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William D. Hauptman

Associate

P. 303.244.0125

Biography

Will Hauptman defends lawyers and law firms in complex legal professional liability matters nationwide. He also represents corporate clients in complex contracts and other commercial disputes. Will's courtroom experience includes delivering an opening statement at trial, successfully arguing an appeal, and examining witnesses. Additionally, he has taken and defended numerous fact and expert witness depositions, drafted complex dispositive motions, briefed several appeals, and argued motions in federal and state court and in arbitration proceedings. 

Before he joined WTO, Will was a law clerk to the Honorable Brian D. Boatright of the Colorado Supreme Court. He earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, where he graduated Order of the Coif, served as a Production Editor on the University of Colorado Law Review, and was chairperson of the law school’s Honor Council and Barristers’ Council, Moot Court Division. In law school, Will provided over 650 hours of pro bono legal services to low-income clients and public-interest groups, including an organization that helps farmers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley secure water rights.

Cases

  • Won a permanent injunction for an AmLaw 200 law firm following a bench trial. Delivered the opening statement for the plaintiff group and conducted direct examinations of two witnesses at trial.
  • Won motion to dismiss $20 million malpractice claims brought in Connecticut against an AmLaw 200 firm. The allegations involved the firm's representation of a client in a bankruptcy proceeding. Drafted the motion and supporting briefs and coordinated the defense strategy for all co-defendants.
  • Successfully argued an appeal, resulting in a judgment confirming an arbitration award for a law firm in a malpractice case arising out of a construction-defect lawsuit.
  • Briefed a successful appeal in the Tenth Circuit for an AmLaw 100 firm reversing the denial of a motion to dismiss an adversary proceeding. The appeal involved a statutory construction issue of first impression.
  • Argued and won a motion to strike an expert's testimony at an evidentiary hearing at which the plaintiffs unsuccessfully sought reconsideration of an order compelling arbitration.
  • Briefed, argued, and won a motion to compel production of plaintiffs' communications with a law firm that represented the plaintiffs in an underlying matter which became the subject of the subsequent malpractice claims against WTO's clients.
  • Won motion to dismiss $150 million malpractice claims brought in Nevada against an AmLaw 200 firm. The allegations involved the accuracy of an underlying tax opinion.
  • Coordinated and won a motion to dismiss for approximately 20 defendants in a civil rights case against Colorado law enforcement officials. The defendants were represented by firms across Colorado.

Publications & Speaking Engagements

    Presentations

  • Moderator, "When the Client's License Is on the Line: Defending Attorney Disciplinary Complaints," ABA Standing Committee on Lawyers' Professional Liability Spring 2024 National Legal Malpractice Conference (April 4, 2024).
  • Co-presenter, "I Didn't Know That! Little Known Facts and Common Misperceptions About Ethics," American Bar Association CLE webinar (December 28, 2022).
  • Co-presenter, "The Duty of Competence in the New Normal," 2022 Business Law Institute (September 8, 2022).

Articles

Other Articles/Presentations

  • What Remains of the Exclusionary Rule?, 88 U. Colo L. Rev. Online, (August 2017).

Other Experience

Dentons US LLP, Summer Associate

Legal Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Colorado Supreme Court, Committee on Pattern Civil Jury Instructions
Colorado Bar Association Ethics Committee, Member
Minoru Yasui Inn of Court, Treasurer
Colorado Bar Association, Member
Denver Bar Association, Member
American Bar Association, Member
Colorado Super Lawyers
     Rising Stars, Professional Liability: Defense, 2023-2024
University of Colorado Law Review, Vol. 88 
     “Outstanding Board Member”
University of Colorado Law School Student Bar Association
     David M. Sutcliffe Distinguished Student Award Recipient, 2017
University of Colorado Law School Public Service Pledge
     Most Hours of Pro Bono Work from the Class of 2017

Community Memberships, Activities, and Honors

Constitution Day Volunteer, Byron R. White Center for the Study of American Constitutional Law

Personal Interests

Scuba diving, cooking, reading & cheering on the Colorado Buffaloes

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