William G.Laxton Jr. (Billy)

Partner

Washington + 1.202.879.3836

Billy Laxton is a trial lawyer with extensive experience in complex litigation, arbitrations, government investigations, and internal investigations. He has successfully tried cases to verdict throughout the country in federal courts, state courts, and in commercial arbitrations.

Clients across a broad range of industry groups entrust Billy with their highest stakes matters. He has helped to vindicate clients' rights in cases involving corporate governance, fraud, environmental matters, the First Amendment, and contract disputes. Recently, Billy served as trial counsel for a senior executive in a month-long breach of fiduciary duty trial, and he has been defending a major retailer in numerous cases brought by counties, cities, and other plaintiffs alleging harm from the distribution of prescription opioids.

Billy's work as a Wall Street investment banker and his background in economics provide him with distinctive analytic tools. He utilizes these tools to bring sharp focus to the economic, valuation, and damages aspects of his cases and investigations. At trial, he has prepared and cross-examined financial and accounting witnesses on numerous topics, including business valuation, asset valuation, financial modeling, discount and interest rates, and damage calculations.

Billy also devotes a significant amount of time to pro bono work in and around the Washington D.C. area including representing individuals in both criminal and civil litigation. He also frequently serves as an instructor with the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.

Expérience

  • Directors of D.C. religious nonprofit win complete dismissal of claims alleging fiduciary violations and breach of contractJones Day secured dismissal of a longstanding suit against a D.C. religious nonprofit and its directors. In August 2022, the D.C. Court of Appeals reversed a $530 million judgment against the directors, vindicating their rights under the First Amendment.
  • Victim of hate crime awarded $350,000Jones Day represented Shareese Mone, a transgender woman, who was the victim of a brutal hate crime in the summer of 2019.
  • Charlottesville City Councilors obtain pro bono summary judgment win granting statutory immunity in Charlottesville monument caseJones Day achieved victory on behalf of four Charlottesville City Councilors who voted to relocate the Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson statues at the center of the violent rally in Charlottesville in August 2017.
  • Jones Day secures early termination of supervised relief for deserving pro bono clientIn 1995, Robert Lee Bruce, Jr. was sentenced to life in prison for his role in a crack-distribution conspiracy.
  • CSXT defends class action lawsuits related to train derailmentJones Day represents CSX Transportation, Inc. ("CSXT") in multiple class action lawsuits and a mass action lawsuit relating to a chemical fire and evacuation in connection with the July 2015 derailment of a CSXT train traveling from Ohio to Georgia.
  • CSXT seeks counsel regarding collapsed street and retaining wallJones Day represents CSX Transportation, Inc. ("CSXT") in connection with an accident involving a street and retaining wall that collapsed in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Man charged with assault found not guilty following trialOn September 29, 2014, Judge Stephen Eilperin of the D.C. Superior Court found a Jones Day client not guilty of assault charges filed against him by the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia.
  • CSXT seeks advice regarding claims and NTSB investigation arising from derailment following grade crossing accidentJones Day represents CSX Transportation, Inc. ("CSXT") in connection with a railroad crossing accident that occurred in a mixed industrial residential area in Baltimore, Maryland.
  • PCS Nitrogen secures first-impression ruling in CERCLA appeal establishing rigorous standard for brownfields developersJones Day secured an important appellate environmental victory for PCS Nitrogen, Inc. involving a question of first impression.
  • R.J. Reynolds seeks reduction in 2003 settlement paymentsJones Day represents R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a pending arbitration under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement with various U.S. States and Territories in which R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco company signatories seek an over $1 billion reduction in their 2003 settlement payments.
  • Cafesjian Family Foundation obtains successful ruling in litigation over Armenian Genocide museum and memorialOn January 26, 2011, Armenian-American philanthropist Gerard L. Cafesjian was awarded a significant victory in a long-running dispute over ownership of historic real estate to be used to house a museum and memorial to recognize the victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide.
  • M.I.C. Industries argues motion relating to use of "predictive coding"On behalf of M.I.C. Industries, Inc., Jones Day argued a contested motion regarding the use of "predictive coding" in the production of electronic documents.
  • SABMiller wins antitrust approval for MillerCoors joint ventureJones Day successfully represented SABMiller, plc as U.S. antitrust counsel in connection with the combination of SABMiller's U.S. and Puerto Rico beer operations with those of Molson Coors Brewing Company to form MillerCoors, the second largest beer company in the United States.