William F. Ray was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1986. His experience spans from commercial litigation, complex litigation and banking, securities and financial services to life, health and disability insurance and ERISA and employee benefit claims. His cases of note include Raines v. Bottrell Ins. Agency, Inc., 992 So.2d 642, 2008 WL 1869290, 2008 Miss. App. LEXIS 274; 27 I.E.R. Cas. (BNA) 1350 (Miss. App. 2008); Estate of Bratton v. National Union Fire Ins. Co., 215 F.3d 516, 2000 U.S. App. LEXIS 14187, 24 Employee Benefits Cas. (BNA) 2510 (5th Cir. 2000);  Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional Wastewater Authority v. SLB, NASD case # 93-03411;  First Investors Corp. v. Rayner, 738 So. 2d 228, 1999 Miss. LEXIS 172, 38 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. 2d (Callaghan) 963, (Miss. 1999). William is listed in both The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA for Litigation.

Publications And Honors

• Identity Theft 2010: Civil Liabilities and Regulatory Red Flags study, DRI Strictly Retail seminar (2010)
• Punitive Damages: Strategies and Reality Checks, 2003-2006, DRI Life, Heath, Disability and ERISA Seminar (2006)
• Evaluating and Defending the Punitive Damages Case, DRI Life, Health, Disability and ERISA Seminar (2005)
• Moderator, panel of U.S. District Judges, Issues Affecting Removal in Mississippi: Remand and Abstention, University of Mississippi’s 19th Annual Federal Practice and Procedure Seminar (2004);
• Injunctions in Commercial Cases, DRI Business Litigation Seminar (1999);
• Moderator, Representing Businesses in High-Profile Litigation, DRI Annual Meeting (1999);
• Defending the Claim for Punitive Damages, DRI Business Torts Seminar (1998)
• Depositions and Ethics, Effective Deposition Practice, The University of Mississippi Center for Continuing Legal Education (1996)
• Defense Research Institute, Chair of the Business Litigation Committee (1997-1999)
  
• Defense Research Institute, Law Institute (2002-present)
  
• Defense Research Institute, Law Institute Chairman (2008-2010)
  
• NASD/FINRA Securities Arbitrator
  
• Appointed by Mississippi Secretary of State to panel charged with proposing revisions to Mississippi Uniform Securities Act;
  
• Chairman of subcommittee on fraud and civil liability (2008)
  
• Duke University Private Adjudication Center Mediator Training (2002)
  
• The Best Lawyers in America® (2009-2012, Commercial Litigation)
  
• Chambers USA—America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2009-2011, Litigation)
  
• Mid-South Super Lawyers® (2006-2011, Business Litigation, Employee Benefits/ERISA, Banking; 2011 Top 50 in Mississippi)
• 2012 Benchmark Litigation: Recommended Mississippi Litigation Lawyer

Education

• Bachelor's Degree: English, University of Mississippi, 1983
  
• Juris Doctor: University of Mississippi, 1986

Professional And Community Involvement

• Christ United Methodist Church