Using a proactive, practical approach that uses the law to advance business needs rather than hinder them, William counsels employers of all sizes, from small start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, how to align their hiring and employment practices to meet their business objectives. 

Enhancing Employers’ Ability to Attract, Retain and Motivate (ARM) the Right Talent
William is adept at helping professional service firms in fields such as marketing, advertising, accounting, legal, and management consulting solve the unique problems they face when trying to attract, retain and motivate (ARM) the right talent, whether it be implementing unique benefit programs or drafting specialized employment contracts. He crafts employment policies, agreements and benefit programs that enhance employers’ ability to ARM the right talent. In complement to his legal background, William holds additional graduate degrees in business management and taxation, which provide him with unique understanding of the business and legal perspectives employers need to create the right culture for a high performance workforce. William provides:

• Attracting and Hiring Services
  • Evaluating hiring policies
  • Drafting both employment and independent contractor agreements
  • Advising on creative ways to attract and retain talent
• Retaining and Motivating Services
  • Helping employers understand fringe benefit programs
  • Drafting fringe benefit policies
  • Addressing tax consequences of various forms of compensation

Employment Tax Expertise
William has extensive experience dealing with employment tax issues, which are often critical to understanding the implications of various incentives employers use to ARM talent. He counsels clients on a broad range of employment tax issues, including the proper classification of workers as employees or independent contractors and the use of contingent workers; and handling garnishments, the tax implications of settlements, the taxation of fringe benefits and the electronic payment of wages and use of payroll debit cards.

William is a core member of Littler’s Employment Taxes, and Staffing and Contingent Workers practice groups. He is a frequent speaker and author on employment tax issues, and his articles have appeared in numerous publications including State Tax Notes, State and Local Tax Lawyer, CPA Journal, Journal of Taxation and Investments, among others. He is also the author and co-author of four treatise chapters on employment tax issues.

Affirmative Action and Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
William represents and assists government contractors with audits by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. He regularly advises clients on issues relating to OFCCP jurisdiction, alleged single employer status, and disparate impact and discrimination in hiring, promotion and compensation.

Employment Litigation Defense
While William counsels employers on policies and practices intended to mitigate the risks of litigation, he also defends employers when disputes do arise with current or former employees or government agencies, whether the IRS, state tax agencies, the OFCCP or US or state departments of labor, on a wide range of employment related issues, including employment taxes, workers’ status as employees or independent contractors, discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination and wage and hour claims such as unpaid overtime.

PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS

• Member, American Bar Association
  • Chair, Employment Taxes Committee - Tax Section, 2010-2012
  • Vice-chair, Employment Taxes Committee - Tax Section, 2008-2010
  • Chair, Employment Taxes Subcommittee - Business Law Section
• Member, American Payroll Association
• Member, Contra Costa Bar Association
• Member, East Bay Tax Club
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation