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William D. Wright

Partner


Philadelphia/Washington, D.C.

t:610.230.2137

f:610.230.2151

Email

Service Focus

  • Employee Benefits and Tax
  • International
  • Global Mobility
  • Reductions in Force (RIFs)
  • Workplace Investigations

Industry Focus

  • Energy
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Overview
Credentials
Recognitions
Affiliations
Insights

Overview

Bill Wright is a partner in the Philadelphia office and the Washington, D.C. office and is the co-chair of the firm's International Practice Group. He also is Head of Global Strategies for the firm. Bill is a CEDR Accredited Mediator and counsels employers on various global employment, compensation and benefit issues related to employees abroad, as well as foreign nationals working in the U.S. and the employment of U.S. permanent residents and citizens abroad. Bill has worked with compliance issues related to hiring, retention and separation of employees in a multitude of jurisdictions. His experience with global employment issues has helped him assist our clients with international operations on all seven continents, including Antarctica. Bill has assisted clients with the implementation of strategic planning and policy development with respect to global HR practices and policies. He has also assisted clients with the management of litigation and employment controversy matters in numerous international jurisdictions. Bill has also counseled clients based outside the United States with the special considerations that are required when complying with U.S. employment and employee benefit rules and regulations. Bill regularly becomes involved with resolving questions related to privacy and data protection issues.

On the domestic front, Bill started his career as an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) attorney and he remains an active member of the firm's Employee Benefits Practice Group. He is familiar with all aspects of employee benefits, including the concerns unique to pension and welfare plans sponsored by state and local government entities, international and cross-border issues related to employee benefits and executive compensation, employee benefit plans sponsored by nonprofit organizations, private health and welfare benefit plans, private defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans and Taft-Hartley retirement and welfare funds. In addition, Bill has assisted clients with the challenges related to recent changes in the areas of group health insurance, health reform and welfare plan compliance issues.

Bill has been a speaker on global employment issues in Europe, Canada and South America. He has contributed employee benefits-related articles to the International Pension Lawyer, Metropolitan Corporate Counsel and other publications. He has participated in several employee benefits related programs, including those offered by the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association's Section on International Law, the Law Society of England & Wales, Society of Human Resources Management, and the Association of Corporate Counsel National Conference, as well as many other programs sponsored by business organizations and local bar associations. Bill also serves on the Board of Directors of the International Employers Forum and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation.

Credentials

Education

  • LL.M., 1995, Georgetown University
  • J.D., 1993, Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School
  • B.A., 1987, Villanova University

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • Pennsylvania

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Tax Court

Recognitions

  • Chambers USA, Labor & Employment (2021 - 2024)

Affiliations

Professional Activities

Bill is a founding board member of the International Employers Forum, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing global employment issues. Bill also serves in various leadership roles in the International Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). He is an active participant in the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association (IPEBLA) and XBHR, a global forum for cross-border human resource experts. 

  • Member, Board of Directors, Blue White Scholarship Foundation (Villanova University)
  • Member, St. Andrew’s Society of Philadelphia
  • Board Member, British American Business Council of Greater Philadelphia

Community Activities

Bill has also served on the Board of Directors of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia and Canine Partners for life, both of which are Philadelphia-area nonprofit organizations. He is also Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of The Pennsylvania Society and Royal Geographical Society in London.

Insights

  • News

    05/13/25

    International Media Outlets Cover the Firm’s Launch in Tokyo

    John M. Polson, William D. Wright, Nan Sato, Shikun Gao, Takanori Hirai, Wataru Miyajima, Ryosuke Ogino, Noriyuki Takase, Toyokazu Yamaguchi

    Read more 

  • News

    05/08/25

    Fisher Phillips Continues International Expansion with Office in Tokyo

    John M. Polson, William D. Wright, Nan Sato, Shikun Gao, Takanori Hirai, Wataru Miyajima, Ryosuke Ogino, Noriyuki Takase, Toyokazu Yamaguchi

    Read more 

  • Event

    Monday, March 3, 2025 – Thursday, March 6, 2025

    FP PeopleLaw 2025

    John M. Polson, Sheldon J. Blumling, Benjamin M. Ebbink, Rick Grimaldi, William D. Wright

    Read more 

  • Insights

    01/15/25

    FP’s Top International Employment Law Predictions for 2025

    Nan Sato, William D. Wright

    Read more 

  • Event

    01/14/25

    Building and Managing Remote Global Teams

    William D. Wright, Nan Sato

    Read more 

  • Event

    01/09/25

    The Labor and Employment Implications in Mexico of Trump's Proposed Tariffs

    William D. Wright, Germán de la Garza De Vecchi

    Read more 

  • Event

    10/07/24

    Global Remote Work: Risks, Rewards and Best Practices

    Nan Sato, William D. Wright

    Read more 

  • News

    09/16/24

    Fisher Phillips Expands International Offerings with Global Mobility Team

    Nan Sato, William D. Wright, Jocelyn Campanaro

    Read more 

  • News

    07/23/24

    Republished Insight: How to Support LGBTQ+ Employees on International Business Trips

    Nazanin Afshar, Nan Sato, William D. Wright

    Read more 

  • Event

    06/25/24

    Global Pay Equity: A Tour Around The World

    William D. Wright

    Read more 

View All 

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