Overview

Bill Burgess’ practice focuses on appellate litigation across a broad range of subject matter, including patent litigation, commercial litigation, and regulatory matters. He has argued appeals in most of the United States courts of appeals, including several in the Federal Circuit. He has been to trial several times, joining trial teams to brief dispositive motions or prepare for appeals, and has also practiced before agencies such as the Patent & Trademark Office, International Trade Commission, and EPA.

Before joining Kirkland, Bill was a law clerk to Judge Walter K. Stapleton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Judge William C. Bryson of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

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Thought Leadership

Speaking

Moderator, “Pro Bono and Amicus Efforts (Ethics),” Federal Circuit Bar Association, Bench & Bar Conference, Colorado Springs CO, June 30, 2023

Panelist, “Amicus Briefs (Ethics),” Federal Circuit Bar Association, Bench & Bar Conference, Sea Island GA, June 18, 2022 

Panelist, “NextGen Appellate Advocacy,” Federal Circuit Bar Association Webcast, October 13, 2020 

Moderator, "Appellate Practice: Key Strategic Considerations," Federal Circuit Bar Association, Bench & Bar Conference, Colorado Springs CO, June 14, 2019

Presenter, "Mandamus Practice Before the Federal Circuit," Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago Litigation Committee, Chicago IL, May 9, 2019 

Panelist, “Nuts and Bolts of the Federal Circuit’s Rules,” Federal Circuit Bar Association Webcast, Washington D.C., December 13, 2016

Writing

“News From the Circuits,” Administrative & Regulatory Law News, Winter 2021–Fall 2022 (Contributing Author)

"Dismissing Bankruptcy-Debtor Plaintiffs' Cases on Judicial Estoppel Grounds," 62 Federal Lawyer 54, May 2015

"How Fed. Circ. Should Address Plague of Over-Redactions," Law360.com, December 11, 2014

"The Proper Remedy for a Lack of Batson Findings: The Fallout from Snyder v. Louisiana," 101 J. Crim. L. & Criminology 1, 2011 (Co-Author with Douglas G. Smith)

"Stop the Beach Renourishment: A Win for the State, But a Step Forward for Constitutional Protection of Property Rights," ABA Constitutional Law Committee Newsletter, September 2010 (Co-Author with Douglas G. Smith)

"ABA Committee on Business & Corporate Litigation," Annual Review of Developments in Business & Corporate Litigation, 2010–2012 Editions (Contributing Author)

"Simplicity at the Cost of Clarity: Appellate Review of Claim Construction and the Failed Promise of Cybor," 153 U. Pa. L. Rev. 763, 2004 (Comment)

Recognition

The Legal 500 United States (Appellate), 2021–2023

Super Lawyers "Rising Star" (Appellate Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, Washington DC), 2014–2019

District of Columbia Courts, 2013 Pro Bono High Honor Roll

Federal Circuit Bar Association, Annual Pro Bono Excellence Award, 2010

Memberships & Affiliations

Federal Circuit Bar Association (Board, 2018–2022; Rules Committee Co-Chair, 2015–2018) 

Edward Coke Appellate Inn of Court

Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2007, District of Columbia
  • 2006, New York
  • Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Courts

  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

Languages

  • English
  • French

Education

  • University of Pennsylvania Carey Law SchoolJ.D.cum laude2005

    Order of the Coif

    David Werner Amram Prize (best paper in civil procedure or related field)

    Executive Editor, University of Pennsylvania Law Review

    National Symposium Editorial Board, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy

    Giles Sutherland Rich Moot Court Competition (Intellectual Property)

    Philip C. Jessup Memorial Moot Court Competition (Public International Law)

  • Dartmouth CollegeB.E., Electrical Engineering2002
  • Dartmouth CollegeB.A., Engineering Sciences & French2001