William H. Bode, Esq.

William Bode’s practice specializes in complex business litigation and his cases have covered a broad array of federal statutes and claims. He has represented a diverse array of clients such as Anheuser Busch Companies, Reynolds Metal, and CMS Energy Corp. in cases that have merited special attention in trade publications. Over 70 opinions arising from his cases are published in federal and state reporters. He has argued cases before the Courts of Appeal for the Second, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and Federal Circuits, the Court of International Trade, and the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Bode has represented clients in the environmental area in cases under CERCLA (Superfund), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Oil Pollution Act. He was recognized in Washingtonian Magazine in December 2004 as one of the country’s top Environmental Lawyers. He has served as General Counsel to the Environmental Business Association.

Mr. Bode’s practice areas include intellectual property law, and he won a federal court decision declaring that a portion of Internet Domain Fees was an unconstitutional tax. The effect of the decision was to save the internet community over $220 million in fees. He has won important cases applying trademark law to Internet domain names. Mr. Bode also has argued an important intellectual property case involving plant patents before the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Bode has represented energy clients in every sector of the industry, including crude oil production, refining, terminalling, pipelines, and marketing. He has served as General Counsel to the Independent Terminal Operators Association.

Mr. Bode also has represented clients and achieved important victories in cases implicating the False Claims Act, Insurance Law, and the Administrative Procedures Act. He has prosecuted complex federal claims against the government.

Mr. Bode frequently lectures, and is consulted by the media in cases involving complex litigation. He is a member of the American Bar Association and its committees on business litigation, unfair trade practices and antitrust law, and intellectual property.

Mr. Bode is an AV rated attorney—the highest rating an attorney can receive in recognition of professional excellence. He works with clients to design successful litigation strategies, seeking efficient, practical solutions to achieve client objectives. 

Mr. Bode has represented many clients for over 20 years. He works with clients to achieve successful trial verdicts, and to sustain these verdicts in post-trial appellate decisions, and negotiated settlements. His practice is national in scope and his hallmark is finding creative trial strategies, and innovative dispute resolution solutions.

Mr. Bode is the founding and managing Partner of the Firm. Prior to the practice of law, Mr. Bode served as a Systems Analyst in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. He received his Juris Doctorate degree as a graduate of George Washington University ’s National Law Center . He received a Master of Science from the Stanford Business School , and a Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy. His Publications have covered Energy Law, Environmental Law, Intellectual Property Law, and the enforcement of derivative contracts under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulations.

Education:

• J.D., George Washington University’s National Law Center
• M.S., Stanford Business School
• B.S., U.S. Air Force Academy

Practicing: Corporate Litigation