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William Molinski

Partner

ロサンゼルス

Santa Monica Office

William Molinski is a member of the Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group. An experienced trial lawyer, Bill has represented corporate clients and individuals in a wide variety of commercial disputes with a particular emphasis in the areas of trade secrets, and other intellectual property disputes, consumer class actions and real estate disputes.

Bill routinely handles complex cases that can have a significant impact on a company's reputation and survival. His clients include major players in the technology, financial services and energy sectors as well as the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries.

Bill was named Litigator of the Week in November 2022 by The American Lawyer for his jury trial win for the NCAA in the first ground-breaking concussion case against the NCAA, a victory that was also named the Top Defense Trial Verdict of 2022 by the Court Viewing Network Bill was named Litigator of the Week in November 2022 by The American Lawyer for his jury trial win for the NCAA in the first ground-breaking concussion case against the NCAA, a victory that was also named the Top Defense Trial Verdict of 2022 by the Court Viewing Network. Bill was named Litigator of the Week in November 2022 by The American Lawyer for his jury trial win for the NCAA in the first ground-breaking concussion case against the NCAA, a victory that was also named the Top Defense Trial Verdict of 2022 by the Court Viewing Network. Bill was recognized in the 2016 edition of The Legal 500 for his work defending DISH Networks against copyright and breach of contract claims brought by four broadcast networks, a win that led to Orrick's recognition as "Litigation Department of the Year" by The Recorder. He was named a "California Lawyer of the Year" in 2011 by California Lawyer magazine as a member of the team representing MGA Entertainment in its "stunning victory" against Mattel over the Bratz doll line, which the Daily Journal called a "top defense win" of 2011.

  • Bill's representative cases include:

    • NCAA. Obtained remarkable jury verdict for the National Collegiate Athletic Association after six-week trial in the first concussion case against the NCAA to go to trial. The jury found no negligence on the part of the NCAA in a hotly contested trial against four separate plaintiffs’ law firms.
    • MGA Entertainment. Obtained a stunning jury verdict for MGA Entertainment in the company’s battle for the rights to the Bratz doll. A jury in California federal court found that MGA, not Mattel, owns the rights to the doll, and that Mattel stole MGA’s trade secrets through a campaign of corporate espionage. The jury awarded our client $88.4 million in damages and the potential for punitive damages. The lower court upheld a ruling Orrick previously obtained for MGA in appellate court.
    • Equifax Information Services. Acted as lead counsel for Equifax in a three-week jury trial involving antitrust claims. The jury returned a unanimous defense verdict for Equifax. Also represented Equifax in class action 17200 lawsuit where obtained summary judgment for Equifax
    • PricewaterhouseCoopers. Represented PwC in an action alleging accounting malpractice filed by a founding board member of the voice-over-internet protocol provider Skype. After less than two hours of deliberations, a Los Angeles jury cleared PwC of any wrongdoing.
    • Rabobank. Served as lead counsel in securing a trial victory for a Netherlands-based bank with offices in California. The client faced a public policy claim--essentially a whistleblower cause of action--brought by a current employee in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. After only 40 minutes of deliberations, the jury returned a complete defense verdict for Radobank.
    • Microsoft. Obtained a complete victory for Microsoft and one of its employees with a ruling granting their motion for judgment on the pleadings without leave to amend in a trade secret misappropriation lawsuit against Cheap Stuff.
    • Life360, Inc. Won dismissal of a putative Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) class action clearing Life360 of claims that its popular smartphone application sends unsolicited text message invitations to users’ contacts in violation of the TCPA and California Unfair Competition Law.
    • Sumner Redstone. Was part of a team that represented client Sumner Redstone and National Amusements Inc. (NAI) in the settlement of an intensely followed corporate dispute over Viacom Inc.
    • Industrial manufacturer. Represented this confidential client in a week-long private arbitration seeking indemnification for damages incurred in connection with a series of patent infringement lawsuits. Successfully obtained a multi-billion dollar arbitration award, securing a complete victory for the client.
    • KBC Financial Products. Represented U.S. subsidiaries of KBC, an affiliate of KBC Bank in Belgium in several high profile cases involving life settlement transactions. Cases included CBPC 10200 claims and consumer class action claims. Obtained summary judgment in favor of KBC in precedent-setting action involving non-recourse life insurance policy loans.
    • Aquila Merchant Services. Represented Aquila, then one of the largest energy marketers in the United States, in a consumer class action filed by the California Attorney General involving claims of energy market manipulation. Obtained dismissal of claims on demurrer. Also, represented Aquila Merchant Services in a lawsuit in which AMS and various other energy companies were accused of manipulating the natural gas futures market on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
    • City of Los Angeles. Obtained dismissal of class action claims brought by all Los Angeles taxpayers for alleged collection of telephone tax.
    • Hoffman La-Roche. Represented pharmaceutical giant in defeating action by Johnson & Johnson for an injunction based on alleged theft of trade secrets by departing employees.