William D. Howard

William D. Howard is the head of the litigation team for the firm. An aggressive litigator, he focuses his practice in the areas of product liability, construction, trucking and transportation, negligence, maritime/admiralty, and commercial litigation. In recognition of his success as a complex litigation trial attorney, his name appears on the lists of super litigators across the nation. Mr. Howard has obtained favorable verdicts in numerous jurisdictions including the following: U.S. District Court, New York; U.S. District Court, Georgia; U.S. District Court, Oklahoma; U.S. District Court, Massachusetts; U.S. District Court, Pennsylvania; U.S. District Court, California; U.S. District Court, Illinois; U.S. District Court, Oregon; U.S. District Court, New Jersey; U.S. District Court, Tennessee; U.S. District Court, Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Missouri; U.S. District Court, Alabama; U.S. District Court, Florida; U.S. District Court, North Carolina; U.S. District Court, Arizona; U.S. District Court, Michigan; Michigan Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals; United States Supreme Court. His success has attracted a long list of national clients whose interests he has represented either as national counsel, regional counsel or local counsel throughout the State of Michigan. Mr. Howard has acted as counsel for many of these clients, such as AIG, for more than 20 years. With 30 years of active litigation practice, Mr. Howard has been able to try cases in over 38 states. From Federal to State court, he has obtained favorable verdicts for his clients in over 99% of the cases he has taken to trial. This amazing success ratio in literally hundreds of jury trials highlights the importance of the firm's litigation strategy. Its team approach emphasizes strong relationships with their client and strongly includes the client in the litigation team. Mr. Howard is certified an ICLE trained civil facilitator in multiple Michigan Courts. He serves on many arbitration/mediation panels as selected by local counsel including special panels involving complex litigation and contractor issues. Representative Client Work Mr. Howard served as national counsel, regional counsel and local counsel for numerous manufacturers and associations, including Cottrell, Holmes Group, Underwater Construction Corporation, Great Lakes Dock and Materials, Rival Companies, J.C. Penney, Cruisers Yachts, Fountain Power Boats, Michigan Marinas Association, and Burger King. He has also represented numerous national associations such as the Underground Utility Contractors, Trucking Entities and Special Needs Modification Equipment Operators. Mr. Howard has won favorable verdicts in numerous state and federal courts including the United States Supreme Court, and Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. He recently recovered a 1.5 million dollar verdict for the employer and employee after a five day jury trial in Michigan Circuit Court involving a construction site accident and personal injury claim. Mr. Howard has litigated several hundred cases to jury verdict over the last several decades in numerous locations with a success rate of over 99%. Because of this success, his name has been placed on numerous clients' super litigators lists. Awards and Honors Super Lawyers® Selectees William D. Howard included in a Super Lawyers® list Honors AV Rated National Court Competition Various Super Litigators Lists Other Sources of Feedback About William D. Howard Included on the 2026Michigan Super Lawyers list Past Lists 2025 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2023 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2022 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2021 Michigan Super Lawyers list 2020 Michigan Super Lawyers list

• Trained Facilitator, Michigan ICLE
• Speaker, "A Greener Opening in a Complex Litigation World", LCA Renaissance Symposium VIII at the Harvard Club of New York, NY

• Michigan, 1984
• U.S. District Court Western District of Michigan, 1984
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, 2001
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2001
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1990

• Grand Rapids Bar Association
• Defense Research Institute
• Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
• Member, Diversity Law Institute
• Member, The Trial Law Institute