William Spotswood is a member of the firm’s commercial litigation practice group, where he handles a wide variety of commercial, real estate, corporate shareholder, and construction disputes and litigation. Prior to joining Gentry Locke full-time, William worked as a summer associate at Gentry Locke for two summers. William is a Board Member of the Virginia Bar Association Litigation Section, a member of the Ted Dalton American Inn of Court, and a member of the Roanoke Bar Association.
William earned his J.D. magna cum laude from William and Mary Law School, where he was a Notes Editor for the William & Mary Law Review and an award-winning brief writer for the Moot Court Team. He earned his B.A. summa cum laude in History from Virginia Tech. William grew up in the Roanoke area and is a current native of Floyd County.
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Chickens
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Virginia Tech Football games attended
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Awesome kids
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Do you have a life motto you live by?
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This rule is often easier said than done. However, as people, and especially as lawyers, it is one that should guide our actions inside and outside of the courtroom.
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It sounds like you're very connected to this area. Has that impacted your life trajectory?
Absolutely. I grew up in Roanoke and went to William Byrd High School. My Dad and one of my Grandfathers worked for the railroad, so we have been tied to Roanoke for some time. After finishing law school, I knew I wanted to come back to my hometown and serve the people of Southwest Virginia. My wife and I live in Floyd County—colloquially, the Republic of Floyd—with our two kids, multiple dogs, and more than a dozen chickens. Home is in the mountains, which is exactly the way I always pictured my life to be.
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How do you spend your time when you’re not in the office?
I love spending quality time with family. My wife and I both have big families, so we spend lots of time with each other whether it be a birthday party, Sunday dinner, or family cookout. In the fall, I spend most weekends on the back of a tailgate in Blacksburg rooting on my Hokies. My parents went to Virginia Tech, and that is where I met my wife, so Blacksburg holds a special place in my heart. I also enjoy spending time outdoors chasing whitetail deer and turkeys in November and December.
Education
- William & Mary Law School, J.D., magna cum laude
- Virginia Tech, B.A., summa cum laude
Experience
- Represented general contractors and subcontractors in payment disputes and other contractual disputes.
- Represented shareholders in closely-held corporate disputes.
- Aided in obtaining a settlement on behalf of minority members in a closely-held LLC in a case involving claims under the Virginia Securities Act.
- Drafted amicus briefs and writs of certiorari for U.S. Courts of Appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Aided in resolving a major design and construction dispute for an engineering firm in Giles County Circuit Court.
Affiliations
- Roanoke Bar Association
- Ted Dalton American Inn of Court, Member
- Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Member
- Virginia Bar Association, Litigation Section, Board Member
Admissions
- Virginia
- Western District of Virginia
Awards
- American College of Trial Lawyers Medal for Excellence in Advocacy Recipient
- CALI Awards for Evidence and Legal Writing and Research II
- Best Brief, Kaufman Securities Law Moot Court Tournament, 2020 & 2021
- Best Brief, New York Bar National Moot Court Tournament, Regional IV, 2020
Published Work
- Author, “A Strange Land and a Peculiar Problem: Using Local Knowledge to Resolve Ambiguous Property Descriptions in Appalachia,” William & Mary Law Review Online, (2021)
Case Studies
The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.-
Articles
Jan 2025 -
Articles
Feb 2024 -
Heavy equipment dealer in Virginia sued by the equipment manufacturer's former dealer. Court grants Motion to Dismiss. The results of client matters depend on a variety of factors unique to each matter. Past successes do not predict or guarantee future successes.Case Studies
Jul 2022 -
Events
May 2022
