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Will Stute is a first-chair trial lawyer and business advisor nationally recognized for winning high-stakes cases across the U.S. He handles the most critical battles for major companies across industries. His courtroom successes earned him the title of Winning Litigator of the Year by the National Law Journal and a finalist spot for the American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Year award, where his “incredible victories” were praised and he was described as a trial lawyer “playing to win.”

In the span of less than 10 months, Will secured three separate high-profile jury trials for the NCAA, including the first to take on claims the NCAA is responsible for concussions and CTE in college football. This landmark victory earned recognition as Courtroom View Network’s Most Impressive Defense Verdict, American Lawyer Litigator of the Week and the Daily Journal’s Defense Verdict of the Year.

Will is highly skilled at developing strategy, telling his client’s story and connecting with juries – and he has done it for clients across the tech, finance and life sciences sectors on claims ranging from mass torts, personal injury and False Claims Act cases to antitrust, securities fraud and Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS) litigation.

Will tries cases when others fold, settles cases on the most favorable terms, and earns praise from clients for his confident and steady leadership. A champion of teamwork and inclusion, Will brings a diverse team of top talent to every engagement. He is active in his community and is proud to represent a civil rights organization pro bono in litigation seeking to end discriminatory housing practices in Minnesota. Will’s passion for obtaining the best possible results for clients is eclipsed only by his commitment to family and his four sons.

Full Bio

Credentials

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, cum laude

B.A., Augsburg College

District of Columbia

Minnesota

American Bar Association, Securities Litigation and Minority Attorney sections

LCLD Fellow, 2010

National Bar Association, Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law sections

Teaching faculty at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, member

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, former president

U.S. Congressional Awards, board member

William Mitchell College of Law, former member of the board of trustees

American Lawyer Litigator of the Year Finalist


2023

Most Impressive Defense Verdict


CVN, 2022

Named as one of the 100 most influential lawyers


Savoy Magazine, 2024

Named as "Top 200 Lawyer"


Forbes, 2024

Named Litigator of the Year


National Law Journal, 2023

Named Leading Commercial Litigator


Daily Journal, 2023

Named Litigator of the Week


The American Lawyer, 2022

Named Client Service All- Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2017

Stars Rated Lawyer


Acritas, 2020

Super Lawyers List


Washington DC, 2019

Sports Editorial Advisory Board Member


Law360, 2019

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Recognition

American Lawyer Litigator of the Year Finalist


2023

Most Impressive Defense Verdict


CVN, 2022

Named as one of the 100 most influential lawyers


Savoy Magazine, 2024

Named as "Top 200 Lawyer"


Forbes, 2024

Named Litigator of the Year


National Law Journal, 2023

Named Leading Commercial Litigator


Daily Journal, 2023

Named Litigator of the Week


The American Lawyer, 2022

Named Client Service All- Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2017

Stars Rated Lawyer


Acritas, 2020

Super Lawyers List


Washington DC, 2019

Sports Editorial Advisory Board Member


Law360, 2019

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Daily Business Review, Bloomberg Law, Public Law Library, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, Reuters Daily Docket, Commercial Dispute Resolution, The American Lawyer and Attorney as Law Magazine

September 9, 2024
Trial partner Will Stute joins the firm’s Product Liability and Mass Torts practice group in Miami

View all

Matters

Trial counsel for Zynga in patent ligation brought by gambling technology company IGT, securing a complete defense win.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in dozens of concussion/CTE cases across the United States.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Gee v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in first concussion case to reach a full trial in the U.S.

See more

Close

Matters

Trial counsel for Zynga in patent ligation brought by gambling technology company IGT, securing a complete defense win.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in dozens of concussion/CTE cases across the United States.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Gee v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in first concussion case to reach a full trial in the U.S.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Finnerty v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in second concussion case to go to trial in the U.S.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Brenner v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in $150 million personal injury case involving former University of Oregon football player.

Represented one of the world’s largest life sciences companies in the successful resolution of major False Claims Act litigation.

Represented a pioneering gig economy company in litigation and regulatory matters brought by state attorneys general, successfully resolving the matter for the company.

Lead counsel for DHL Holdings in a case against United Airlines, successfully resolving an antitrust and price-fixing class action on the eve of trial.

Represented a leading tech company in high-profile antitrust litigation, playing an instrumental role in securing a preliminary injunction for the client after a bench trial.

Lead trial counsel for Global Linguist Solutions LLC, in a civil Qui Tam action in Maryland alleging False Claims Act violations in connection with intelligence activities in Kuwait during the Iraq War.

Lead trial counsel for a leading biopharmaceutical company in a federal court case in Pennsylvania involving False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statutes.

Member of trial team for Credit Suisse in high-stakes RMBS case brought by the FDIC as receiver for a failed bank in Alabama state court, successfully settling prior to trial.

Represented major institutional investors victimized in several of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history, securing the recovery of tens of millions of dollars for clients.

Represented a major food producer in obtaining early dismissal of a highly publicized class action with industry-wide implications for food manufacturers.

Representing Johnson & Johnson as Trial counsel in two recent talc litigation matters.

Representing Roblox as lead counsel in national litigation alleging gaming causes addiction in adolescents.

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Daily Business Review, Bloomberg Law, Public Law Library, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, Reuters Daily Docket, Commercial Dispute Resolution, The American Lawyer and Attorney as Law Magazine

September 9, 2024
Trial partner Will Stute joins the firm’s Product Liability and Mass Torts practice group in Miami

View all

Matters

Trial counsel for Zynga in patent ligation brought by gambling technology company IGT, securing a complete defense win.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in dozens of concussion/CTE cases across the United States.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Gee v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in first concussion case to reach a full trial in the U.S.

See more

Close

Matters

Trial counsel for Zynga in patent ligation brought by gambling technology company IGT, securing a complete defense win.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in dozens of concussion/CTE cases across the United States.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Gee v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in first concussion case to reach a full trial in the U.S.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Finnerty v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in second concussion case to go to trial in the U.S.

Lead trial counsel for the NCAA in Brenner v. NCAA, securing defense verdict in $150 million personal injury case involving former University of Oregon football player.

Represented one of the world’s largest life sciences companies in the successful resolution of major False Claims Act litigation.

Represented a pioneering gig economy company in litigation and regulatory matters brought by state attorneys general, successfully resolving the matter for the company.

Lead counsel for DHL Holdings in a case against United Airlines, successfully resolving an antitrust and price-fixing class action on the eve of trial.

Represented a leading tech company in high-profile antitrust litigation, playing an instrumental role in securing a preliminary injunction for the client after a bench trial.

Lead trial counsel for Global Linguist Solutions LLC, in a civil Qui Tam action in Maryland alleging False Claims Act violations in connection with intelligence activities in Kuwait during the Iraq War.

Lead trial counsel for a leading biopharmaceutical company in a federal court case in Pennsylvania involving False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statutes.

Member of trial team for Credit Suisse in high-stakes RMBS case brought by the FDIC as receiver for a failed bank in Alabama state court, successfully settling prior to trial.

Represented major institutional investors victimized in several of the largest Ponzi schemes in U.S. history, securing the recovery of tens of millions of dollars for clients.

Represented a major food producer in obtaining early dismissal of a highly publicized class action with industry-wide implications for food manufacturers.

Representing Johnson & Johnson as Trial counsel in two recent talc litigation matters.

Representing Roblox as lead counsel in national litigation alleging gaming causes addiction in adolescents.

News

In the News · Source: Law360, Daily Business Review, Bloomberg Law, Public Law Library, Thomson Reuters Westlaw Today, Reuters Daily Docket, Commercial Dispute Resolution, The American Lawyer and Attorney as Law Magazine

September 9, 2024
Trial partner Will Stute joins the firm’s Product Liability and Mass Torts practice group in Miami

View all

Credentials

J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, cum laude

B.A., Augsburg College

District of Columbia

Minnesota

American Bar Association, Securities Litigation and Minority Attorney sections

LCLD Fellow, 2010

National Bar Association, Commercial Litigation and Corporate Law sections

Teaching faculty at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop, member

Twin Cities Diversity in Practice, former president

U.S. Congressional Awards, board member

William Mitchell College of Law, former member of the board of trustees

American Lawyer Litigator of the Year Finalist


2023

Most Impressive Defense Verdict


CVN, 2022

Named as one of the 100 most influential lawyers


Savoy Magazine, 2024

Named as "Top 200 Lawyer"


Forbes, 2024

Named Litigator of the Year


National Law Journal, 2023

Named Leading Commercial Litigator


Daily Journal, 2023

Named Litigator of the Week


The American Lawyer, 2022

Named Client Service All- Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2017

Stars Rated Lawyer


Acritas, 2020

Super Lawyers List


Washington DC, 2019

Sports Editorial Advisory Board Member


Law360, 2019

Close

Recognition

American Lawyer Litigator of the Year Finalist


2023

Most Impressive Defense Verdict


CVN, 2022

Named as one of the 100 most influential lawyers


Savoy Magazine, 2024

Named as "Top 200 Lawyer"


Forbes, 2024

Named Litigator of the Year


National Law Journal, 2023

Named Leading Commercial Litigator


Daily Journal, 2023

Named Litigator of the Week


The American Lawyer, 2022

Named Client Service All- Star


BTI Consulting Group, 2017

Stars Rated Lawyer


Acritas, 2020

Super Lawyers List


Washington DC, 2019

Sports Editorial Advisory Board Member


Law360, 2019