Henry I. Willett III

Henry Willett is a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Health Care departments. He represents clients in litigation involving the enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, intellectual property matters, products liability claims, business and construction disputes, professional malpractice claims, and financial services disputes. Mr. Willett has tried cases and arbitrated matters in state and federal courts and before FINRA Dispute Resolution, the National Association of Securities Dealers, the New York Stock Exchange and the American Arbitration Association.

Mr. Willett represents and advises clients in a variety of health care related matters, such as denial of benefits claims under ERISA, claims under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), contract negotiations and disputes, professional malpractice claims and regulatory enforcement actions.

Mr. Willett is chair of the firm's Associate Training and Evaluation Committee.

PRACTICE AREAS
Trials / Appeals / Alternative Dispute Resolution
Products Liability and Torts
Financial Services Litigation
Intellectual Property Litigation
Health Care
Employment Issues and Executive Agreements
Non-Competition and Trade Secrets
Medical Malpractice

ADMISSIONS
• Virginia
• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
• U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Representative Financial Services Litigation
• Representation of a large national securities firm and individual clients in state and federal court injunction and arbitration proceedings involving the enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Representation of two financial advisors against a motion for a preliminary injunction/temporary restraining order filed by their former employer in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. 
• Defended a large national securities firm and financial advisor in FINRA arbitration. 
• Representation of securities firms and individual clients in customer complaint disputes.

Representative Products Liability Litigation
• Representation, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, of an avionics firm in a products liability lawsuit involving a plane crash.
• Defense of a commercial lift manufacturer in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in a case stemming from the fall of a lift gate.
• Defense of a forklift manufacturer in Lynchburg Circuit Court in a personal injury action.

Representative Business and Professional Malpractice Litigation
• Representations of companies and individual clients in actions involving the enforcement of non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.
• Trial to verdict of a breach of computer systems consulting contract suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
• Representation of a national mental health care management company in an action to recover pharmacy benefits management fees.
• Defense of adversary proceeding in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for District of Delaware.
• Defense of psychiatric hospitals in medical negligence actions.
• Representation of companies at hearings before state administrative agencies.

Representative Health Care Matters
• Defense of benefit claims actions against health plans and third-party administrators under ERISA and the MHPAEA before courts in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 9th, 10th and 11th Circuits.
• Representation of a medical society in contract negotiations.
• Representation of a hospital association in preparing an amicus brief in support of appeal.
• Representation of a nonprofit health care organizations in contract negotiations and disputes.
• Representation of a national mental health care management company in commercial contract negotiations and consumer, provider and regulatory matters.
• Representation of a health insurer in contract disputes and regulatory matters.
of a hospital system in contract disputes.
• Defense of psychiatric hospitals in medical negligence actions.

University of Richmond School of Law, J.D., 1999
Cum Laude
The Order of the Barristers
Editorial Board, University of Richmond Law Review
Vice President, National Moot Team, Moot Court Board
National Negotiations Team, Client Counseling and Negotiations Board

University of Virginia, B.A., History, 1996

Virginia Super Lawyers
• Civil Litigation Defense, 2014-2023

Legal Elite (Virginia Business)
• Civil Litigation, 2010, 2015-2022
• Young Lawyer, 2009, 2011-2014

Virginia Rising Stars
• Civil Litigation Defense, 2007-2008, 2010-2013

SELECT PUBLICATIONS
• Co-author with Belinda D. Jones, "When Your Evidence Goes Up in Flames," American Bar Association's Mass Torts Litigation Committee publication, Mass Torts Litigation, Summer 2010

SELECT PRESENTATIONS
• Presenter, "A Rock and a Hard Place: Dilemmas That Face Young Lawyers,” Virginia Bar Association Summer Meeting CLE, 2012
• Panelist, "Demonstrative Evidence: What Kinds of Bells & Whistles are Jury-Appropriate?" American Bar Association Litigation Section's Aviation Litigation CLE, 2010
• Presenter, "Health Law Crimes: Prevention is the Best Medicine!" Virginia Bar Association Summer Meeting CLE, 2008