William Molinski ’87, JD ’89
William Molinski was a member of the Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group at the law firm Orrick, where he was the Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office and the Global Head of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group. An experienced trial lawyer for 34 years, Bill has represented corporate clients and individuals in a wide variety of commercial disputes with a particular emphasis in the areas of trade secrets, and other intellectual property disputes, consumer class actions and real estate disputes.
Bill routinely handled complex cases that can have a significant impact on a company’s reputation and survival. His clients included major players in the technology, sports, financial services and energy sectors as well as the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries.
He was named Litigator of the Week in November 2022 by The American Lawyer for his jury trial win for the NCAA in the first ground-breaking concussion case against the NCAA, a victory that was also named the Top Defense Trial Verdict of 2022 by the Court Viewing Network.
Bill was recognized in the 2016 edition of The Legal 500 for his work defending DISH Networks against copyright and breach of contract claims brought by four broadcast networks, a win that led to Orrick’s recognition as “Litigation Department of the Year” by The Recorder. He was named a “California Lawyer of the Year” in 2011 by California Lawyer magazine as a member of the team representing MGA Entertainment in its “stunning victory” against Mattel over the Bratz doll line, which the Daily Journal called a “top defense win” of 2011.