Experience

Rating: 10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2018

William R Coulson, Who's Who in the World

2018

Super Lawyer, Entertainment and Sports, Thomson Reuters

2018

AV Peer Review Rating: Highest Possible Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell

2018

Leading Lawyer, Leading Lawyers Network, Chicago Law Bulletin

2018

"Top Attorneys in Illinois", Showmark and Chicago Magazine

1980

Special Achievement Awards, US Department of Justice

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Work Experience

2008 - 2016

Owner, William R Coulson LLC

2007 - 2016

Member, Board of Directors, Regional Transit Authority

1999 - 2008

Partner, Gold & Coulson

1988 - 1999

Partner, Cherry & Flynn

1975 - 1975

Law Clerk, US District Judge Joel M. Flaum

1975 - 1988

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Supervisor, U.S. Department of Justice

1972 - 1974

Law Clerk, US District Judge James L. Foreman

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Associations

2002 - Present

American Bar Foundation

Life Fellow

2000 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association

Member

1990 - Present

Lincoln American Inn of Court

Master Member

1977 - Present

Federal Bar Association

Member, Past President, Chicago Chapter

1977 - Present

Chicago Bar Association

Member, Past Vice Chair, Judicial Evaluation Committee

2002 - 2011

Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago

Member, Board of Directors

1989 - 1991

US Magistrate Selection Committee

Vice Chair

1986 - 1987

US Sentencing Commission, Washington, D.C.

Volunteer Attorney

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Sample of Legal Cases

James Brown v. Corbis Corp., 873 N.E.2d 954 (IL App. 2007)

Won appeal, case settled.

US v. LaGrou Distribution System, 466 F.2d 585 (7th Cir. 2006)

Sentence reversed, conviction affirmed

Myers v, Levy, 808 N.E.2d 1139 (IL App. 2004)

Won appeal, favorable settlement

Estate of George Orwell v. CBS, 00-5034 (ND ILL 2001)

Favorable settlement

Repp v. Andrew Lloyd Webber, 132 F.2d 882 (2d Cir. 1997)

Each side defended against the other's claim of infringment

Cheek v. US, 498 U.S. 192 (1991)

Won 6-2 Opinion reversing client's conviction

US v. Hattaway, 740 F.2d 1419 (7th Cir. 1984)

Defendants convicted.

US v. Martinez, 667 F.2d 886 (10th Cir. 1981)

AUSAs were cleared, Chief Judge resigned

US v. Phillips, 525 F.Supp. 1 (ND Ill. 1981)

4 defendants convicted

US v. Weatherspoon, 581 F.2d 595 (7th Cir. 1978)

Defendant convicted

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Education

N/A

University of Illinois

J.D.

N/A

Dartmouth College

A.B.

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Publications

2015

The Federal Lawyer Magazine 'Report from the Front: The Grass is Always Greener'

2015

Scripps Treasue Coast Newspapers "All Aboard Florida an Opportunity, Not a Threat"

2015

Portfolio Media (Law360) 'Takeaways from Rare Perjury Prosecution of Attorneys'

2014

John Marshall Review of Intellectual Property Law "They're Playing Our Song! - The Promise and the Perils of Music Copyright Litigation"

2014

'First and Fastest Magazine' "No Good Deeds Go Unpunished: The Sad Story of the Waukegan, Rockford, & Elgin Traction Company"

2014

OSS Society Journal "OSS Society Reunites Guadalcanal Dog Tag With GI's Family"

2013

Chicago Tribune Guest Editorial "Four Metra Investigations Are Enough'

2013

The Legal Studies Forum "Casey at the Bar" Poetry

2010

Chicago Bar Record "Civil Courts for Enemy Combatants?"

2009

Dartmouth Law Review "Big Brother is Watching Apple: The Truth about the Super Bowl's Most Famous Ad"

2009

Chicago Bar Record "Lincoln and the Death of Slavery"

2006

The Federal Lawyer "How Much is a Bride Worth?"

2006

Chicago Bar Record "The Nuremburg War Crimes Trials: 60 Years Later"

2002

Chicago Lawyer Magazine "Rolling Your Own in Cuba"

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Languages

German

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