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Fish_William

William S. Fish, Jr.

Partner Hartford

Bill’s practice spans across a broad range of legal disciplines including business services, complex commercial litigation, bankruptcy and creditors’ rights, real estate, and the First Amendment. He has tried numerous complex matters in state and federal court and regularly represents clients in complex bankruptcy proceedings, acquisitions, real estate transactions, loan transactions, and other business matters throughout the country. Bill also represents clients in cross-border and other international transactions. He acts as general counsel to a broad range of clients, providing legal advice on a variety of business topics. He also counsels clients on how best to structure joint ventures and other related matters. He also regularly represents clients regarding the acquisition, re-development, financing, sale and operation of all types of senior housing facilities.

Bill’s experience in sports and entertainment law encompasses negotiating sponsorship agreements for a well-known sports equipment company, handling legal matters for a professional soccer team, and representing an international sporting goods manufacturer in connection with a well-known athlete who acquired a stake in the company.

Bill has served as a mediator and has participated in numerous mediations and other ADR sessions. His approach to mediation is consistent with and based on the model standards of the American Bar Association.

He was selected by Best Lawyers as the Lawyer of the Year (Hartford region) in 2018 for Bet-the-Company Litigation, Lawyer of the Year (Hartford region) in 2015-2017 and 2019 for Litigation – Bankruptcy and Lawyer of the Year (Hartford region) in 2011 and 2019 for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights. He also is a Fellow in The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society of the Litigation Counsel of America.

Experience

  • Represented partner in joint venture formed to acquire one billion dollars in senior housing assets
  • Represented The Hartford Courant in the Connecticut Supreme Court on access to records related to the Sandy Hook shooting
  • Represented US parking company in large multi-property joint venture with national real estate fund and a Canadian parking company
  • Represented Hartford Courant in various libel actions; all cases dismissed at pleading stage or summary judgment entered for newspaper
  • Represented buyer of large off-site airport parking garage in major California city
  • Represented the Associated Press regarding 911 tapes for Sandy Hook shooting. Sedensky v. FOIC, 2013 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2716
  • Represented the Hartford Courant as intervenor in Supreme Court case on the Victim’s Rights Amendment to the Connecticut Constitution and whether that Amendment affected access to court files. Conn. v. Gault, 304 CT 330 (2012)
  • Represented the initial stalking horse bidder in the acquisition of a 53 story building and CCRC in downtown Chicago. In re The Clare at Water Tower
  • Represented post-petition lender in priming loan to a CCRC in Illinois. In re Clare Oaks
  • Represented international bank in fraudulent transfer action in St. Louis Federal District Court. Case settled
  • Represented secured creditor/equity fund in bankruptcy credit bid acquisition under §363 of substantially all the assets of a multi-national bicycle company. In re: Cannondale Corporation
  • Represented buyer in asset purchase of 400-bed hospital located in Blue Island, Illinois; converted hospital from non-profit to for-profit
  • Represented numerous borrowers and lenders in secured loan and mezzanine loan transactions
  • Represented Back9 Network, Inc. in successful Chapter 11 plan confirmation
  • Represented joint venturer in cross-border transaction involving numerous real estate investments throughout the United States
  • Represented The Hartford Courant in a leading case involving access to judicial records. Rosado v. Bridgeport Roman Catholic Diocesan Corp., 292 Conn. 1 (2009)
  • Represented stalking horse bidder in bankruptcy acquisition under §363 of substantially all the assets of two continuing care retirement communities located in Illinois. In re: Lincolnshire Campus, LLC, 2010 Bankr. LEXIS 4865 (Bankr. N.D. Tex. 2010)
  • Represented plaintiff residents of a continuing care retirement community in jury trial against Ernst & Young, LLP. Obtained plaintiff’s verdict. Dudrow v. Ernst & Young
  • Defended plastic injection molding company in breach of warranty case under Article 2 of U.C.C. Obtained defendant’s verdict after trial. Visser v. Rogers Manufacturing
  • Represented stalking horse bidder in bankruptcy credit bid acquisition under §363 of substantially all the assets of a designer bath and supply company located throughout the U.S. In re: Waterworks
  • Represented employer in European arbitration with former president of employer. Case settled
  • Represented Cannondale Bicycle Company in cross-border acquisition of Sugoi Performance Apparel
  • Represented liquidating custodian of formerly largest precious metal refining company in world in case against PriceWaterhouseCoopers, LLP. Case settled shortly before jury selection. Handy & Harman Refining Group v. PriceWaterhouseCoopers
  • Represented large commercial property owner in Greenwich, CT in property tax appeal. Case settled. Pickwick Plaza v. Greenwich.
  • Defended mutual savings bank in multiple class actions challenging conversion of bank to a capital stock bank in connection with a public offering; obtained dismissal of matter. Turonis v. Patterson, 2004 Conn. Super. LEXIS 669 (2004)
  • Represented State bank associations and banks in national class action against TJX involving major electronic data breach. Case settled. Amerifirst Bank v. TJX Cos
  • Defended participant banks in Chapter 7 adversary proceeding seeking in excess of 100 million dollars in damages in connection with alleged fraudulent loans to fund petrochemical and petroleum business. Case settled. In re: AroChem Corp., 176 F.3d. 610 (2d. Cir. 1999)
  • Represented international sports company in negotiating U.S. and International contracts involving professional sports teams including endorsement contracts
  • Represented developer in possible acquisition of large resort property in British Virgin Islands
  • Defended bank issuing public securities in breach of contract action to acquire securities. Obtained summary judgment for bank. Brook Mimbre, LLC v. NewAlliance Bancshares, Inc., 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 35767 (D. Conn. 2005), aff’d 206 Fed. Appx. 63 (2d. Cir. 2006)
  • Represented lender in foreclosure of largest contiguous tract of land in Connecticut. Case settled. Lehman v. The Preserve
  • Represented secured creditor/equity fund in Chapter 11 of large petroleum supply company. Successfully converted debt to equity in a contested cram-down. In re: Wyatt Oil, Inc.
  • Represented municipal group in Chapter 9 proceeding involving City of Bridgeport. Successfully argued that City was eligible for Chapter 9. In re: City of Bridgeport, 128 B.R. 688 (1991)
  • Defended television stations in libel matter. Obtained summary judgment for defendants. Mercer v. Cosley, et al., 110 Conn. App. 283 (2008)
  • Represented bicycle company in selling a minority shareholder interest to LeBron James
  • Defended issuing bank in an injunction action involving dispute regarding a letter of credit. In re: Commco Technology, Inc., 258 B.R. 63 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2001), aff’d., 60 Fed. Appx. 881 (2d. Cir. 2003)
  • Represented Creditors Committee in Chapter 11 case; issues included enforcement of settlement agreement by the Committee over debtor’s objection. In re: Dragone, 318 B.R. 33 (Bankr. D. Conn. 2004)
  • Represented owner/investor in large bankruptcy involving claims of fraud against owner regarding $100 million dollars. Case settled. In re: RXRemedy
  • Represented National Governing Body of Sport of Triathlon in various legal matters
  • Represented class members in class action tax appeal against Town of Southbury. Case settled. Humiston v. Southbury, 2003 Conn. Super. LEXIS 2561
  • Represented large international mall owner in numerous retail bankruptcy cases involving the sale and assignment of leases
  • Represented Deutsche Bank in foreclosure of large distribution facility in Eastern Connecticut. Case settled
  • Represented petition creditors in involuntary bankruptcy against debtors who perpetrated large ponzi scheme. In re: Michael S. Goldberg, LLC
  • Represented initial stalking horse bidder in Chapter 11 acquisition of largest kosher slaughterhouse in U.S. In re: Agriprocessors
  • Represented Bank of New York against numerous note holders in large real estate fraud. Cases settled. In re: Colonial Realty
  • Represented investors in class action against accounting firm for hedge fund that filed Chapter 11. Investors lost in excess of $100 million dollars. Case settled. In re: Lancer
  • Represented landlord in eviction action against Long Term Capital Management
  • Represented bidder in possible acquisition of Landmark Hospital in Rhode Island receivership
  • Defended major insurance company in connection with investor claims regarding ownership of multiple properties in downtown Hartford. Case settled. Chase v. Aetna, et al.
  • Defended shareholder in dispute with former shareholder in closely held company. Case settled. Facchini v. Miller
  • Represented stalking horse bidder in multi-state nursing home Chapter 11. In re: Haven Healthcare
  • Represented international sports company in acquisition of shares in European sports company
  • Represented The Hartford Courant in action enforcing Freedom of Information Act regarding documents submitted by insurance company to Attorney General. Mass. Mutual v. Blumenthal, 281 Conn. 805 (2007)
  • Represented The Hartford Courant in action enforcing Freedom of Information Act against Mayor of City of Hartford. Perez v. FOIC, 2009 Conn. Super. LEXIS 1511
  • Represented large regional telecommunications company in matters before the Connecticut Siting Council regarding the siting of communication towers
  • Represented large international pharmaceutical company in product line acquisition
  • Represented affiliated debtors in Chapter 11 case involving multi-state medical imaging company. Chapter 11 plan confirmed. In re: American OBGYN, Inc.
  • Represented large insurance company in financial restructuring of mall in Syracuse, New York

Credentials

Work Experience

  • Hinckley Allen
    • Partner (2008-Present)
  • Tyler Cooper & Alcorn, LLP
    • Managing Partner (2003-2008)
    • Partner (1990-2003)
    • Associate (1983-1990)

Honors & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America® (2007-2024)
    • Lawyer of the Year (2011, 2015-2019, 2021, 2024)
    • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation
    • Corporate Law
    • First Amendment Law
    • Litigation – Bankruptcy
  • Super Lawyers, Connecticut (2006-2023)
  • Champion of Open Government Award, Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information
  • Hartford Magazine, Greater Hartford’s Top Attorneys, Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights category (2011)
  • Appointed by Governor Rell to Task Force on Open Access to the Courts
  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Peer Review Rating, Recipient

Charitable & Civic Involvement

  • Connecticut Forum, Board of Directors
  • Greater Hartford Arts Council, Board of Directors
  • Marlborough Board of Education, Former Chair
  • Marlborough, Connecticut, Former Town Counsel

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bankruptcy Institute
  • American Bar Association
  • Connecticut Bar Association
    • Commercial Law & Bankruptcy Section, Executive Committee
    • Federal Practice Section
    • Media Law Section, Executive Committee
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
  • Connecticut Foundation for Open Government
    • President & Board of Directors
    • Counsel
  • Connecticut Supreme Court Historical Society, Board of Directors
  • Connecticut Supreme Court, Member (2018-2021)
    • Judicial Media Committee
  • Hartford County Bar Association, Board of Directors
  • Litigation Counsel of America
    • Fellow
  • Media Law Committee - appointed by Connecticut Chief Justice
  • Media Law Resource Center
  • Swifts Inn, Treasurer and Member

Bar Memberships

  • Connecticut, 1983
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, 2006
  • United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, 1984
  • United States Tax Court, 2010

Newsroom

Publication

Business Lawyer William Fish: Now's Time to Acquire Businesses in Financial Distress, Especially in Senior-Housing Sector

In a recent Connecticut Law Tribune article, Partner William Fish Jr. described seeing a changing landscape due to the global pandemic that includes representing individuals and entities looking to acquire distressed businesses.“In terms of opportunities…

Publication

Connecticut Court Upholds Fair Report Privilege and Anti-SLAPP Law

Our attorneys share their perspective on how two decisions concern a local lawyer's professional sanctions in their article for Media Law Resource Center.

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Firm News

57 Hinckley Allen Lawyers Included in 2023 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

A total of 57 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named to the Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars lists in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Upstate New York for 2023, including those newly recognized as well as featured in Top Lists.Ger…

Firm News

Hinckley Allen Attorneys Named in Best Lawyers in America® 2024

A multitude of Hinckley Allen attorneys are recognized in their respective practice areas in Best Lawyers® 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. In addition, 11 Hinckley Allen attorneys were named in the “Lawyers of the Year” category, as wel…

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Case Study

Hinckley Allen Wins for Media Companies in Action Related to CT State Police Ticketing Scandal

Hinckley Allen attorneys successfully represented two Connecticut media companies in their efforts to access information regarding a highly publicized Connecticut State Police ticketing scandal.Hinckley Allen attorneys, representing two local publications,…

Case Study

Hinckley Allen Represents Media Outlets in Wrongful Death Settlement

In June 2018, a gunman killed five individuals at the offices of The Capital newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland. Hinckley Allen attorney William Fish began representing The Sun and Tribune Publishing immediately after the shooting. In June 2021, the victims …

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Events

Past Event

New England First Amendment Coalition Open Meetings and Public Comment

March 6, 2023

Partner William Fish, Jr. will be speaking at the New England First Amendment Coalition's continuing series on state open meeting laws, with new classes on public commentary.The classes will feature a local attorney who will explain their respective state …

Past Event

CFOG Presents: The Stories Behind the Big Stories of 2022

February 9, 2023

Partner William Fish, Jr., President of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government (CFOG), will introduce moderator Leslie Mayes of NBC Connecticut at the CFOG's presentation entitled "The Stories Behind the Big Stories of 2022."For the seventh year, t…

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Featured Media

Speaker for New England First Amendment Coalition’s continuing series on state open meeting laws, with new classes on public commentary.

Watch Bill’s presentation on open meetings and pubic commentary here: