BJ Trach

Partner

Boston
william.trach@lw.com
+1.617.880.4514

PRACTICES

  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation & Trial
  • Securities Litigation & Professional Liability
  • White Collar Defense & Investigations

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • Massachusetts

EDUCATION

  • JD, Harvard Law School, 2004
    cum laude
  • BA, Harvard College, 1999
    cum laude

PROFILE

BJ Trach represents institutional and individual clients in their most complex criminal and civil litigation, including white collar matters, government investigations, and complex commercial litigation.

A nationally renowned defense lawyer and former member of the firm's Executive Committee, BJ counsels public companies, private equity firms and their portfolio companies, senior corporate executives, and high-profile individuals in a range of litigation and investigations. 

Drawing on his powerful advocacy skills and prior experience as a federal prosecutor, BJ helps clients navigate all stages of sensitive investigations and enforcement proceedings. His work includes representing companies and individuals in criminal and civil investigations brought by various government entities, such as the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and state attorneys general. His direct and commercial-friendly approach helps clients achieve favorable outcomes in government investigations before trial. If litigation is necessary, BJ leverages his significant experience trying cases to verdict in the federal and state courts, including the Delaware Chancery Court. 

BJ also handles high-stakes claims brought by shareholders, customers, and competitors, including in connection with securities fraud allegations, shareholder derivatives suits, consumer class actions, and product liability class actions and claims. 

Prior to joining Latham, BJ served as Assistant US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. During his tenure, he conducted more than a dozen separate investigations, resulting in the indictment of more than 30 defendants on charges including drug-trafficking conspiracy, money laundering, and identity theft. BJ successfully tried numerous cases, including securing the conviction of a defendant charged with attempting to hire a hit man to murder several witnesses against him in a separate federal fraud case.

After graduating law school, BJ was a law clerk to Judge Sandra Lynch of the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.

Leadership

BJ is a former member of Latham’s Executive Committee, the nine-member governing body responsible for overseeing the firm’s strategy. He is also a founder and board member of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund, which supports Black and Brown communities in Massachusetts. 

BJ is the former Global Chair of Latham’s Diversity Leadership Committee. He also previously served as a member of the Massachusetts Ethics Commission (to which he was appointed by Governor Patrick), as a member of the Criminal Justice Act Panel for the District of Massachusetts, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association.

Accolades

Numerous legal publications and organizations have recognized BJ for his distinctive achievements in the legal field. His honors include being named a Future Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, a Top 100 Ethnic Minority Executives honoree by EMpower, a Power 50 honoree by Boston Business Journal, and a 40 under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates honoree by the National Bar Association.

EXPERIENCE

BJ’s experience includes representing:

White Collar Defense & Investigations 

  • General Electric in connection with multiple pending federal securities fraud suits and SEC investigations

Securities Litigation

  • LogMeIn in connection with multiple consumer class actions in state and federal court resulting in the dismissal of claims, as well as in federal securities fraud litigation
  • Facebook, AMD, and Norton LifeLock in connection with shareholder derivative suits brought related to alleged lack of diversity on their board and among their employees

Complex Commercial Litigation & Trials

  • Philip Morris USA in connection with various individual and class action products liability cases related to smoking and health; tried multiple jury cases to verdict as lead counsel
  • Facebook in connection with a trade secret case brought by a startup company regarding certain of Facebook’s artificial intelligence code; defeated motion for preliminary injunction