William M. Griffin III
Arkansas
Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP
400 West Capitol Ave. Suite 2000
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
United States
Tel: 501-370-1515
Email:
griffin@fridayfirm.com
Web:
www.fridayfirm.com
William Griffin is a Partner at Friday Eldredge & Clark LLP, situated in the state’s capital, Little Rock, and notably Arkansas’ largest and oldest law firm. With a reputation that precedes him, Griffin has over 40 years of experience and has represented clients in areas of businesses, non-profits, healthcare organizations, corporations, and individual clients in Arkansas and across the United States. Griffin serves as Vice-Chairman of the firm’s Management Committee and heads the Litigation practice group.
Griffin represents major manufacturers nationally in product liability and other litigation. His work also includes the defense of medical malpractice and general liability cases. He has handled cases in nearly every state in the United States, having tried 90 jury trials. He has been a lead counsel in the defense of manufacturers in lawsuits brought by dozens of municipalities. He handled one of the most significant matters litigated before the Consumer Product Safety Commission in recent years.
Griffin is respected by judges and his peers for his extensive jury trial experience in both State and Federal Courts. He has often lectured on various aspects of litigation practice. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and an Advocate in the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is recognized as a Litigation Star in Benchmark Litigation. He has been ranked by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America, and Mid-South Super Lawyers in multiple areas of law.
Education
- Southern Methodist University School of Law, J.D., 1982
- University of Virginia, B.A., 1979
Admissions
- Arkansas, 1982
- Numerous Admissions Pro Hac Vice throughout the United States
- United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
- Awarded Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation
- American College of Trial Lawyers, Fellow
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America, since 1997
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Insurance and Medical Malpractice – Defendants, since 2019
- Named Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, 2017
- Ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, General Litigation, 2020
- Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
- Selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers List, 2012 to present;
- Top 50: Arkansas
Friday, Eldredge & Clark, LLP has some of the most experienced trial lawyers in the state who represent its clients on both a regional and national basis. The firm has represented individuals and businesses in a wide array of disputes. Major practice areas include Personal injury defense, professional malpractice defense, products liability, commercial litigation, railroad litigation, worker’s compensation and class actions.
The firm has served as lead class action counsel in many commercial cases, including a trial to judgment of a 240,000-member class case and a successful defense of the judgment through an appeal. Lender liability defense is a commercial litigation area of depth with noteworthy jury verdicts in favor of our clients across the state. The firm also has wide experience in cases involving the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, Products Liability, Medical Malpractice defense, Commercial litigation, Anti-trust claims resulting in beneficial strategies developed across many cases in numerous industries. With no learning curve, and a reputation for staffing cases with the right lawyers, clients can be assured there will be no unnecessary spinning of wheels.
Business, general and commercial litigation are regularly called upon to handle bet-the-company litigation with key clients. In addition, these groups have longstanding engagements to handle matters for the largest insurance companies in the United States that insure many of those companies. The members of these practice groups are also the go-to law firm for matters related to the defense of class actions, lender liability cases, and antitrust claims.
Not only are we privileged to represent some of Arkansas’s finest companies, organizations, and people, we have also represented Fortune 100 companies in litigation in courts around the country. We are frequently the lawyers of choice when the most prestigious companies and law firms in the country seek regional or local counsel. Key clients in general litigation include Federal Express, Dillard Department Stores, Browning Arms, Daisy Manufacturing, Center Point Energy Resources, Oaklawn Jockey Club, ABF Logistics, Inc., Baptist Health, Regions Bank, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company, and a large number of publicly-traded, sizeable privately-owned companies and large US insurance companies including St. Paul Travelers, Cigna, CNA and Liberty Mutual.
We represent clients in almost every industry including business and corporate; insurance, manufacturing and industrial; media, medical and healthcare; municipalities, counties and government entities; nonprofit and charitable organizations; pharmaceutical and medical device products; professional services; real estate; technology, software and communications; transportation; and wholesale and retail.
“William Griffin has a robust product liability practice, as well as handling medical malpractice claims. He acts for an impressive roster of manufacturers across the USA.”