International law firm Dorsey & Whitney LLP today announced a significant addition to its firmwide Trial Group. Renowned trial lawyer William (“Billy”) Martin has joined Dorsey as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office, effective immediately.
Mr. Martin, formerly a partner at Howrey LLP in that firm’s Global Litigation practice, has consistently been named one of the top trial lawyers in Washington, D.C. In 2008, he was selected by The National Law Journal as one of the nation’s “50 Most Influential Minority Attorneys.” His litigation practice involves the representation of major corporations and high-profile individuals in connection with federal and state criminal investigations and a wide variety of complex civil disputes, including employment litigation and class actions. Mr. Martin’s corporate clients have included Starwood, Macy’s, the Eaton Corporation, and American Financial Group. He has also represented many individuals from the worlds of politics, sports and entertainment, including NFL star Michael Vick, NBA players Allen Iverson and Jayson Williams and Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell. He also represented the parents of murdered federal intern Chandra Levy. During the investigation of former President Bill Clinton, Mr. Martin served as counsel to both Monica Lewinsky and her parents. He currently represents former Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson.
Mr. Martin served in senior positions in the U.S. Department of Justice prior to entering private practice. At Dorsey, he will join a number of former Department of Justice officials, including the former United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Zachary W. Carter, and the former United States Attorney for the District of Alaska, Robert Bundy.
Mr. Martin is Dorsey’s second high-profile acquisition for its Washington, D.C. office during the first quarter of 2011. In January, Dorsey added Thomas Gorman, Co-Chair of the ABA White Collar Crime Securities Section and a former member of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Enforcement Division, as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office.
“We are delighted that Billy has joined Dorsey,” said Marianne D. Short, Dorsey’s Managing Partner. “He is an outstanding trial lawyer who has been a trusted advisor to clients in matters of great complexity and sensitivity. He is a great addition to the Firm’s national trial practice, particularly in the area of white collar defense.”
“Billy is one of the top trial lawyers in Washington,” noted Creighton Magid, head of Dorsey’s Washington, D.C. office. “We are thrilled to have him on our team.”
“Dorsey’s breadth of practice, its global footprint, its prominent team of white collar defense practitioners, and its deep bench of trial lawyers throughout the country were among the factors that attracted me to the firm,” said Mr. Martin. “I look forward to working with such a distinguished and talented group of lawyers, as well as helping the firm continue to build its Washington, D.C., trial practice.”