William R. Burns

TELEPHONE: 732-475-4740 | EMAIL ME

William Burns is a partner and the managing attorney of the Hartman Duff, LLC, Toms River office.  William focuses on his client’s objectives and works tirelessly to find creative solutions to complex problems in an effort to achieve a positive outcome for his clients. William not only provides strategic advice and counseling, but he also works directly with his clients to implement the appropriate plan and action for achieving their goals, whether in complicated civil litigation, business issues/disputes, or crisis management. 

A major part of his success is William’ crisis response mindset.  The goal of any crisis management is to be well prepared to ensure a rapid and consistent response. William provides his clients with advice relating to all State and Federal laws, regulations, and orders that have the potential to impact them as business owners, employers, family members, or individuals. William has successfully represented private and public sector clients before a wide array of Federal, State, and local courts agencies, commissions, and boards. 

William is an active member of the community serving as an EMT and Vice President of the Lavallette Volunteer First Aid Squad, Executive Vice President of the West Point Island Civic Association, and President of the LRRC. William is also an advocate for pediatric cancer awareness and research, a member of the Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2), and one of the founders of the #SaveJosh campaign.

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• School / Education Law
• Municipal / Public Entity Law
• Crisis Management
• Labor and Employment

Education

• University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
  • J.D. degree, 2001
  • Cali Award of Academic Excellence in Lawyering Skills
• Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA
  • B.A. degree, Political Science, 1998

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey (2001)
• New York (2002)
• United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (2001)
• United States Court of Appeals for Second Circuit (2015)
• United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (2016)
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (2016)

Memberships

• NJ Institute of Local Government Attorney
• West Point Island Civic Association
• Lavallette Volunteer First Aid Squad
• Ocean County Bar Association 
• New Jersey State Bar Association