Atty. William K. Whitner

Atty. William K. Whitner

William K Whitner is a business litigator who handles complex civil corporate matters representing clients in state and federal courts and arbitrations around the country. His wide-ranging substantive experience includes contract disputes, business torts, franchise, antitrust and competition, and securities fraud class action related matters.

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Profile Summary

About William K. Whitner at a glance

William K. Whitner is a business, franchise, and litigation attorney based in Atlanta, Georgia, practicing at Paul Hastings LLP. Educated at Yale University (J.D., 1996). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Franchise Law (2026), and Lawyer of the Year — Franchise Law (Atlanta) (2018). Serands clients in Atlanta, GA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • William K Whitner is a business litigator who handles complex civil corporate matters representing clients in state and federal courts and arbitrations around the country
  • His wide-ranging substantive experience includes contract disputes, business torts, franchise, antitrust and competition, and securities fraud class action related matters
  • He serves as Global Vice-Chair of the Litigation Department, a team of nearly 300 lawyers across the world
  • Consistently recognized for his legal excellence, Mr. Whitner is routinely identified by Euromoney's Benchmark Litigation Guide as a Litigation Star, by Lawdragon as one of the 500 Leading Litigators in America, by Best Lawyers, by Super Lawyers as one of the “Top 100 Lawyers in Georgia”, by Franchise Times as a “Legal Eagle”, and by Savoy Magazine as one of “The Most Influential Lawyers” in America
  • He has an established record of success counseling clients on their most sensitive matters and successfully resolving disputes at every stage of litigation

Practice Areas Explained

William K. Whitner's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases William K. Whitner handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

William K. Whitner is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Georgia →

Franchise Law

William K. Whitner is one of 1,942 franchise attorneys indexed nationally. Browse franchise attorneys in Georgia →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

William K. Whitner is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Georgia →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Georgia

Practicing law in Georgia. Legal matters in Georgia are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Atlanta are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Georgia state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Georgia brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Georgia courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Georgia attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Atlanta or all attorneys in Georgia.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about William K. Whitner

Where is William K. Whitner's law office located?
William K. Whitner's law practice is located in Atlanta, Georgia. The firm is Paul Hastings LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does William K. Whitner handle?
William K. Whitner focuses on business, franchise, litigation. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Georgia.
Where did William K. Whitner go to law school?
William K. Whitner earned their education at (J.D., 1996).
How can I contact William K. Whitner for a consultation?
You can contact William K. Whitner directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has William K. Whitner received?
William K. Whitner's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Franchise Law; Lawyer of the Year — Franchise Law (Atlanta); Lawyer of the Year — Franchise Law (Atlanta).

Education

J.D.
Yale University
- 1996

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Franchise Law
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Franchise Law (Atlanta)
- 2018
Lawyer of the Year — Franchise Law (Atlanta)
- 2014

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