William J. Cornwell leads the civil trial and litigation sections of the Firm. A partner with over 25 years of experience handling complex civil matters, Bill has a long history of success in the courtroom on a wide variety of matters. Bill and the skilled attorneys and staff members working with him have obtained verdicts and settlements in excess of $100,000,000 on behalf of a broad array of clients ranging from individuals to large corporations. Recent jury verdicts include: $11 million against Volkswagen in a product liability action stemming from the tragic death of a 16-year-old girl, and another in excess of $4.2 million in a construction defect case against a builder/developer. In addition, Bill has successfully defended numerous claims against large and small businesses, institutions, and municipal organizations, including the Palm Beach Sheriff's Office, the City of Delray Beach, and the City of Port St. Lucie. Bill also defends professional negligence claims against the full spectrum of professionals.
Areas Of Practice
- Class Actions
- Complex Litigation
- Torts
- Products Liability
- Trial Practice
- Construction Litigation
Bar Admissions
- Georgia, 1985
- Supreme Court of Georgia, 1985
- Georgia Court of Appeals, 1985
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia, 1985
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia, 1987
- Florida, 1988
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida, 2000
Education
- Georgia State University College of Law, Atlanta, Georgia
- J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 1985
- Honors: President, Student Bar Association, 1984
- Honors: Member, Moot Court Society. Instructor
- Honors: Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1995-1997
- Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
- B.B.A. - 1982
Representative Cases
- Gentry v. Volkswagen of America, Inc., 521 S.E.2d 13 (Ga. Ct. App. 1999)
- Henderson v. Science-Atlanta, Inc., 971 F.2d 1567 (11th Cir. 1992)
- Schiffer v. Mazda Motor Corp., 192 F.R.D. 335 (N.D. Ga. 2000)
- Smith v. Glen Cove Apartments Condominiums Master Association, Inc., 847 So. 2d 1107 (Fla. 4th DCA 2003), approved sub nom. Sosa v. Safeway Premium Finance Co., 73 So. 3d 91 (Fla. 2011)
Classes/Seminars
- Instructor, Georgia Institute for Continuing Legal Education, 1995 to 1997
Professional Associations and Memberships
- State Bar of Georgia
- The Florida Bar
- American Bar Association
- The Association of Trial Lawyers of America
- Student Bar Association, President, 1984
Fraternities/Sororities
- Phi Alpha Delta
