William R. Fried

Practice Areas

Bill Fried is a partner and co-chair of the Litigation Department, where he focuses on complex commercial litigation, with an emphasis on construction and real estate disputes, trust and estate litigation, and business divorces. Bill’s clients, which include financial institutions, corporations, real estate owners, sponsors, developers, contractors and construction professionals, rely on his tenacity and resourcefulness to successfully resolve even the most contentious disputes.

He has significant experience counseling clients through the alternative dispute resolution process, either through negotiation, mediation or arbitration, and has substantial trial and appellate experience in state and federal courts.

Real Estate and Construction Litigation

Drawing on his extensive experience in construction, development, finance and investment, Bill frequently advises prominent members of the real estate industry, including owners, developers, financial institutions, sponsors, design professionals, construction professionals and condominium boards. Bill’s clients benefit from Bill's aggressive representation of their interests in construction defect disputes, mechanics liens, breaches of contracts, professional malpractice, and a wide range of related matters.

Complex Commercial Litigation

Bill’s commercial litigation experience is broad, and he is frequently called on to resolve high-profile disputes. Recently, Bill has advised sports memorabilia giant Lelands in the settlement of federal litigation involving NFL legend Jim Brown’s 1964 championship ring, a real estate developer in the successful resolution of multi-state litigation stemming from the cancelled development of a $2.5 billion W Hotel in Las Vegas, and a member of a prominent real estate family in a business divorce involving $200 million in real estate assets.

Private Clients Litigation

High-net-worth clients and financial institutions also turn to Bill to resolve significant trust and estate disputes. He frequently advises clients on highly-charged will and trust contests, business and asset valuations, and Article 81 guardianship proceedings in New York State Supreme Court.

Bill is also a member of the Board of Directors and General Counsel of the West Harlem Community Organization, Inc.