William F. McGonigle

Career Overview

Arrowood LLP Partner Bill McGonigle focuses his practice on commercial litigation and trial strategy. Prior to joining Arrowood in 2017, Bill worked in the Washington, DC office of an international law firm. Over his career, he has helped bring multiple high-stakes matters to trial, including one that resulted in a judgment for his client valued at over $230 million. Bill has also been first chair in multiple trials: presenting arguments, conducting examinations, and coordinating strategy.

In addition to his trial work, Bill has taken clients through all other stages of the litigation process; from the initial investigation and pleadings to discovery and motions practice to appeal and ultimate judgment. He therefore brings a long-term perspective to each of his cases and strives to serve his clients in ways that not only produce immediate benefit but also account for potential future developments.

Bill has represented a wide range of clients, including insurance companies, investment firms, banks, consumer product corporations, nonprofits, and a variety of individuals. Through these representations, he has handled matters involving breach of contract, legal malpractice, environmental issues, medical whistleblower, fiduciary duties, trademark matters, medical malpractice, class actions, wrongful death, fraud, insurance coverage, and many more.

In each matter, Bill has zealously committed himself to learning the details of his clients’ business and the facts at issue, be it cutting-edge photon therapy, industrial chemicals, furniture retail, health care system management, biotech research and development, or biosolids and soil management.

Throughout his career, Bill has been proactive in keeping up-to-date with technology and the benefits it can provide his clients. This ranges from e-discovery issues and the protocols necessary to guarantee efficient document review to remote depositions and hearings which have become commonplace since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bill is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC. While a student, he interned at multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Justice. He was also committed to the student community, being elected president of the Mock Trial Skills Board and receiving the annual Alumni Association Award. After graduating law school, Bill clerked for District Judge Diana Saldana of the Southern District of Texas.

At his previous firm, Bill was recognized for his pro bono work managing the firm’s involvement with the Clemency Project 2014, advising low-income tenants facing wrongful eviction, and representing an inmate in a federal prison in a claim against the United States.

Notable Cases

• ABC Industrial Laundry, LLC v. Christeyns Laundry Technology, LLC, et al. (Eighth Judicial District Court, Clark County, Nevada, No. A-15-720810-C) – Defended manufacturer and supplier of industrial laundry chemicals from claims brought by a Las Vegas-based industrial laundry. Took lead on all aspects of the case, including taking fact and expert depositions, coordinating expert reports, and drafting motions for summary judgment and sanctions related to spoliation, as well as successful motions to compel. The matter was ultimately resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties shortly before trial while multiple motions remained pending.
• Black, et al. v. Delaney, et al. (Suffolk Superior Court; No. 1584CV00712) – Served as first chair in medical malpractice trial representing plaintiffs. Doing so required developing full comprehension of cutting-edge photon beam radiation therapy treatments provided by defendant to the plaintiff. Jury deliberated for four days, ultimately finding that the defendant doctor had been negligent but that his negligence had not caused plaintiffs’ injuries.
• U.S. Home Corp. v. Settlers Crossing, LLC, et al. (D. Md.; No. 08-cv-1863) – A dispute concerning a purchase agreement for over 1,200 acres of land outside Washington, DC where the plaintiff alleged that, among other claims, the contract had been voided by the sellers’ failure to properly disclose the past application of treated waste product to the land at issue. Though the initial complaint was filed in 2008, discovery accelerated exponentially in the fall of 2012, when the Court set a trial date for December 2013. From that point forward, the parties conducted approximately 45 depositions, filed extensive summary judgment papers, and eventually brought the matter before a judge for a three-week trial. The Court’s resultant judgment in favor of our client was valued at over $200 million.
• Tavenner v. Gidumal (Bankr. E.D. Va.; Adv. Pro. No. 13-03313) – After replacing prior counsel, the team defended a former chairman of a board of directors of a national furniture retailer that had entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in December 2011 and then converted to Chapter 7 in July 2012. The Trustee of the Chapter 11 estate filed suit against the former chairman (but none of his fellow directors) in the Bankruptcy Court of the E.D. Va. for a breach of fiduciary duty. Despite entering the case only eight months before the trial date, which the court refused to reschedule, having to manage a review of over 400,000 documents from over 20 parties, taking 15 depositions, and filing both summary judgment and mediation briefs; we were able to bring the case to trial and, after a week of testimony, reach a successful settlement for our client.

Honors and Awards

• Named a Massachusetts Rising Star for Business Litigation by Super Lawyers, 2019-2022
• Received Katten Muchin Rosenman Pro Bono Service Award, 2015

Civic Engagement

• Select Board Member, Winchester, MA, 2024 – present
• Town Meeting Member, Winchester, MA, 2022 – present