William J. Vigen
Partner
Before joining Venable, Bill was a trial attorney at the DOJ, Antitrust Division, Washington Criminal Section, where he litigated criminal prosecutions and led complex investigations against major companies and individuals for antitrust violations. Prior to his service in the public sector, Bill was an attorney at a large, prominent law firm, where he worked on teams representing multinational companies and senior executives in complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense, with a primary focus on antitrust. Earlier in his career, Bill served as a law clerk to the Honorable M. Blane Michael of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Experience
Experience
Government Experience
- Trial attorney, Criminal Section II, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice
Representative Matters
- Representing Perdue against claims brought on behalf of chicken and turkey plant workers alleging that certain poultry companies, along with two benchmarking services, conspired to fix wages for processing plant workers. Judy Jien, et al. v. Perdue, et al., 1:19-cv-2521 (D. Md.) (Wages Antitrust Litigation)
- Represented an individual before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Argued successfully on behalf of the U.S. government against a provider of dialysis services to defeat a motion to dismiss a criminal indictment alleging agreement not to solicit employees; litigated and argued multiple motions in limine; second-chaired the trial and cross-examined the only defense witness
- Obtained a $100 million statutory maximum fine in a negotiated deferred prosecution (DPA) agreement with a medical practice for dividing the market for cancer care
- Served as trial attorney for a broadcast television network alleging $1 billion in defamation damages; argued evidentiary motions
- Second-chaired a three-week equitable distribution trial for the plaintiff in the divorce of the founder, chair, and CEO of a publicly traded company, requiring complex valuation of assets; directed the plaintiff's expert valuation witness and cross-examined the defense's expert valuation witness
- Served as lead attorney for a Fortune 50 company on rapid investigation and production in response to subpoenas from the Offices of the United States Attorneys (USAO) and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of a high-profile government investigation
- Advised a Fortune 200 company on a possible criminal antitrust violation involving international markets; interacted with European Union (EU) counsel and company on strategy
- Provided pro bono representation in the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, Montgomery County Circuit Court, DC parole revocation hearing, and DC landlord-tenant court
Insights
Insights
Credentials
Credentials
Education
- J.D. University of Virginia School of Law 2009
- Order of the Coif
- Articles development editor, Managing Board, Virginial Law Review
- John M. Olin Program in Law and Economics Scholar
- B.A. Economics summa cum laude University of South Carolina Honors College 2006
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Clerk Experience
- The Honorable M. Blane Michael U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Professional Memberships and Activities
- Board member, Capitol Hill Community Foundation
Recognition
Recognition
- DOJ Antitrust Division, Award of Distinction, 2022
Community
Community
Volunteerism
- Capitol Hill Community Foundation