William Hoffman | People | Arnold & Porter

William Hoffman represents a number of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the world in a wide range of litigation and counseling matters. William is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer who has represented a wide range of clients in major product liability and other complex litigation, criminal investigations, actions by State Attorneys General, regulatory matters and litigation avoidance counseling. He has tried a number of cases to verdict in both state and federal court and has argued numerous appeals.

From 1992 to 1996, William served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, where he represented the government in a wide range of civil litigation and criminal investigations.

William served as a law clerk to the Honorable James L. Buckley, United States Circuit Court Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, from 1991 to 1992. William has served as an instructor at the Foundation for Law and Science Center's Judicial Science Training on Daubert Issues.

William was previously an adjunct professor at the Fordham Law School. He has authored several articles and chapters concerning pharmaceutical criminal and regulatory issues.

Focus Areas

Experience

Bayer – National Counsel Xarelto Products Liability Litigation (2015-Present)
Pfizer – National Coordinating Counsel Asbestos Litigation (2013-Present)
Pfizer – National Counsel In re Reglan Products Liability Litigation (2011-Present)
Novartis – National Counsel Aliskiren Products Liability Litigation (2013-2016)
Pfizer – In re Hormone Replacement Products Liability Litigation (2004-2016)

Pfizer – In re Rezulin Products Liability Litigation (2000-2007)
AstraZeneca – In re Seroquel Products Liability (2007-2012)
Wyeth – In re Diet Drugs Products Liability Litigation (1997-2004)

Williams v. Martinez, 586 F.3d 995 (DC Cir. 2009)
In re Prempro Products Liability Litig., 591 F.3d 613 (8^th Circ. 2010)
In re Prempro Products Liability Litig., 586 F.3d 547 (8^th Cir. 2009)
Simon v. Wyeth, 989 A.2d 356 (Pa. Super Ct. 2009)
Pangburn v. Culbertson, 200 F.3d 65 (2d Cir. 1999)

U.S. v. Adlman (II), 134 F.3d 1194 (2d Cir. 1998)
U.S. v. Adlman (I), 68 F.3d 1495 (2d Cir. 1995)
State of New York v. Shalala, 50 F.3d 179 (2d Cir. 1995)
Kuralt v. U.S., 40 F.3d 25 (2d Cir. 1995)
Buitrago-Cuesta v. I.N.S., 7 F.3d 291 (2d Cir. 1993)

Major pharmaceutical companies in federal criminal investigation concerning allegations of failure to disclose safety information.
Companies in criminal investigations involving failure to disclose safety information and marketing activities.
Major pharmaceutical companies in State Attorney General investigations and civil actions concerning marketing and sales activities.

Perspectives

October 20, 2023

Benchmark Litigation US Recognizes 23 Lawyers and Ranks Five Practices

Recognition

Chambers USA

Product Liability & Mass Torts – Nationwide (2014-2023)

The Legal 500 US

Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices – Defense (2011–2015, 2018-2019, 2022)
Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Toxic Tort – Defense (2019, 2022)
Healthcare: Life Sciences (2013-2014, 2016-2018)

LMG Life Sciences Guide

Life Sciences Star – Product Liability (2018-2022)
Life Sciences Star – White-Collar/Government Investigations (2018-2022)
Life Sciences Star – Non-IP Litigation (2012-2016)

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Credentials

Education

J.D., University of Michigan Law School, 1990, Order of the Coif
M.A., Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, 1985
A.B., Vassar College, 1983, Phi Beta Kappa

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York
U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit

Government & Military Service

Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York