William Wright

William H. Wright’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and appellate proceedings. Chip’s litigation practice focuses on appellate advocacy in state and federal appeals courts, commercial contract, business tort, and product liability disputes, alternative dispute resolution, gaming issues, and Indian law issues.

Chip has extensive experience in arbitration, litigation, and appeal of commercial disputes in state and federal courts, in advising and representing clients in connection with the unique legal issues that arise in doing business with Indian tribes, and in advising and representing clients in connection with the applicability of gaming statutes to online commerce.

Chip is admitted to practice before the US Supreme Court; the Supreme Court of Virginia; the US District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia; and the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth and Federal Circuits.

Experience:

• Represents government agency in nuclear licensing proceedings.
• Represented telecommunications company in arbitration and administrative proceedings, including proceedings arising under Telecommunications Act of 1996.
• Represents telecommunications company in class action proceedings.
• Represented coal associations in appeals of injunctions that prohibited state and federal agencies from issuing permits under the Clean Water Act and Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act.
• Represented mineral resource company in arbitration and litigation concerning contract and business tort claims.
• Advised companies on scope and applicability of state and federal gaming laws, particularly as they relate to online commerce.
• Advised companies on legal issues related to doing business with Indian tribes.
• Represented company in negotiations with Indian tribes for contract concerning verified emission credits.
• Represented Indian tribe in challenges to tribe’s Class III gaming activities conducted under Indian Gaming Regulatory Act in federal district courts in Idaho, Missouri, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia and in Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits.
• Represented capital defendants in habeas corpus proceedings in state and federal courts and in clemency proceedings before governor of Virginia.

EDUCATION:

• JD, William & Mary Law School, 1985
• BA, University of Virginia, 1982

BAR ADMISSIONS:

• Virginia