William R. Heaston

Appellate Litigation and Legal Strategy

Will has briefed appeals on a wide range of issues in state and federal court. From everyday business disputes to weighty constitutional challenges, he leverages his passion for legal research and writing to craft clear and compelling arguments for clients.

Will has researched or briefed questions of arbitrability, statutory interpretation, professional negligence, religious liberty and international trade before Pennsylvania’s appellate courts as well as the Third and Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal. In addition, he has extensive experience preparing amicus briefs that further clients’ legal interests and policy objectives across a broad array of areas, including medical malpractice, consumer protection, corporate law and cannabis regulation. Finally, Will has also served as appellate and legal issues counsel both pre-litigation and at the trial court level, devising strategies to help clients mitigate their liability exposure and win high-stakes disputes.

Commercial Litigation and Investigations

Will has worked on numerous commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, product liability and toxic tort cases. His experience ranges from drafting research memoranda and pleadings to preparing dispositive motions.

In addition to his commercial litigation practice, Will also maintains an interest in white collar criminal defense, government investigations (including the False Claims Act and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) and regulatory compliance work.

Representative Experience

• Successfully defended an insurance broker on appeal in a $20 million professional negligence lawsuit. The Third Circuit affirmed summary judgment in favor of the insurance broker, holding that the claims were barred by the statute of limitations.
• Represented a Jewish defendant on appeal before the Pennsylvania Superior Court after the trial court violated his constitutional rights by denying a continuance so that he could observe Yom Kippur. Submitted a petition for allowance of appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
• Represented an association of hospitals and health systems as amicus curiae in a case where an individual who pled guilty to four counts of first-degree murder subsequently filed a complaint arguing that his criminal conduct was the result of his treating psychiatrist’s gross negligence. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court, quoting extensively from the amicus brief, held that Pennsylvania’s “no felony conviction recovery” rule prohibited the individual from pursuing theories of liability and damages that flowed from his own volitional criminal conduct.
• Represented national trade association as amicus curiae before the Fourth and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal in matters involving the constitutionality of state restrictions on intoxicating hemp cannabinoids in consumer products. Consistent with the amicus brief, the Fourth Circuit upheld Virginia’s restrictions, holding that they were valid health and safety regulations that were not preempted by federal law.
• Served on appellate and legal issues team for an international medical device company in a major toxic tort case, which culminated in a defense verdict after a five-week jury trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
• Provided legal advice and strategic counseling to regional public transit authority on proposed public safety policies to assess and mitigate potential legal risks.
• Drafted motion for summary judgment on behalf of multinational automobile manufacturer defending against design-defect and failure-to-warn claims. The case subsequently settled on favorable terms.

Prior Experience

Prior to joining Faegre Drinker, Will worked at another international law firm, where he concentrated his practice on appellate work and legal issues analysis at the trial court level.

During law school, Will interned for the Hon. Cheryl Ann Krause of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Hon. Stephanie M. Rose of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, and the Hon. Jonathan E. Hawley of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois. He also completed internships with the University of Pennsylvania’s Office of Audit, Compliance & Privacy, and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.

In addition to his legal training, Will holds advanced degrees from the University of Sussex and the Wharton School, where he focused his coursework and research on corporate compliance issues and anticorruption policy.

Personal Interests

In his free time, Will enjoys spending time with his family, participating in his church community, watching sports, reading, and staying active outside.