William C. Heck
  Partner, New York
   
     
  Practice Areas:
Litigation
Products Liability and Mass Torts
Insurance Recovery
 
     
 
  News  
  Events  
  Client Advisories  
Phone: (212) 808-7817 Fax: (212) 808-7897
Email: wheck@kelleydrye.com
vCard: 
 
Bill Heck is a partner in the firm's New York office. He concentrates on complex corporate litigation, including mass disasters and toxic torts as well as insurance coverage for these types of claims.

Mr. Heck represents major corporations such as Union Carbide Corporation and Hercules Incorporated in sophisticated commercial litigation, including disputes over the purchase and sale of businesses.

Mr. Heck has more than 25 years of experience in mass disasters and toxic tort litigation, including cases involving asbestos, Agent Orange, silicone breast implants and Bhopal. In addition, he is experienced in related insurance coverage litigation, and in the operation of joint defense and judgment sharing groups.

Mr. Heck's practice also involves trust and estate litigation, including will contests.
 
Representative Experience:
In re Will of Howard Wallace, Surrogate's Court, State of New York, County of New York, File No. 2709/2006)
Achieved a significant monetary settlement for five clients, including The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, in a will contest.

Represented Hercules Incorporated since 1979 in the Agent Orange litigation. Most recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the dismissal of Agent Orange cases brought by both U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War and Vietnamese citizens. 517 F.3d 76 (2d Cir. 2008) and 517 F.3d 104 (2d Cir. 2008).

Represented Union Carbide Corporation in Bhopal-related litigation. The history of this litigation in the United States since 2000 is summarized in the opinion of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reported at 548 F.3d 59 (2d Cir. 2008).
 
Honors and Awards:
Listed in "New York Super Lawyers," 2007, 2008 and 2009
 
Pro Bono:
Appointed as a special master by the New York Appellate Division, First Department, to act as a settlement mediator on a pro bono basis.
 
Community Activities:
Tufts Lawyers Association (alumni organization), Board of Directors
 
Client Advisories:

"Alien Tort Claims Act," July 01, 2004.

 
Bar Admission:
New York, 1973
 
Courts:
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals – Second and Seventh Circuits
U.S. District Court – Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
 
Education:
Harvard Law School, J.D., cum laude, 1972
Tufts University, A.B., magna cum laude, 1969
Phi Beta Kappa
 
Office Location:
101 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10178-0002
 
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