William J. Carter

Of Counsel
Practices
About

Bill Carter solves contract problems for clients. With an emphasis on insurance contracts, he advises clients on legal and business issues to find solutions to their problems through civil dispute resolution. He has more than 35 years’ experience representing clients in all types of civil matters before trial and appellate courts.

For several years, Bill co-chaired the Firm’s insurance practice, bringing a wealth of knowledge to the table regarding contract and insurance issues, and teams with clients to resolve contract disputes and protect their bottom line. In the area of environmental insurance coverage, Bill served as coordinating counsel for a national insurance carrier, advising and guiding attorneys and firms throughout the United States.

Bill counsels clients on third-party and first-party insurance coverage issues and contract interpretation. His third-party experience includes advising and defending insurers in disputes with insureds on claims made under comprehensive general liability, directors and officers (D&O), professional liability, and specialty policies. His first-party experience includes counseling and defending insurers in matters concerning homeowners’ policies, commercial property and jeweler’s block policies, life insurance, and other areas of coverage. Bill also assists insurance companies in reinsurance disputes.

In addition, Bill also served as a co-chair for the Firm’s appellate practice for several years, handling or supervising all appeals resulting directly from Carr Maloney’s litigation practice, as well as many cases that are referred to the firm post-trial, solely for the appeals. He has been counsel of record in more than 200 appeals of civil matters in many areas, including products liability, professional liability, insurance coverage, and contract matters.

Before joining Carr Maloney, Bill served as a criminal trial and appellate practitioner in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps. While a member of the armed forces during the Ford administration, Bill served on the Presidential Clemency Board.

Representative Experience
  • Won a case on appeal in DC under Maryland law on a legal issue of first impression, saving the client more than $1 million that had been awarded by the trial court.
  • In a case with a high-six–figure claim, he advised the client to resolve the matter with a low-five–figure amount rather than trying to make new law on the issue.
  • Submitted an amicus brief on behalf of insurer Medmarc in Riegel v. Medtronic, the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling that bars most state common-law plaintiffs’ claims for injury by FDA pre-market approved medical devices.
  • Defended a restaurant and nightclub owner’s insurer, obtaining a ruling that an insurance policy’s assault-and-battery exclusion barred coverage in a wrongful-death action.
Education

College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law
J.D.

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
B.S.

Recognition
  • Martindale-Hubbell® has given Bill its AV Preeminent® rating, earned by attorneys at the highest level of professional excellence.
  • Recognized on Super Lawyers List, 2007, 2013 – 2023 for Insurance Coverage, Civil Litigation: Defense, Appellate
Publications
Admissions

States
District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
Colorado

U.S. District Courts
District of Columbia
District of Maryland
Eastern District of Virginia
Western District of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals
District of Columbia Circuit

  • Eleventh Circuit
  • Federal Circuit
  • Fifth Circuit
  • Fourth Circuit
  • Sixth Circuit
  • Third Circuit

U.S. Tax Courts

United States Supreme Court

Affiliations
  • American Bar Association (Former Member)
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Maryland Bar Association
  • Virginia State Bar Association