Overview
Whether he’s protecting and pursuing the rights of his business and real estate clients in commercial disputes, defending them in catastrophic personal injury cases, or helping them navigate complex commercial transactions, Bill Buhay uses his accounting background to strive for the most cost-efficient resolution to the matter at hand.
In his 28 plus year legal career, Bill has tried cases in almost every major area of civil law in courts across the country. He has tried cases involving such disparate areas of law as products liability, premises liability, breach of contract, real estate and business torts, FTC enforcement actions, and trademark infringement claims. He serves as the National Counsel for Deficiency Claims as well as the National Oversight Counsel for premises liability claims for the nation’s largest special servicer of commercial mortgage-backed securitized loans. In addition to handling all myriads of real estate matters, Bill remains active in litigation, where his practice ranges from defending products, environmental, and commercial liability suits to handling complex antitrust and intellectual property matters.
Bill regularly advises his business clients on all manners of transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, business dissolutions, manufacturing and supply agreements, and intellectual property licenses.
Education & Admissions
Education
University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1996
Auburn University, B.S., 1990
Admissions
Georgia
Georgia Court of Appeals
Georgia Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
U.S. District Court, Middle District of Georgia
Representative Experience
- As lead trial counsel, obtained a defense judgment in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Georgia in a four-week FTC action trial alleging violations of the FTC Act, ROSCA, and the Telemarketing Act.
- National real estate and commercial litigation and premises liability oversight counsel for the nation’s largest commercial mortgage-backed securities special service.
- Obtained a complete defense award for a medical products manufacturer following a five-day trademark infringement arbitration wherein the Claimant sought $36 million in damages.
- Obtained a $1.73 million attorney’s fee award following the recovery of a defense judgment for a multinational technology company.
- Directly handled or oversaw the prosecution or defense of dozens of “alter ego,” “piercing the corporate veil,” and fraudulent conveyance lawsuits.
- Successfully defended a resort owner from multiple separate Legionnaires disease outbreaks arising from alleged defects in the resort’s plumbing system.
- Drafted and negotiated asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, and merger agreements and litigated disputes arising out of such transactions.
- Defended chemical manufacturer against charges its product caused an explosion causing several deaths and dozens of injuries.
- Successfully defended and resolved dozens of trucking accident and premises liability cases.
- Defended national tire and auto repair retailer from multiple negligent maintenance wrongful death claims.
- Drafted and negotiated construction contracts for multi-use development (condos, townhomes, hotels, restaurants) throughout the country.
- Successfully defended major chemical manufacturers in CERCLA and HSRA environmental claims.
- Successfully resolved copyright and trademark infringement claims for dozens of manufacturing clients.
Recent Wins
- Arbitration Found for Defense$34M
- Intellectual Property
New JerseyWWHGD’s client was sued for trademark infringement based on inadvertent, minimal use of the claimant’s trademark post licensing agreement expiration.
Despite settlement efforts, the claimant insisted on an arbitration which issued a unanimous denial all of the their claims, in favor of our client.
- Summary Judgment$5M
- Product Liability
GeorgiaThe Federal District Court in the Northern District of Georgia granted both motions and found that our client successfully demonstrated that there was insufficient evidence that any chemical in the aerosol paint was carcinogenic or otherwise caused the plaintiff’s leukemia. Bill Buhay of WWHGD represented the successful aerosol paint manufacturer.
Practices & Industries
Awards & Recognition
The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation, 2025
American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell®, Top Rated Lawyer, Mass Torts, 2013
Martindale-Hubbell® AV Rated since 2005
Super Lawyers®, Georgia Super Lawyers List, Civil Litigation: Defense, 2023-2025
News & Publications
- WWHGD Legal Alert
- Hotel Management
- Atlanta Business Chronicle
Events & Speaking Engagements
- "A Lawyer's Look at the Alabama Department of Transportation's Standard Specifications for Highway Construction."
- "Building The Case: Real Life CSI; Litigating the Wrongful Death Claim in Georgia."
- "Designing Effective Credit Application, Purchase Orders, and Invoices: The Three Things You Should Always Do."
Professional & Community Activities
American Bar Association, Member
Atlanta Bar Association, Member
Cobb County Bar Association, Member
Defense Research Institute, Intellectual Property Steering Committee Vice Chair and Member
Youth Football and Baseball Coach