Billy is a partner in the Litigation Group and heads the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense Practice. His diverse trial practice includes substantial jury trial experience and representation of individuals and corporations in connection with federal and state criminal investigations, as well as in civil disputes including allegations of financial fraud, improper employment practices, civil rights violations and complex commercial disputes. His experience includes both the implementation of internal corporate investigations and, where necessary, representation at trial. Billy has also investigated and defended accounting fraud allegations.
During the course of his career, Billy has served as a counselor to Fortune 500 corporations, private citizens, political leaders, professional athletes, entertainment industry celebrities and local and foreign governments. He currently represents a high-profile professional athlete on federal and state charges and a national politician in an attempt to overturn a state court conviction.
Billy is a skilled negotiator whose experience includes bringing diverse constituencies and interests together – despite highly charged political circumstances – to resolve community conflicts. For example, he represented a major U.S. city and its police department in connection with both a federal civil rights investigation and a private class action lawsuit that arose out of allegations of police brutality and racial profiling. Working closely with attorneys for the private plaintiffs and the Department of Justice, Billy helped to achieve an out-of-court resolution that allowed a fractured city to begin the healing process without unnecessary judicial intervention.
Billy also maintains an active sports and entertainment practice. In addition to serving as an advisor to organizations such as the NBA and NFL players associations, Billy has advised numerous clients on the scope and meaning of the NCAA rules and eligibility requirements. He has represented college and professional athletes and entertainment industry figures in their public and private business dealings.
Billy is consistently recognized by local, regional and national publications as one of the country’s top lawyers. He is currently ranked No. 4 in The Washingtonian’s ranking of “Top Lawyers.” Billy was selected as one of the National Law Journal’s “50 Most Influential Minority Attorneys.” Additionally, he was one of only three lawyers in private practice named in the Politics and Law section of Ebony magazine’s Power 150.
Before entering private practice in 1990, Billy had an extensive public service career, beginning with service as a local prosecutor in Ohio and culminating with senior managerial and trial positions within the Department of Justice and the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Billy’s federal service included numerous trials and the supervision of major political and organized crime grand jury investigations and service as an instructor at the Justice Department’s Trial Advocacy Institute.
Billy is a member of the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the National Bar Association and the Washington Bar Association. He is consistently recognized as an established legal authority and is frequently invited to offer commentary and legal analysis on major television networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Court TV and BET.
© 2008 Sutherland