressley Ridge Foundation
• Past President, Board of the Pittsburgh Dance Council
• Past President, Board of the Pittsburgh Golf Club

Bar / Court Admissions

• Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
• 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals
• U.S. Supreme Court
• Member, Allegheny County Bar Association
• Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association

Publications / Presentations

• Speaker, "The Best of Legal Technology” (T-BOLT) seminar, November 2008.
• Course Planner and Lecturer, PBI program "Damages in Commercial Litigation," 1997, 2003 and 2005.
• "Recovery of Lost Profit Damages Under Pennsylvania Law," 2003.
• "Daubert and Expert Economist Testimony," 2003.
• "Audit Committee Duties and Liabilities in the Post Enron World," presented at the PBI course "Accounting Litigation after Enron," 2002.
• Course Planner and Moderator, PBI Medical Malpractice Program, 2001.
• Course Planner and Author, PBI Confidentiality in Civil Litigation course, 1997.
• Course Planner and Author, PBI Civil RICO programs, 1985, 1988, 1990 and 1993.
• Course Planner and Author, PBI Product Liability programs, 1985, 1988 and 1991

Mediation/Arbitration (Representative matters, fuller particulars available upon request)

• Arbitration: 14 day hearing on breach of software development agreement.
• Arbitration: Executive compensation contract.
• Arbitration: Severe brain damage injuries.
• Arbitration: Employee stock rights.
• Mediation: Alleged breach of electronic discovery services contract.
• Mediation: College construction contracts.
• Mediation: Securities valuation.

Securities

• Defended law firm for New York Stock Exchange Issuer in 10b-5 and other Securities claims.
• Defended seller of real estate partnership units in securities class actions.
• Defended NYSE company in shareholder class action arising from change in accounting procedures and other alleged irregularities.
• Defended corporate officer against minority shareholder claims for sale of control action.
• Defended officer of Investment Management Company in multiple civil actions for breach of pension guidelines and aggregate loses of 400 million, and in governmental investigations.
• Defended former CEO and corporations officers in SEC investigations.
• Defended law firm for issurer of private offering memorandum.

Antitrust

• Defended corporate officer in six-week trial in criminal antitrust case.
• Represented two steel companies to verdict in 12-week trial in suppression of competition case.
• Defended antitrust class actions in concrete pipe, plumbing, steel tube, copper tube, electrical contracting, roadbuilding and petroleum industries.
• Defended companies and individuals against Department of Justice grand jury and civil investigative demand matters.

Banking Litigation

• Successfully prosecuted appeal in Colorado in reversing $65 million judgment against bank in lender liability action.
• Defended 11 directors of a national bank in matter where top management embezzled or caused losses of $26 million.
• Prosecuted $60 million claim for defective construction of bank headquarters building.
• Defended bank trust department in breach of contract case for failure to provide another bank’s trust department software in a timely basis.
• Defended bank in shareholder derivative action where $200 million plus write-offs because of investments in derivatives.
• Defended bank in class action based on financing contracts under Motor Vehicle Financing Act.
• Handled numerous cases involving check forgeries, improper deposits, letters of credit and wire transfers.

Corporate Governance and Shareholder Disputes

• Counsel to the special litigation committee of board of private family corporation in derivative claim.
• Represented major financial corporation in derivative litigation.
• Represented majority shareholders from claims of minority shareholders.

Contract and Commercial

• Breach of warranty action for the sale of coal alleged to have destroyed coke plant.
• Tried to verdict for defendant alleged breach of agent’s contract in the paint industry.
• Represented chemical manufacturer in breach of requirements contract for coal.
• Action for breach of merger agreement in utility industry.
• Action on insurance contract for breach for failure to pay business interruption insurance.
• Action on insurance contract for interpretation of product liability coverage.
• Numerous matters involving banking including lender’s liability, letters of credit, and consumer class actions.
• Tried breach of contract in telecommunications industry and defended piercing of corporate veil.
• Tried to verdict for insurance company ten cases involving sales practices.

Class Actions

• Co-counsel for defendant in 33 multi-district class actions in insurance sales practice litigation in the Western District of Pennsylvania.
• Counsel for corporate defendant in multiple securities, class actions and a derivative claim in the Western District of Pennsylvania arising out of a change in accounting practices.
• Counsel for issuer’s law firm in multi-district cases in Southern District of New York.
• Co-counsel for petroleum refinery in class action as to the purchase of Pennsylvania crude.
• Represented issuer of real estate partnership units in RICO and securities class action involving propriety of real estate funds investment.
• Represented transporter of toxic chemicals in class action by residents of City of Pittsburgh for chemical spill in a railroad accident.
• Represented steel company in environmental class action for alleged exposure to carcinogens by neighboring residents and former and current employees of plant.
• Represented bank in class action and RICO cases arising out of improper investments by investment advisor.

Toxic Tort

• Represented variety of petrochemical and steel companies in benzene/leukemia cases as well as companies producing variety of chemical products alleged to cause blood disorders and cancer.

Law Firms And Legal Malpractice

• Defended attorney against claims of conflict of interest in representing family in property settlement.
• Defended law firm for alleged improper drafting of corporate buy-out agreement.
• Defended law firm drafter of private offering memorandum.
• Defending law firm against claims of participating in securities violations.
• Defending law firm and attorney in real estate malpractice claim.
• Served as expert witness in legal malpractice case on court and trial procedures.
• Testified as expert witness on reasonableness of fee requests.