About Bill Barrett
30 Years of Experience
Bill has over 30 years of experience as a litigator. He has extensive experience in ADR having served in all the key roles in the ADR process - mediator or arbitrator, counsel for a party involved in the ADR process, and as a party representative.
Hughes Hubbard Career Highlights
Career
From April 2003 to June 2023, Bill was a Principal and Associate General Counsel for Ernst & Young LLP (EY), a “Big 4” international accounting and professional services firm. From 1992 to 2003, Bill was a litigator with the international law firm, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, and prior to that (1986-1989) a staff auditor with Arthur Andersen LLP, a then “Big 8” professional services firm.
EY Career Highlights
Extensive involvement in civil litigation involving complex commercial, professional services, and employment disputes
Successfully resolved dozens of lawsuits, pre-suit claims, and government investigations through direct negotiation and mediations. When necessary, Bill litigated unresolved disputes through arbitral hearings, jury and bench trials, or administrative hearings
Litigated and managed matters arising from accounting, auditing, tax, and consulting services delivered by the firm to clients in all industries
Handled matters involving claims of breach of contract, professional negligence, securities and common law fraud, government contracting and regulatory compliance, professional licensing issues, partnership and employment issues and other claims, in which claimed damages ranged from tens of thousands of dollars to in excess of $3 billion
Hughes Hubbard Career Highlights
Represented clients in complex commercial disputes in Federal and State Courts as well as before International Tribunals
Member of legal team that represented a U.S. public company in an ICC Arbitration in Paris and related European Commission proceedings in Brussels involving a chemical technology license dispute with a Spanish former joint venture partner
Member of legal team that represented a U.S. manufacturer in arbitration under Netherlands Arbitration Institute rules concerning a contract to build a major chemical plant in Rotterdam
Member of legal team that represented Merck in the Vioxx products liability litigation
Member of legal team that represented a then “Big 6” accounting firm in the Phar-Mor securities litigation
Member of legal team that secured victory for Boy Scouts of American in a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court based on the constitutional right to freedom of association
ADR Experience
Breach of Contract
Claims for breach of complex commercial contracts, promissory notes, leases, guaranty agreement and purchase agreements
Torts
Professional malpractice, negligent performance, fraud, and interference with contractual relations
Professional Liability
Claims arising from Accounting, Audit, Actuarial, Tax & Business Consulting Services
Additional Experience
Securities Claims
Professional Fees Dispute
Partnership Rights
Discrimination and Employment Claims
Consumer Related CLaims