Profil
William Dorsey is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has tried more than 75 cases to judgment over a career spanning more than two decades. Will represents banks, private equity firms, and family offices in commercial finance, real estate, M&A, and executive compensation disputes across the country. Will is licensed to practice, and regularly handles cases in, New York, California, Illinois, and Missouri.
Will’s banking and commercial finance litigation practice covers the full spectrum of lender-side disputes, including enforcement of loan agreements and guaranties, intercreditor disputes, third-party fraud and Ponzi schemes, defense of lender liability claims, and lien priority fights. He also represents commercial lenders in bankruptcy litigation matters such as cash collateral disputes, preference and fraudulent transfer actions, claim objections, plan confirmation, and lift stay motions. He writes and speaks regularly on banking litigation issues.
In real estate litigation, Will has overseen judicial foreclosures of prominent industrial, retail, hotel, condominium, and condo-hotel projects in Chicago, Florida, New York, Hawaii, and other jurisdictions involving billions of dollars of secured debt. He also negotiates forbearance agreements and deeds in lieu of foreclosure, litigates construction defects and mechanics lien claims on behalf of lenders, title insurance companies, and property owners, and handles complex commercial lease disputes.
Will counsels buyers, sellers, and lenders in contested M&A transactions and frequently advises on representations and warranties and potential tort claims arising from deals. He also litigates executive compensation and termination disputes and breaches of non-compete and non-solicit restrictions. Crain’s Chicago Business recognized Will in 2025 as a Notable Litigator and Trial Attorney and in 2024 as a Notable Leader in Accounting, Consulting, and Law; and he is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Real Estate Law (2025 through 2026) and The Legal 500 United States (2025).
Will is also the primary author of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s chapters on Commercial Landlord Remedies and Tenant Defaults and Possession of the Mortgaged Property During Foreclosure Action.
Concentrations
- Banking and Commercial Finance Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Merger and Acquisition Disputes
Kluczowe Praktyki
Doświadczenie
- Represented manager and majority member of $600 plus million, 3,000 unit project in New York City.°
- Foreclosed on trophy property in Albany, New York and collected deficiency judgment against guarantors.°
- Obtained full defense award for major national bank in Chicago following contested arbitration hearing in which claimants sought $53 million in damages for breach of contract and wrongful foreclosure.°
- Managed foreclosure of more than 30 golf course properties in multi-state foreclosure action for national lender.°
- Represented lender in foreclosure and appointment of receiver over iconic hotel in Honolulu.°
- Secured dismissal with prejudice at motion to dismiss stage of multiple purported class actions alleging lender liability by national lender in Florida.°
- Completed foreclosure of five skilled nursing facilities and secured dismissal with prejudice of lender liability claims for national lender in California.°
°The above representations were handled by Mr. Dorsey prior to his joining Greenberg Traurig, LLP.
Wyróżnienia i aktywność zawodowa
- Listed, Crain’s Chicago Business
- “Notable Litigators & Trial Attorneys,” 2025
- “Notable Leaders in Accounting, Consulting, and Law,” 2024
- “Notable Gen X Leader in Accounting, Consulting, and Law,” 2022
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2025-2026
- Listed, The Legal 500 United States, Commercial Disputes, 2025
- Listed, The Legal 500 U.S. Chicago Elite, Commercial Disputes, 2025
- Speaker, IMN Conference on Distressed Assets
- Former member of Rector Search Committee for Christ Church Winnetka
- Regular volunteer for Appalachian Service Project
- Regular volunteer for Feed My Starving Children
Wykształcenie i uprawnienia do wykonywania zawodu
- J.D., University of Michigan Law School
- B.A., Claremont McKenna College
- California
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Missouri
- New York