Biography
William A. Miller (Bill) was born in Marin County California, yet grew up and came of age in Phoenix attending Gerard Catholic High School where he served as the 1979 student body president. He received his B.S. in business & marketing in 1983, then taught English in Port-au-Prince Haiti and later graduated from the University of Arizona College of Law (J.D. with honors) in 1987. He has practiced law in greater Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Scottsdale his entire career. Bill is one of the few Maricopa County trial lawyers who can boast of punitive damages awards in three separate jury trials. He has numerous million dollar settlements under his belt.
As a young Arizona lawyer, just months out of law school, he uncovered and successfully litigated a case involving a lawyer-devised document-switch scheme at one of the Southwest’s largest real estate firms. His client, Jim Rhue, in a companion case [Rhue v. Dawson, 173 Ariz. 220, 841 P.2d 215 (1992)] went on to receive one of the largest punitive damages awards in Arizona history.
Bill successfully served as counsel in one of the largest commercial loan workouts in Arizona history. At issue was in excess of one hundred million dollars and more than 10 national lenders, including GE Capital, Finova, JP Morgan and FFCA, which had taken adverse positions against his clients; yet, Bill was able to amicably resolve almost all issues without resorting to Federal Bankruptcy Court protection. He also helped draft Arizona’s Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act and has lectured to lawyers on topics ranging from real estate fraud to legal technology.
For 14 years, Bill served the State Bar of Arizona as a sitting member of the MCLE committee. Over the years he has prosecuted dishonest lawyers for stealing from clients. His State Bar of Arizona Complaints have lead to the disbarment or suspension of four lawyers, in three separate matters. He also obtained substantial and full recoveries for his clients against these lawyers and their firms.
Bill is also active in the Sun Corridor (Pinal County), which is halfway between Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. He served on the Board of Directors for a local Flood Control District. Steeped well in the history of Arizona’s agricultural heritage, Bill has owned and managed over 4,000 acres of farm land in Pinal County. Bill is familiar with and has experience in CAP water right issues.
An ardent fan of technology, Mr. Miller developed the technology architecture for the Arizona Association of Realtor’s “Hotline” and JurisDictionUSA, Inc., a national law practice management software system now found at www.dtbusiness.com. Bill’s knowledge of technology and complex commercial litigation was the deciding factor in his being chosen to represent the Plaintiff in a multi-million dollar lawsuit in Pennsylvania. That case is reported in Moore v. Kulicke & Soffa Industries, [318 F.3d 561 (3d Cir. 2003)].
Bill is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), State Bar of Arizona (SBA) and Maricopa County Bar Association (MCBA); he is admitted to practice in Arizona as well as in the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd, 3rd and 9th Circuits, and the U.S. District Courts in Arizona, California, Texas, and Florida.
In June of 2012, Bill was recognized with the highest rating possible and a distinction of honor from Martindale-Hubbell and LexisNexis. Less than 9% of practicing lawyers are eligible for this award. Fewer have actually obtained such.
Bill was admitted to the most prestigious group of lawyers in Arizona in 2015. Please see the link below to Arizona’s Finest Lawyers.
Married to his beautiful wife Andra, a renowned real estate developer/designer -with many multi-million dollar projects in Paradise Valley and Arcadia- for over 32 years, they have three boys (Tim real estate development and sales) (Mark law school in Idaho) (Billy Mission in Romania) and (Ellie senior at Westmont College in Montecito, Ca.). Bill is active in his church, tennis, the Laguna Beach community and travel. He is a Board member for a Christian mission in Romania where Bill’s son, Billy is a Pastor and teacher. https://www.assuredhopeministries.com
