People

William T.
Gordon
(Bill)

Houston: +1 713 276 7373
Washington, D.C.: +1 202 626 2944
bgordon@kslaw.com

Related Capabilities

William “Bill” Gordon advises boards and management teams through critical transformation initiatives, including, internal controls remediation, succession planning, M&A diligence, and major infrastructure and/or cultural changes. As a former senior executive and chief compliance officer at publicly traded and private equity backed companies, clients turn to Bill to efficiently address and resolve their most complex and critical challenges. During his time as a general counsel, Bill was known for strong and steady leadership through all phases of the company life-cycle.

Bill has navigated companies of all sizes through sensitive government, cross-border and internal investigations and their related litigation, including issues relating to data infrastructure, cyber security and data privacy; the FCPA and anti-corruption; AML and related financial crimes; OFAC; export controls; and US and EU consumer protections. He has successfully led companies through complicated financings, acquisitions, divestitures, and other high stakes deals.

He has extensive experience representing clients before the US Department of Justice, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the US Department of Defense, the US Department of Commerce, and the US Department of State, in addition to local, state and international organizations.

Bill brings a wealth of both private practice and in-house experience to achieve outstanding, expedient, and cost effective solutions to his clients’ most challenging and complex legal and business needs. He has significant international regulatory enforcement, investigations, complex litigation and transactional experience. His colleagues and clients praise him for his business acumen, and choose to work with him because of both the significant legal and business value-add he provides.

He is noted for having led industry-acclaimed compliance initiatives throughout his career, including the transformation of global compliance culture, strategy, and processes for organizations of all sizes in myriad industries. He has represented numerous companies, executives, and boards before the US Department of Justice, the US Securities Exchange Commission, the Department of Commerce, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, among other regulatory bodies, in fraud, corruption and debarment related matters. He has also represented entities in US District Court in both civil and criminal cases, as well as arbitration matters before the ICC, LCIA and ICSID.

During the course of two corporate reorganizations with Hercules Offshore, Inc., he negotiated and advised on corporate transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, tax disputes, restructuring and the liquidation and sale of its global assets and subsidiaries. He is considered an expert on maritime law, including the Jones Act and related transactions.

Bill currently serves on the board of directors of three national non-profit organizations, Compliance Bar Association; Children at Risk; and Executive Service Corps and is a member of the Momentum Anti-Corruption Advisory Board.

Full Bio

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Credentials

J.D., Harvard Law School, cum laude

B.A., Pomona College

Massachusetts

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Children at Risk – Member of the Board of Directors

Executive Service Corps – Member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee

Momentum Anti-Corruption Advisory Board

Momentum Global Anti-Corruption Advisory Board

Recognition

Momentum Global Anti-Corruption Advisory Board

11.14.2019

Speaking Engagement

Bill Gordon to Speak at EY Integrity and Compliance Seminar

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News

Press Release

December 11, 2018
Former Hercules Offshore and HERO Liquidating Trust Associate GC and CCO Joins King & Spalding in Houston

In the News · Source: Texas Lawyer, The Texas Lawbook, Bloomberg BNA, The Deal, Houston Chronicle and Houston Business Journal

December 11, 2018
Bill Gordon joins the firm as partner in the Trial and Global Disputes practice group in the Houston office

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Matters

Advised global consulting company on matters relating to data transformation, cyber security and privacy, and data integrity best practices

Led internal controls investigations and remediation projects for several private equity owned portfolio companies

Advised large chemical manufacturer on US export control laws, including issues of self-disclosure, agency advocacy, ECCN classifications, and BIS licensing requirements/exceptions

Matters

Advised global consulting company on matters relating to data transformation, cyber security and privacy, and data integrity best practices

Led internal controls investigations and remediation projects for several private equity owned portfolio companies

Advised large chemical manufacturer on US export control laws, including issues of self-disclosure, agency advocacy, ECCN classifications, and BIS licensing requirements/exceptions

Led investigation on behalf of a national consumer products company into compliance with U.S. consumer protection laws, including issues relating to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), American with Disabilities Act (ADA), bankruptcy, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAP), data privacy, and anti-retaliation statutes. Defended client in US District Court in related litigation, including class action defense

Advised Bilfinger Westcon on matters related to FCPA and anti-corruption compliance

Guided Hercules Offshore, Inc. and HERO Liquidating Trust through two Chapter 11 reorganizations and its subsequent wind-down and liquidation

Represented energy, pharmaceutical and engineering companies before the DOJ and SEC in global FCPA and related anti-corruption investigations and voluntary disclosures

Represented multiple companies and individuals before the World Bank Sanctions Board in relation fraud and obstruction investigations by the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency

Conducted internal investigations and negotiated settlements with the World Bank Integrity Vice Presidency in relation to alleged violations of the World Bank Consultant and Procurement Guidelines

Conducted export controls investigation and related voluntary disclosures to the US Commerce Department and US Department of State on behalf of aerospace and defense company

Represented Swiss Bank before US regulatory agencies in response to alleged AML violations

Represented Crestron Electronics in anti-trust litigation in US Federal Court

Represented energy company in arbitration before the ICC relating to a breach of contract claim with a foreign subsidiary and their agent

Insights

Energy Law Exchange

March 13, 2020
Coronavirus and Force Majeure Declarations

March 12, 2020
Energy Newsletter – March 2020

Client Alert

February 20, 2020
Coronavirus and Force Majeure Declarations – Energy Industry