William Francis Kiniry III

As an attorney in DLA Piper's Litigation practice, I am engaged in a broad-based litigation practice focused on product liability, internal investigations and ERISA litigation.

I have first chair trial experience with automotive product liability litigation, particularly warranty litigation where I have appeared in nearly every court in the State of Maryland.  My practice is centered on the preparation, trial, and appeal of civil litigation cases, including conducting internal investigations in reconstructing and explicating the “company story” with respect to involvement with legacy products such as asbestos; responding to and conducting discovery in mass tort litigation; the representation of a major health care system and its practitioners in a variety of contexts; the representation of major pharmaceutical manufacturers, as well as manufacturers and distributors of automobiles and heavy construction equipment in the product liability context, and the represenation of numerous companies with respect to benefits disputes and allaged violations of ERISA.

I also represents clients in various pro bono matters, providing legal advice relating to intellectual property, contracts, business formation, and estate-planning. I am also an active participant in my firm's signature project, Empowering Students and Families. In this capacity, I have represented clients in adoption, child support, child visitation, and educational accomodation matters.

I am a commissioner on the Maryland Access to Justice Commission, a non-profit organization committed to advancing access to the civil justice system for all Marylanders. In this capacity, I workshops ideas for advancing civil justice, and has created a joint partnership project between the Commission and the Firm to research and identify areas in which non-attorneys can advocate for Maryland residents.

I am the Co-Chair of the Maryland Chapter of the Wills for Heroes Foundation, volunteering my time drafting Wills, Powers of Attorney, and Advanced Medical Directives for emergency first responders in Maryland. 

I am also an Eagle Scout and serve as an Assistant Scoutmaster at the troop level within the Boy Scouts of America.