William D. Gilbride, Jr.

Abbott Nicholson, P.C., Detroit, USA

I spent my first five years in private practice as an associate attorney in a small general practice firm located in Detroit. During my early years of practice, I was involved in all forms of litigation, including court appointed criminal matters, civil trials in state and federal court and the United States Tax Court. Throughout the 1980's, I also developed an expertise in real estate, land use and zoning matters. I represented residential and commercial property owners in the purchase and sale of real estate and in legal issues relating to construction, land use, leasing, eviction, financing and foreclosure of real estate. At the same time, I continued to handle civil litigation consisting of collection work, creditors rights and bankruptcy, real estate, uniform commercial code, domestic and matrimonial law, and related general litigation.

After about five years in practice, I joined Abbott, Nicholson, Quilter, Esshaki & Youngblood, P.C., in order to bring more focus to my practice and to work with attorneys dedicated to excellence in their practices at the highest legal and ethical levels.

During my thirteen years at Abbott Nicholson, I have continued to handle a general civil litigation practice trying, on average, one to two cases per year, principally in the commercial areas. I have handled numerous cases representing companies in cases involving sales representatives, trade secrets, agreements, injunctions and declaratory actions and I have tried Article II cases, arbitrated construction disputes and similar matters.

Meanwhile, my years of commercial litigation experience have allowed me to develop a number of corporate clients for which I serve in the role of general counsel handling, in conjunction with our tax, labor, real estate and pension attorneys, an array of issues from entity selection and formation to real estate acquisition, leasing or sale, mergers and acquisitions, labor and employment matters, pension, cafeteria and fringe benefit issues, estate and business succession planning, and general business counseling. It has been my experience that utilizing a team approach to solving client problems provides the most effective and economical solutions to the complex legal issues facing our clients.

Over the years, I have always enjoyed being involved in community and philanthropic organizations. I served for six years as director, treasurer, secretary and president of a Catholic Lawyer Society. I have also served on the Boards of the Detroit Club and the Pointe Aux Barques Resort Association, and I am currently serving as a director of the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Association.

My wife, Susan, and I have three daughters, Emily 15, Kathryne 14 and Sarah 10, all of whom are active ice hockey players. In my leisure time, I coach my daughters' teams and during the 2000-2001 season, Kathryne's team won a Michigan State Championship in the girls 12 and under Tier 2 Division--a great day, indeed. We have found the world of amateur hockey to be a great winter pastime through which we have met nice people and have made good friends.