William D. Meyer
Retired
Practice Areas
Appeals
Complex Commercial Litigation
Real Estate Litigation
Unfair Trade Practices & Intellectual Property Litigation
Experience
When describing Bill, the words that typically come to mind are experience and professionalism. The breadth of Bill's civil trial experience is unique in Boulder and the region. In more than four decades of practice, Bill has handled a wide variety of major cases, ranging from commercial and intellectual property disputes, to major personal injury and products liability claims, and real estate and construction matters. He has tried complex cases for clients throughout Colorado and the West. While he often represents Colorado businesses and individuals, Bill has a diverse clientele ranging from European and Asian multinationals, to Colorado ranchers, local not-for-profits and the indigent.
The hallmark of Bill's practice, whether representing a large corporation or a pro bono client, is professionalism. Our system relies on lawyers who meticulously prepare their cases, settle disputes where possible, and try cases when necessary with skill and vigor. Bill's strengths in these areas are appreciated by clients and colleagues throughout the region. As a result, Bill often is asked to take on difficult or unique litigation, where professional skills are at a premium.
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
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As a longtime member of the Boulder community, he has been very active in a wide range of local activities from the Boulder County Community Action Program Advisory Board to coaching various youth sport teams. During the 2016-17 year, Bill served as president of the Boulder Rotary Club.
While Bill has dedicated many hours of service to the Boulder community, outside the United States he is best known for his deep commitment to developing the rule of law in emerging democracies around the world. From September of 1991 to September of 1992, Bill served as the first liaison for the ABA's Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI) in Sofia, Bulgaria. Since 1992, he has continued his active involvement in the reform efforts in over twenty countries ranging from Russia to Myanmar to Syria. Some examples:
In 1999 - 2000, Bill served in Prague as the initial Executive Director of the CEELI Institute, a post-graduate lawyer and judicial training institute sponsored by the ABA.
In recognition of his experience, and at the request of the International Bar Association in London, Bill served as an advisor to the Law Society of Kenya in 2002.
Bill was a founder of the International Legal Assistance Consortium based in Stockholm, Sweden, and served as chairman of the Executive Committee from 2006-2008.
Bill was part of the American delegation selected by Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor to participate in the sixteen-nation Arab Judicial Forum in Manama, Bahrain in 2003.
In 2010, Bill was an instructor for Iranian lawyers at BahçeŞehir University in Istanbul.
Over the years, Bill has led assessment missions for various international organizations to Cambodia, South Sudan, Egypt, Algerian, Libya, Syria and Myanmar.
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Bill has published numerous articles and made dozens of presentations on legal issues for audiences around the world. A number of his publications have been translated into multiple languages, as he continues to work with legal reform initiatives in countries in transition.
Education
University of Michigan Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1973
Order of the Coif
University of Michigan Law Review
Legal Aid Award
Iowa State University, B.S., 1969
Bar Admissions/ Clerkships
Colorado
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. Supreme Court
Law clerk to Hon. John W. Oliver, United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri, 1973-1975.
Memberships / Awards
American Bar Association
Middle Eastern and North Africa Council, 2007
Rule of Law Award, 2007
CEELI Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, 2004
International Bar Association
Colorado Bar Association
Chair, International Law Committee, 1996-1997
Boulder County Bar Association
Recipient, Ron Porter Award of Merit, 2006
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
American Board of Trial Advocates
Fellow, American Bar Foundation
Boulder Bar Foundation
Boulder Rotary Club
President, 2016-17
Rotarian of the Year, 2004-2005
Advisory Board, Central and East European Law Initiative (CEELI)
International Board of Directors, Center for the Study of Democracy (Sofia)
Board of Directors, The CEELI Institute, p.b.c., (Prague)
International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC)
Executive Committee, Stockholm
Life Member Award, 2006
ABA Rule of Law Award, 2007
Recipient, Ron Porter Award of Merit, Boulder County Bar Association, 2006
ABA CEELI Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, 2004
Chair, International Law Committee, Colorado Bar Association, 1996-97
Advisory Board, Boulder County Community Action Program, 1993-1998
Board of Directors, Colorado Lawyers Committee, 1990-1991
Best Lawyers in America
Selected for Commercial Litigation, 2007-2020
Colorado Super Lawyers
Selected for Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Real Estate, 2006-2019