SOWF Ambassadors

William L. Thomas is counsel and head of the Environment, Health & Safety Practice of Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP, a global law firm providing leading-edge legal solutions on complex, business critical issues spanning markets and industries. Headquartered in New York City, the firm maintains a coast-to-coast U.S. presence and offices in major business centers throughout Europe. Bill joined Willkie’s Washington, D.C. office following stints at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Clifford Chance, and is highly regarded nationally and internationally for his expertise advising companies, financiers, developers and other enterprises on all aspects of environmental law, including issues arising in connection with M&A strategic and private equity transactions, infrastructure and real estate projects, formulation of management and legal compliance strategy, and litigation and disputes involving environmental, health and safety matters.

Bill is a Fellow of both the American College of Environmental Lawyers (ACOEL) and the American Bar Foundation and completed a three-year term on the ACOEL Board of Regents in 2023. He is also a member of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Sections on Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER) and International Law (SIL), having previously served on the governing Council for both sections, as well as past Chair of the International Environmental Law committees of both SEER and SIL. He also previously served as Vice Chair of the Environmental, Health and Safety Law Committee of the International Bar Association, Vice President of the Environmental Law Protection Law Committee of the Inter-American Bar Association, and Vice Chair of the Environmental Law Committee of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association, and Director of The Conference Board’s Environmental, Health & Safety Legal Council. Other current appointments include service on the boards of directors of various non-profit organizations, as well service on the Leadership Council of the Environmental Law Institute.

Bill has long been a passionate supporter of the U.S. special operations community, including nonprofits and other organizations dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of the fallen and assisting Gold Star survivors, through Operation Hawkeye, established by his son, Will, following the shooting down of a U.S. Army CH-47D Chinook helicopter, call sign “Extortion 17” in 2011. He also serves as advisor and pro bono counsel to several nonprofits making an impact in the lives of special operators and their loved ones, including the Marine Reconnaissance Foundation, Ranger Legacy Foundation, Special Forces Trust, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and The Unquiet Professional, among others.

Bill graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College, holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and is a member of the bars of the State of New York and the District of Columbia.