Will Ashworth’s practice focuses on complex civil litigation, government investigations, and pre-litigation and compliance advice to clients. He represents clients in a broad range of complex civil matters, including false claims actions, health care matters, financial services litigation, antitrust matters, contract and employment matters, civil RICO actions, and many other types of commercial disputes. He has handled cases in state and federal courts and arbitration panels around the country, including civil and criminal appeals. Will also represents clients in government investigations, including by the FTC, SEC, and state Attorneys General, among others. Outside of litigation, Will serves as a resource for clients on issues such as contract analyses and negotiations, OFAC sanctions compliance, and pre-litigation evaluations. Will has represented clients from all over the United States, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. Will is the Co-Chair of the firm’s Insurance Disputes practice group. Will was born in Roanoke, Virginia and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He graduated from Wake Forest University, summa cum laude, in 1998, and the University of Texas School of Law, with honors, in 2002, where he served as a member of the Texas Law Review. Will joined Williams & Connolly in 2002 and is a Chair Emeritus of the firm's Associates Committee. Representative ExperienceThough all cases vary and none is predictive, Will’s experience includes:
- Counsel for a Fortune 500 health care company in two major ongoing false claims actions, including an intervened matter in federal court
- Counsel for a Fortune 500 telecommunications company in false claims, contract, and civil RICO litigation in federal and state courts and related government investigations around the country, most of which have been resolved through dismissals or favorable settlements
- Counsel for a Fortune 500 retailer in federal and state antitrust trials;
- Counsel for a Fortune 500 technology company in a confidential government investigation
- Counsel for health care plans in state court and appellate litigation involving allegations of provider directory inaccuracies;
- Counsel for an international financial services company in RMBS trustee litigation in various state and federal courts;
- Counsel for a life settlement provider in an insurance dispute involving a contract related to the sale of a portfolio of life insurance policies;
- Counsel for an insurance company in a nationwide putative class action involving allegations of claims underpayment;
- Counsel for an individual in an election law investigation;
- Counsel for a Middle-East-based financial institution in a matter related to OFAC compliance;
- Counsel for a life settlement provider in a civil RICO, fraud, and contract action in the Southern District of New York that settled after a three-month bench trial;
- Counsel in an employment dispute between the co-founder of a venture capital firm and a former business partner that was resolved in a favorable settlement for the client;
- Counsel for a Fortune 500 corporation in false claims litigation in California federal and state courts (and other jurisdictions) alleging violations of a “most favored customer” provision of certain group purchasing contracts;
- Counsel for a Big Four accounting firm in securities litigation and a two-year arbitration related to an accounting fraud committed by the audit client and its executives that resulted in a complete defense judgment for the client that was upheld on appeal.
- Counsel for a Mexican national, a third-party defendant in a civil RICO action, that was resolved when the claims against him were dismissed on motions to dismiss.
- Counsel for a Big Four accounting firm in litigation related to the collapse of an Irish bank in the Southern District of New York that was dismissed (and an appeal to the Second Circuit Court of appeals was later dropped by the plaintiffs).
- Counsel for a multinational company in civil RICO litigation brought by Latin American government entities in New York. After years of litigation, the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case without prejudice and did not attempt to reinstate it.
- Counsel for Israeli companies in settlement negotiations and contract litigation in New York state court
- Counsel for a law firm and several of its former partners in a securities investigation and related litigation. After a comprehensive investigation, the SEC declined to take any action against the law firm or any of its former partners.
- Counsel for a former director of Computer Associates, Inc. in derivative litigation related to alleged fraud at that company. All of the claims against the client were dismissed and the dismissal upheld after a Second Circuit appeal.
- Counsel for an individual in a white-collar criminal matter in Minneapolis, as well as related civil and tax enforcement investigations and litigation. All matters were resolved favorably for the client.
- Counsel for a Brazilian firm in a plaintiff-side arbitration against a foreign exchange trading firm. The arbitration resulted in a victory for the client.
- Counsel for a major law firm in securities and derivative litigation and investigations related to the collapse of Enron Corporation. All claims against the firm were dismissed or otherwise successfully resolved, and none of the agencies involved pursued charges against individual firm attorneys.
Recognitions“500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2025 Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America ®, 2023 |
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