Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP announced today that William M. Jay, a highly accomplished appellate lawyer, has joined the firm as a partner and head of the Supreme Court & Appellate Litigation Practice, continuing the firm’s expansion of its Litigation Department. Jay, who is based in Washington, D.C., has comprehensive experience handling complex appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court and every federal court of appeals.
“Willy is a standout appellate advocate and one of the most respected lawyers in the appellate bar,” said Paul, Weiss Chairman Scott A. Barshay. “We're thrilled to welcome him to Paul, Weiss, where he will be an invaluable resource for our clients.”
A former Supreme Court clerk and Assistant to the Solicitor General, Jay has delivered more than 100 oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court and federal and state courts of appeals. In addition to his work in appellate courts, he is regularly retained before trial to handle critical motions and steer strategy for eventual appeal.
“Willy’s rare combination of experience, judgment and composure has made him a star in the appellate arena,” said Michael Holston, co-head of the Litigation Department. “He is a great fit for our already strong department, and his addition will allow us to continue to deliver excellent results for our clients.”
Jay has extensive Supreme Court credentials. He has argued 19 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, briefed more than 65 Supreme Court cases on the merits, and briefed more than 150 cases at the certiorari stage. His practice spans a wide range of areas, including intellectual property, financial services, class actions and mass torts, administrative law, antitrust, securities litigation, and constitutional challenges to state law. He brings particular depth to appellate matters with intellectual property components, including patent, copyright and trademark cases, and has secured victories in several Supreme Court cases, including Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. v. Sandoz, Inc., Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., Star Athletica, L.L.C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc., and B&B Hardware, Inc. v. Hargis Industries. He is also a prominent advocate at the Federal Circuit.
“I am excited to bring my practice to Paul, Weiss, a firm that has long been known for the exceptional quality of its lawyers,” Jay said. “I have had the privilege to represent clients in the highest courts throughout my career, and I look forward to continuing that work with the support of the platform this firm provides.”
Named the nationwide “Appellate Litigator of the Year” by Benchmark Litigation in 2020, Jay has been widely recognized for his appellate advocacy over the years. He is listed in the “Hall of Fame” for The Legal 500’s Appellate category (2021-2026) and is ranked by Chambers USA in Band 1 for Appellate Law (2015-2026) and Intellectual Property: Appellate, one of only four attorneys to receive a Band 1 recognition in both practices this year. Jay is frequently recognized for his work at the intersection of appellate and intellectual property, appearing on Managing IP’s list of IP Stars and IAM Patent 1000’s list of top Federal Circuit appellate practitioners. Jay is also president-elect of the Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court and a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
Jay received an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was an executive editor of the Harvard Law Review. He is a frequent writer and speaker on the topic of appellate litigation, particularly where the practice touches on intellectual property and pharmaceuticals.
The Paul, Weiss Litigation Department regularly handles significant, high-stakes and complex litigations and enforcement actions for clients that include Fortune 50 corporations and other prominent companies in the financial services, investment, medical device, pharmaceutical, sports, technology, energy, media and insurance industries. The firm’s litigators have a long history of strength and success as trial lawyers, credibility with government officials and regulators, and a track record of courtroom wins and creative out-of-court resolutions.
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