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I always try to put myself in my client’s shoes. How would I like the matter to be handled if it were my problem? If there are roadblocks to a fair, cost-effective resolution of the issue, how can the roadblocks be overcome?

Mr. Grand concentrates his practice in all phases of complex commercial litigation, including trials. He has litigated a broad range of commercial disputes. His experience encompasses legal malpractice defense, suits alleging the theft of trade secrets and violations of non-competition clauses, eminent domain proceedings, and cases involving environmental contamination and the breach of real estate and other contracts. Mr. Grand has successfully litigated cases in the Chancery and Law Divisions of the state courts, as well as in the federal courts of both New Jersey and New York.

Mr. Grand also has over three decades of experience in the area of attorney ethics, loss prevention and legal malpractice defense. He has defended attorneys in legal malpractice cases and in attorney ethics proceedings. He counsels attorneys on how to avoid legal malpractice claims, and is available to serve as an expert witness in both ethics and commercial litigation.

Honors & Awards

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America© (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) in the Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Real Estate, Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law, and Litigation - Environmental practice areas (2009 – present)
  • Selected by Best Lawyers® (a trademark of Woodward/White, Inc.) as 2022 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Real Estate; as 2018 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Real Estate; as 2017 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Litigation - Environmental; as 2013 Woodbridge "Lawyer of the Year" in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
  • Listed in Super Lawyers - New Jersey Edition (a Thomson Reuters business) in the Professional Liability: Defense, Business Litigation and Eminent Domain practice areas (2012 – present)
  • Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rated AV® Preeminent (a trademark of Internet Brands, Inc.) (1988 – present)

Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Representative Matters

  • Harrington, et al v. Director, Division of Taxation, et al. Mr. Grand represented the plaintiffs, a group of former co-workers who won a $216 million jackpot in New Jersey’s Mega Millions lottery contest. When the plaintiffs purchased their winning ticket and received their winnings, New Jersey law exempted lottery winnings from State income tax. However, months later, the State changed the rules to retroactively tax lottery winnings, including plaintiffs' winnings in the Mega Millions contest. Plaintiffs prevailed in the Tax Court when the Tax Court granted partial summary judgment in their favor, ordering the State to refund plaintiffs' State income tax on their winnings. The judgment was memorialized in a settlement agreement, and the plaintiffs received a full refund of the State income tax, plus interest. Read more here.
  • The Geon Company v. Cary Compounds. Multi-national corporation brought an action against a New Jersey company for damages for alleged misappropriation of its formulas and trade secrets. Grand obtained a no cause judgment after six weeks of trial.
  • G & W Laboratories v. Able Laboratories. Pharmaceutical manufacturer sued another pharmaceutical company for alleged theft of formulas and trade secrets. Grand defended the Complaint and plaintiff dropped its case after five weeks of trial.
  • Middlesex County Utilities Authority v. Edgeboro Landfill. Grand defended landfill owner in eminent domain action. After approximately 40 days of hearings, a settlement was reached that resulted in a payment of almost $40 million to Grand’s client. The Authority’s good faith settlement offer prior to the hearings was $3.5 million.
  • Sgro v. Getty Petroleum Corp. In this case, reported at 854 F. Supp. 1164 (D.N.J. 1994), the owner of a gas station property sued Getty alleging that Getty was obligated to remove underground storage tanks from his property. Grand successfully defended the action, resulting in a judgment for the defendant.

Uniquely NJ

  • New Jersey State Bar Association
  • John J. Gibbons American Inn of Court for Federal Trial Practice and Intellectual Property (Former Master)
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More Activities & Experience

  • American Bar Association: Section of Litigation
  • Yale Invitational Annual Mock Trial Tournament, Judge

Presentations & Speaking Engagements

Publications & Alerts

View Abbreviated Bio

Departments

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 1972

University of Rochester, A.B. with honors, 1969

Bar Admissions

  • New Jersey, 1972
  • New York, 1978
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, 1972
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1983
  • U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1987
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1992
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1998

Clerkships

  • Former law clerk to The Honorable Nelson K. Mintz, Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey (1972-1973)

William D. Gran Listed in Best Lawyers

William D. Grand Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2022

William D. Grand Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2018

William D. Grand Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2017
William D. Grand Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year 2013
William D. Grand
Rated by Super Lawyers


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Please visit our Award Methodology page for a description of the standard or methodology on which these accolades are based. Attorney Advertising: No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.