Commercial Litigation
William J. Goines
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 1995 Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
William J. Goines focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, real estate, employment litigation and employment law. He has spent more than 35 years representing clients in jury and non-jury trials in a variety of business disputes, wrongful termination, employment discrimination litigation, class actions, real estate matters, toxic tort litigation, and closely held and family-owned business disputes. Bill is also a recognized private mediator and arbitrator in Silicon Valley and serves as a Judge Pro Tem, Settlement Conference Judge, Special Discovery Master, Mediator and Arbitrator of disputes through both private and court-coordinated programs. Bill is the Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm's Silicon Valley office.
Overview
East Palo Alto, California
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1974
- California, The State Bar of California
- American Bar Association - Member
- Los Altos School District Foundation - Member
- Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Foundation - Member
- Santa Clara County Bar Association - Member
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Member
East Palo Alto, California
- California, The State Bar of California
- American Bar Association - Member
- Los Altos School District Foundation - Member
- Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District Foundation - Member
- Santa Clara County Bar Association - Member
- Santa Clara County Superior Court - Member
- University of California Hastings College of the Law, J.D., graduated 1974
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Litigation - Insurance
- Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
- AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5
- "Silicon Valley's Top Lawyers," San Jose magazine, 2003-2004
- Super Lawyers magazine, Northern California Super Lawyers, 2005-2013
News & Media
Case History
Cases
- Areas of Concentration
- Complex commercial litigation and arbitration
- Employment litigation
- Class action defense
- Financial institution litigation
- Bad faith litigation
- Real estate litigation
- Toxic tort litigation
- Significant Representations
- Strato-Retail, LLC, a Nevada limited liability company v. K.R.'s Express Co., II, et al. District Court, Clark County Nevada No. 0371594 (Consolidated). Prosecuted five claims for breach of lease and defended claims for fraud, rescission and damages emanating from a retail project located in the Stratosphere Casino & Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
- Mel Doney v. TRW Inc., an Ohio corporation, and its subsidiary, ESL, Inc., et al. Santa Clara County Superior Court Acton No. 676206. This action was brought by relatives of several ESL employees who were the victims of an unforeseeable violent rampage by a former ESL employee, Richard Wade Farley. The claims were based upon negligence in preventing workplace violence, however, the duties of the employer with regard to handling a claim of sexual harassment were also an issue in the case. Although this was a potentially high-profile litigation, Bill was able to handle it in a low-profile manner. At the outset of the case, Bill obtained an order dismissing ESL, Inc. on the grounds of workers' compensation preemption. Subsequently, Bill obtained summary judgment in favor of the remaining Defendant, TRW Inc. Plaintiff appealed the summary judgment to the California Supreme Court, which judgment was affirmed.
- Part 2
- Robert W. Shutt, et al. v. TRW Inc., et al. Santa Clara County Superior Court Action No. 716064. Defeated class certification of an environmental liability action brought by members of a residential neighborhood against three high-tech companies resulting from injuries and diminution in property value arising from exposure to air and groundwater contamination.
- Vinay Agrawal v. National Semiconductor Corporation. Santa Clara County Superior Court Action No. 1-03-CV-814051. Defended National Semiconductor Corporation ("NSC") in a claim for breach of employment contract that was delivered to plaintiff, Vinay Agrawal, following the acquisition of a company by NSC.
- Lawrence A. Rennie v. National Semiconductor Corporation. United States District Court, Central District of California Action No. CV04-888MMM (JTL). Defended National Semiconductor Corporation ("NSC") in a claim of age discrimination prosecuted by a former employee who was separated from NSC during a reduction in workforce. Prior to the action being filed, Bill persuaded the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission that the claim of age discrimination had no merit, resulting in the dismissal of the EEOC charge of discrimination.
- Part 3
- Trust of Fenton F. O'Connell and Estate of Gladys C. O'Connell. San Benito County Superior Court Action Nos. 6766 and 6810. Represented the co-trustees and co-executors in a variety of claims against the trust and state by creditors and family members. Obtained rulings in favor of the client on key issues submitted to the court, including a dismissal of all creditor claims.
- Clinic Services Management Corporation v. National Semiconductor Corporation, Santa Clara County, Action 1-86-CV-619039. Represented National Semiconductor Corporation in a claim for property damage, decline in property value and personal injuries resulting from migration of TCE from one of National Semiconductor Corporation's fabrication facilities.
- Represented National Semiconductor Corporation in a series of premises liability claims emanating from the use of products and materials containing asbestos during construction of National Semiconductor and Fairchild Semiconductor fabrication facilities in the 1960s and 1970s.
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