Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, September 30, 2016

Trial lawyer, litigator, Killian to serve UTK




Bill Killian and his wife, Donna, at the University of Tennessee Knoxville 2016 Alumni Association Awards Banquet Friday, Sept 16. - Photograph by David Laprad

Polsinelli shareholder Bill Killian has received an appointment to serve his alma mater as a member of the Board of Directors of the University of Tennessee Knoxville Alumni Association.

Killian is a well-known former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee who joined Polsinelli’s national Government Investigations and Compliance – Civil and Criminal Practice in December 2015. Polsinelli has more than 20 offices coast to coast; Killian serves clients nationally out of the firm’s Chattanooga and Nashville locations.

Killian earned a bachelor’s degree from UT-Knoxville and his jurisprudence doctorate from the UT-Knoxville College of Law.

“To be a Volunteer is special, and I’m grateful to be able to give back and help advocate for the University of Tennessee,” Killian said. “We’re working hard to help achieve the state’s goal of raising the percentage of college-educated Tennesseans.”

In 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Killian U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, where he was responsible for representing the United States and prosecuting federal criminal violations throughout his district of about 2.6 million residents across 41 counties.

“Bill has a decorated career and a passion for his university and community,” said Clay Jones, UT-Knoxville Alumni Association president. “His involvement will provide value to our strategic direction.”

As U.S. attorney, Killian mediated the largest civil healthcare settlement in the history of his district, and also negotiated a record criminal financial fraud settlement. Both resulted in the payment of tens of millions of dollars.

Prior to his work as U.S. attorney, Killian was a certified civil and criminal trial lawyer working at his law firm in Jasper, Tenn. Killian also served as city attorney for the Town of Monteagle, Tenn., for 21 years, and was the assistant district attorney for the Twelfth Judicial District in Tennessee.

Throughout his professional career, Killian has held various teaching positions with colleges and universities in east Tennessee and UT-Knoxville College of Law. He served in the United States Army and the Tennessee National Guard from December 1970 to January 1973.

Killian was selected for inclusion in Mid-South Super Lawyers 2016, and was previously nominated as Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by Southeast Tennessee Legal Services.

Source: Polsinelli