William P. Reiley is a partner in the Litigation Department who defends financial institutions in high-stakes consumer and commercial disputes in federal and state courts across the country, with a regular presence in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Will represents national and regional banks, mortgage servicers, and consumer lenders across the full life cycle of complex litigation—from pre-suit strategy through dispositive motions, trial, and appeal. He regularly appears before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the New Jersey Appellate Division, and federal district courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His clients rely on him to defend claims brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), and their state-law counterparts, including the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and New Jersey FDCPA, as well as claims arising from deposit fraud, wire transfer disputes, and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) enforcement actions. Over the course of his career, he has handled hundreds of federal district court and state court cases, including many appellate matters in state and federal court.
Representative Experience
Representative Matters
- Served as appellate counsel in a precedential Third Circuit opinion that dismissed an FDCPA class action for lack of Article III standing, establishing that alleged statutory notice violations without concrete harm do not satisfy the injury-in-fact requirement—a decision with significant implications for consumer financial services class action defense nationwide.
- Defended a national bank in a multi-count federal consumer protection action, obtaining summary judgment on all claims and a subsequent court award of more than $55,000 in attorney fees as sanctions against the plaintiff for pursuing frivolous litigation.
- Represented a national bank in a complex commercial lending dispute, obtaining summary judgment and a judgment of more than $817,000 on a promissory note.
Professional Highlights
Pro Bono Experience
Will represented a journalist in First Amendment and defamation matters, including obtaining summary judgment and a subsequent affirmance by the New Jersey Appellate Division. He also represents tenants of limited means in disputes to recover security deposits, and defends clients accused of violating temporary restraining orders.
Judicial Clerkships
Hon. Marcella Matos Wilson, Essex County (New Jersey) Superior Court, 2014-2015
Professional Activities
Camden County (New Jersey) Bar Association
Publications
William is a contributor to the firm's Consumer Finance Monitor blog.
Co-author, "Getting Digital Dirt into Evidence: Authentication and Hearsay Issues," Product Liability and Mass Tort Section Newsletter Vol. 16, No. 1, September 2017
Co-author, "Daimler Here to Stay: SCOTUS Overturns California Court’s Exercise of Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Plaintiffs," Ballard Spahr alert, June 20, 2017
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Credentials
Education
Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey School of Law-Newark (J.D. 2014)
Senior Editor, Rutgers Business Law Review
Monmouth University (B.A. 2009, magna cum laude)
Admissions
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit