Commercial Litigation Litigation - Real Estate Litigation - Trusts and Estates
William "Bill" Faulkner
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
A seasoned trial lawyer with significant experience in both state and federal courts in Santa Clara County, Bill’s expertise in representing businesses and individuals in complex civil litigation has provided clients many noteworthy results.
In addition, Bill works with individuals and families in cases involving litigation such as will contests, trust disputes, and related issues. Bill is often called into family law matters when specific litigation expertise is required in cases where business concerns are involved.
Armed with years of experience keeping business clients out of court, Bill assists many of the firm’s clients in transactional and contract matters.
Bill also serves as a judge pro tem for the Santa Clara County Superior Court in settlement conferences, as an early neutral evaluator for the United States District Court, and as a private mediator and arbitrator.
Overview
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1978
- Stanford University, BA, graduated 1973
- California, The State Bar of California
- San Jose Museum of Art - Vice President, Board of Directors
- Santa Clara County Bar Association - Member
- Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association - Member
- Legal Counseling Office, Associated Students of Stanford University - Past Managing Attorney (< 20 years)
- Los Altos Educational Foundation - Former Trustee
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal Circuits
- U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
- California, The State Bar of California
- San Jose Museum of Art - Vice President, Board of Directors
- Santa Clara County Bar Association - Member
- Santa Clara County Trial Lawyers Association - Member
- Legal Counseling Office, Associated Students of Stanford University - Past Managing Attorney (< 20 years)
- Los Altos Educational Foundation - Former Trustee
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1978
- Stanford University, BA, graduated 1973
- U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and Federal Circuits
- U.S. District Court, Northern, Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates, San Jose (2022)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Litigation - Real Estate
- Litigation - Trusts and Estates
Awards:
The Best Lawyers in America® Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Trust & Estates, 2022
Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF)
Senior Fellow of Litigation Counsel of America (limited to top one-half of one (1) percent of trial lawyers)
Top 100 in Northern California Super Lawyers, 2016 - 2019
Recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for 40 Years of Professional Excellence
Northern California Super Lawyers, 2006 - 2023; and listed in the Corporate Counsel Edition
The Best Lawyers in America® for 17 consecutive years in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, and Litigation - Trusts & Estates
News & Media
Additional Information
Case History
Cases
- Reported Cases
- County of Santa Clara v. Super. Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2017).
- People v. ConAgra Grocery Products Co. (2017) 17 Cal.App.5th 51.
- County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2010) 50 Cal.4th 35,235 P.3d 21,112 Cal. Rptr. 3d 697.
- County of Santa Clara v. Superior Court (Atlantic Richfield Co.) (2008) 161 Cal.App.4th 1140.
- County of Santa Clara v. Super. Ct. (Atlantic Richfield, et al) (2006) 137 Cal.App.4th 292.
- Estate of Wong (1996) 40 Cal.App.4th 1198.
- In re Romo (1987) 190 Cal.App.3d 279.
- Commercial Lease Recovery
Successfully recovered a substantial portion of sums paid through early settlement on behalf of a major telecommunications client that was overcharged under the terms of a commercial lease
- Real Estate Partnership Aribitration Recovery
Obtained an arbitration award of more than $15 million to recover debt owed for clients in a real estate partnership. Subsequently secured a series of arbitration orders that allowed the clients to buyout their partners on favorable terms.
- Regularly represents one of Silicon Valley’s premier companies in Federal and State Court litigation.
Regularly represents one of Silicon Valley’s premier companies in Federal and State Court litigation.
- Real Estate Fraud Defense
Obtained a defense judgment, including an award of all attorney’s fees, in defending a real estate fraud claim against client by wealthy individuals seeking more than $25,000,000 in damages.
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