Bill is a principal with Woods Rogers Vandeventer Black (WRVB) and is in the firm’s Norfolk office. Bill was formerly a civil engineer working in construction, and his practice focuses on construction law, public contract law, and alternative dispute resolution. His extensive background in the construction field includes commercial building projects, highway projects, power plants, pulp and paper mills, rail projects, petrochemical facilities, airports, and marine terminals.
Regionally, nationally and internationally, Bill handles claim preparation, negotiation, and litigation/arbitration on behalf of construction industry clients. His experience includes privately-owned projects; federal, state and local public projects; and hybrid developments such as public-private partnership projects. His clients span across the construction industry and include owners and developers of large projects, general contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, and suppliers. Bill has also served in leadership roles in many construction trade associations, including the ABA Forum on Construction Law, The Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Builders and Contractors Exchange of Hampton Roads Virginia, The Associated Builders and Contractors of Virginia, and the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Design Build Institute of America.
Bill is regarded as an expert in mediation, arbitration and conflict management. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s National and International Construction Panel for arbitrators and mediators as well as its Mega Project Panel List, from which he has served across the nation as a neutral in all types of construction disputes. Bill is also a Fellow in the College of Commercial Arbitrators and has served on over 200 ADR matters both privately and for the AAA. He is also currently a member of several Dispute Resolution Boards across the country.
Bill was inducted as a Fellow into the American College of Construction Lawyers in 2017. The ACCL is a national organization of lawyers who have demonstrated skill, experience, and high standards of professional and ethical conduct in the practice of construction law, and who are dedicated to excellence in the specialized practice of construction law.
Representative Matters
- Successful representation of general contractor in $10 million claim against the Army Corps of Engineers for design defects in power plant steam turbine generator system.
- Successfully represented general contractor in highway construction claim and litigation against NC Department of Transportation involving rock excavation, differing site conditions, and delay claims in excess of $20 million.
- Successfully represented general contractor in $5.5 million deficient design claim against Army Corps of Engineers.
- Successfully represented contractor in termination for convenience claim before Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals.
- Successfully overturned board decision at the Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit on piping construction claim involving defective specifications.
- Arbitrator in over 200 cases ranging in size from $10K to over $250M.
- Mediator in over 60 cases; principally construction related.
Attorney Perspectives
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Vandeventer Black’s Franczek Selected as a “Leader in the Law” for 2019
September 9, 2019 -
Legal Liability of Design Professionals for Failure to Adapt to Climate Change
May 7, 2019
Featured Posts
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Bill Franczek Profiled on The Dispute Resolver
July 12, 2023
Recognition
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Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 70 WRVB Attorneys
August 17, 2023 -
Twelve WRVB Attorneys Named “Lawyer of the Year” for Roanoke and Norfolk
August 17, 2023 -
Seven WRVB Attorneys and Three Practice Groups Ranked by Chambers USA
June 1, 2023 -
Thirty-Seven WRVB Attorneys Named to 2023 Virginia Super Lawyers and Rising Stars List
May 1, 2023 -
26 WRVB Attorneys Named “Top Lawyers” for Norfolk, Coastal Virginia Magazine
January 24, 2023 -
WRVB Attorneys Make Major Showing in Best Lawyers in America
August 16, 2022 -
Attorneys Selected for the 2022 Virginia Super Lawyers List
May 5, 2022 -
Franczek Selected as a Member of the “Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame” for 2022
January 3, 2022 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2022 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
January 1, 2022 -
28 Vandeventer Black LLP lawyers named to 2022 Best Lawyers® list
August 19, 2021 -
Bill Franczek Receives Highest Chambers USA Ranking
May 24, 2021 -
14 Attorneys Selected for the 2021 Virginia Super Lawyers List
May 6, 2021 -
Attorneys Recognized as 2021 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
January 1, 2021 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2020 Legal Elite
November 30, 2020 -
28 Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® list
August 20, 2020 -
Franczek Joins The International Institute For Conflict Prevention and Resolution (CPR) Panels of Distinguished Neutrals
July 28, 2020 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected for the 2020 Virginia Super Lawyers List
May 7, 2020 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys Selected as 2019 Legal Elite
November 25, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2020 Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
November 25, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black’s Franczek Selected as a “Leader in the Law” for 2019
September 9, 2019 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as Top Lawyers of Coastal Virginia
December 13, 2018 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2018 Legal Elite
December 11, 2018 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as 2019 “Lawyers of the Year”
August 26, 2018 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Listed as ‘The Best Lawyers in America’ of 2019
August 24, 2018 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized as Top Lawyers
December 14, 2017 -
William E. Franczek Elected to the American College of Construction Lawyers
October 27, 2017 -
27 Vandeventer Black Attorneys Named ‘The Best Lawyers in America’ of 2018
August 22, 2017 -
Vandeventer Black Attorneys Recognized in Chambers USA Guide
July 11, 2017 -
Franczek to Serve as President of Builders and Contractors Exchange
April 7, 2017 -
Twenty-two Vandeventer Black Attorneys 2016 Legal Elite Finalists
January 9, 2017