Practice Areas
Complex Business Litigation
Securities Litigation
Prosecution and Defense of Personal Injury and Products Liability Cases
White Collar Criminal Defense

Education
University of Texas, B.A., Plan II Honors Program, Highest Honors (Phi Beta Kappa)
University of Texas, J.D., Honors, American Jurisprudence Award Winner

Professional Experience
Sayles | Werbner, since 1997 (Partner since 2001)
Vinson & Elkins, 1994 – 1997
Law Clerk to the Hon. Sam Sparks, U.S. Dist. Court, Western Dist. of Texas, 1993-94

Practice Description & Exemplary Cases
      Will’s practice focuses primarily on business litigation disputes in which he represents both plaintiffs and defendants in matters tried in the state and federal courts, or in matters that are arbitrated. In these cases, Will’s clients are typically pursuing or defending against claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraudulent or negligent misrepresentation, misappropriation of trade secrets, quasi-contractual or equitable claims, ultra vires claims against officers or directors, securities and accounting fraud, partnership disputes, and claims arising from failed mergers and acquisitions. Will also prosecutes and defends cases involving personal injury and products liability claims and has been retained by corporations and individuals to defend them in federal white collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, including investigations and prosecutions conducted by the Department of Justice, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency. Will has also briefed or argued matters before the Texas appellate courts and the Supreme Court of Texas.
     Examples of results in cases where Will has been the primary lawyer involved or has substantially participated in the trial or arbitration hearing include:

• Obtaining no-liability defense verdicts/judgments for his corporate client in two product liability jury trials where, in each case, the plaintiff sought damages exceeding $1 million.



• Obtaining a no-liability defense verdict/judgment for his corporate client in a jury trial where the adverse party sought damages exceeding $1 million, and also obtaining a verdict/judgment exceeding $400,000 on his client’s counterclaims.

• Obtaining a no-liability judgment favoring his client in a bench trial in which the opposing party sought over $1 million on breach of contract claims, and obtaining a judgment exceeding $240,000 on his client’s counterclaims.

• Defending his clients in a securities-related arbitration where the arbitration panel awarded claimants less than .05 % of the $9 million they sought in damages.

• Trying his corporate client’s claims in an extended securities arbitration, resulting in a favorable confidential settlement before the panel was to render its award.

• Obtaining a no-liability finding for his client in a partnership dispute tried to an arbitrator in which the adverse party sought damages exceeding $6.5 million.

• Arguing and obtaining a summary judgment exceeding $3.5 million for a corporate plaintiff in a breach of contract dispute involving intellectual property.

• Arguing and obtaining full and final summary judgment for his defendant client in a partnership dispute where the plaintiff sought approximately $7 million in damages.

• Arguing and obtaining summary judgment on the majority of a corporate plaintiffs’ securities-related claims seeking over $35 million in damages, allowing his corporate clients and their directors and officers to obtain a favorable confidential settlement.

• Obtaining a $1.8 million summary judgment for his plaintiff client in a federal breach of contract case.

• Obtaining a favorable settlement exceeding $8 million for a corporate plaintiff in a case involving breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.

• Prosecuting negligence claims arising out of a fire that damaged his client’s planned real estate development and obtaining a settlement exceeding $1 million.

• Obtaining a $1 million settlement for his plaintiff clients who asserted bad faith claims against an insurance carrier.

Professional Activities and Accolades
Named among Texas Monthly’s “Rising Stars” or Super Lawyers since 2004
Dallas Bar Association, Fellow
Active in other Dallas Bar Association projects and activities
AV rated by Martindale Hubbell

Bar Admissions
Admitted to the State Bar of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas