William Zapf
Partner

wzapf@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

Bill Zapf is a litigator with deep experience handling all aspects of complex disputes, both civil and criminal, including appeals. That experience covers a wide variety of cases, from defending individuals in multimillion dollar white collar fraud cases to international patent litigation. Bill has developed a particular focus and expertise in matters involving legal ethics, including helping individuals and companies bringing legal malpractice claims against law firms.

In his legal malpractice work, Bill works to win justice for clients that have been wronged by their lawyer. He believes that the attorney-client relationship is one of the most important and most fragile institutions in our society. Clients must put complete trust in their lawyer to handle important problems, requiring them to share private, embarrassing, and potentially damaging details at the most stressful points in their lives. Because of this, lawyers are held to a higher standard. When they breach that standard, Bill stands ready to help right their wrongs.

Bill has represented some of the largest companies in the world in high-stakes cases, from global consumer electronics makers to pharmaceutical companies to major national retain chains. He has handled all aspects litigation, from pre-suit due diligence through trial and appeal. That includes taking and defending numerous depositions of fact witnesses and experts, examining witnesses at trial, and arguing appeals.

Before joining Kaiser PLLC, he handled highly technical patent cases and other complex matters at Covington & Burling LLP. There, he developed a particular expertise in assessing and litigating damages and other economic aspects of those cases, being recognized multiple times as a “Rising Star” in Intellectual Property Law. Prior to starting his legal career, Bill attended law school at night while working as an international economics advisor for an AmLaw 100 firm where he led an in-house team of specialists providing economic and financial analysis to help international clients navigate complex federal regulations governing imports into the United States.

Throughout his career, Bill has also devoted much energy and time to his pro bono practice, representing individuals facing criminal charges and civil claims in federal and state court. Bill’s victories include securing the release of a man sentenced to life in prison without parole for drug convictions under new laws that reversed racial sentencing disparities and winning an appeal before the Virginia Supreme Court to overturn prosecutorial abuses in Virginia’s Sexually Violent Predator laws.

Bill is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. District Court for the District of Northern Illinois, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

When not practicing law, Bill is a dad to two busy teenagers. He enjoys coaching basketball and baseball and serves as Secretary to the Board of Directors of the Springfield Babe Ruth League in Springfield, Virginia.

Education

• J.D., The George Washington University Law School, highest honors
• M.A, International Affairs, The George Washington University, Elliott School of International Affairs
• B.A., La Salle University, maxima cum laude

Government Service

• Clerkship, The Honorable Roger W. Titus, United States District Court for the District of Maryland