William F. Burns

William F. Burns

5.0
Rating: 9.5

Licensed for 30 years

Litigation Lawyer at Memphis, TN
Practice Areas: Litigation

5865 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite 300, Memphis, TN

About William

Biography

Practice Areas

1

Practice Area

Litigation 100%

Specializing in Legal Malpractice litigation on behalf of plaintiffs injured or damaged by their lawyer’s negligence .

31 years

100%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Contingency

33%-40%


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Arkansas for 18 years

State: Arkansas

Acquired: 2008

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Tennessee for 30 years

State: Tennessee

Acquired: 1996

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Watson Burns, PLLC

5865 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite 300, Memphis, TN, 38120

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William F. Burns's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

6 Client Reviews

William F. Burns's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse William
Walter Rudolph Hnot, III headshot
Walter Hnot,

Class action lawyer | Mar 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"William is an excellent attorney committed to providing the highest quality representation to clients. I endorse this attorney without reservation."

Charles Michael Weirich Jr. headshot
Charles Weirich

Class action lawyer | Feb 09

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Bill and his partner, Frank Watson, are the pre-eminent class action lawyers in Memphis and Shelby County. He is knowledgeable and works hard for his clients."

H. Scott Aalsberg headshot
H. Aalsberg

Class action lawyer | Apr 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"If you need a class action lawyer you need a tough, hard fighting and winning lawyer on your side. William F. Burns is all three. I endorse him"

Rebecca A. Seibert headshot
Rebecca Seibert

Class action lawyer | Apr 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Mr. Burns provides thoughtful and thorough answers here on the Avvo website. I would not hesitate to send anyone to his practice."

Socrates de La Cruz headshot
Socrates de La Cruz

Defective and dangerous products lawyer | Mar 30

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. A great advocate and fights for his clients in court."

Vonnie Clay Dones III headshot
Vonnie Dones

Class action lawyer | Mar 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community."

Evelyn Susan Ginossi headshot
Evelyn Ginossi

Class action lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Judd S Nemiro headshot
Judd Nemiro

Unknown lawyer | Mar 16

Relationship: Other

"Top notch lawyer in this field and one of the best lawyers in the state. I endorse this lawyer."

Robert Werner von Dohlen headshot
Robert von Dohlen

Unknown lawyer | Feb 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Great litigator!"

Douglas Adam Milch headshot
Douglas Milch

Class action lawyer | Dec 19

Relationship: Other

"I endorse this lawyer. William is a tenacious litigator who knows how to prosecute complex class and multi-district actions. Not all litigators can handle and excel at this type of work and William stands out in a very crowded field of lawyers"

Pearlette Vivian Toussant headshot
Pearlette Toussant

Personal injury lawyer | Dec 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Burns provides the Avvo community's clients with well-reasoned and appropriate responses. Accordingly, without hesitation, I endorse this lawyer."

Sean Cleary headshot
Sean Cleary

Class action lawyer | Dec 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community."

Alyson Christine Fudge headshot
Alyson Fudge

Class action lawyer | Dec 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. He has an excellent reputation in his community."

John M. DeProspo headshot
John DeProspo

Personal injury lawyer | Dec 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Kyle Ingram Cannon headshot
Kyle Cannon

Personal injury lawyer | Dec 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Jay Lawrence Stillman headshot
Jay Stillman

Personal injury lawyer | Dec 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
H. Scott Aalsberg headshot
H. Aalsberg

Criminal defense lawyer

Socrates de La Cruz headshot
Socrates de La Cruz

Criminal defense lawyer

Evelyn Susan Ginossi headshot
Evelyn Ginossi

Unknown lawyer

Judd S Nemiro headshot
Judd Nemiro

Unknown lawyer

Robert Werner von Dohlen headshot
Robert von Dohlen

Personal injury lawyer

Douglas Adam Milch headshot
Douglas Milch

Class action lawyer

Rebecca A. Seibert headshot
Rebecca Seibert

Family lawyer

Pearlette Vivian Toussant headshot
Pearlette Toussant

Business lawyer

Sean Cleary headshot
Sean Cleary

Personal injury lawyer

Ray Edwin Gallo headshot
Ray Gallo

Class action lawyer

Alyson Christine Fudge headshot
Alyson Fudge

Elder law lawyer

Emily Boulden Warth headshot
Emily Warth

Litigation lawyer

John Clinton Hayworth headshot
John Hayworth

Litigation lawyer

John M. DeProspo headshot
John DeProspo

Personal injury lawyer

Kim D. Stephens headshot
Kim Stephens

Class action lawyer

Kyle Ingram Cannon headshot
Kyle Cannon

Workers compensation lawyer

Jay Lawrence Stillman headshot
Jay Stillman

Personal injury lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.5 (Superb)

Honors

2014

BV Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Life Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum

2013

Life Member, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Work Experience

2005 - Present

Managing Member, Watson Burns, PLLC

2001 - 2005

Assocaite Attorney, Glassman, Edwards, Wade & Wyatt, P.C.

1997 - 2001

Associate Attorney, Waring Cox, PLC

1996 - 1997

Judicial Law Clerk, Tennessee Court of Appeals

Associations

Memphis Bar Association

Member

Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association

Member

American Association for Justice

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Manjunath A. Gokare, P.C. et al v. Federal Express Corp., Case No. 2:11-cv-02131-JTF-cgc (W.D. Tenn. 2011)

Our team was able to negotiate a $21 million settlement on behalf of a nationwide class, which included an agreement by Fed Ex to change the way it determines the applicability of its residential surcharge.

Ardemore Corporation v. Harwell, Howard, Hyne Gabbert & Manner, P.C., No. 12C-627 (Davidson County, Tennessee)

After approximately two years of hard fought litigation against a prominent Nashville defense team, the case was settled and the defendant insisted that the amount be kept confidential.

■Farm Industrial and Supply Co. v. First Mercantile Trust et al, Case No. 02-cv-2649- M/A (W.D. Tenn. Dec. 3. 2003)

FMT paid a $19 million cash settlement on behalf of a nationwide class.

See More Legal Cases

Education

1999

Defense Counsel Trial Academy ; Boulder, Colorado

Graduate

1996

University of Memphis School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1993

Christian Brothers University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2014

Evolve Bank- Seminar

Qualified Settlement Trust Fund- Class Action Plaintiffs Lawyer Perspective

2012

Annual Bench Bar Confrence

Class Action Update

Publications

1995

University of Memphis Law Review Insurance- St. Paul Fire & Marine Co. vs. Torpoco: Requiring Malpractice Carriers to Defend Actions Alleging Professional Misconduct

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
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Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution