William J. Hochul, Jr.
Brings extensive experience as a U.S. Attorney, federal prosecutor and corporate general counsel to his work representing clients in a range of white collar matters.
Bill advises clients on complex government and internal investigations, crisis management, communications strategy, risk mitigation and other matters. His work is informed by his wide-ranging experience as a United States Attorney, federal prosecutor, corporate general counsel and board member.
Before joining Davis Polk, Bill spent nearly 30 years with two different U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, including as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York. As an AUSA, he conducted well over 50 jury trials. His work included high-profile cases in areas including international terrorism, labor racketeering, organized crime, public corruption, money laundering and cross-border smuggling.
Bill also spent several years as general counsel of a highly diversified multinational, privately held corporation. He is a frequent lecturer and has been a law school adjunct professor. Bill has also served as a director on multiple boards, including a large healthcare provider.
Experience highlights
Prior to joining Davis Polk, Bill’s work at the DOJ included conducting or overseeing:
- Prosecution of hundreds of violent gang members and narcotics traffickers through the innovative use of sophisticated investigative and prosecutive techniques, including the transformative use of the federal racketeering statutes to dismantle entire criminal organizations
- Multiple terrorism and threat cases, including the successful prosecutions of the first known Americans to train with al Qaeda post-9/11, terrorist recruiters and terrorist financiers
- Major environmental cases, including one of the first prosecutions of the federal Clean Air Act
- Public corruption investigations involving numerous public officials from every branch of government, including law enforcement officers
- The investigation and prosecution of healthcare professionals, particularly those involved in the opiate industry
Bill’s work as a general counsel involved strategic advice and guidance for one of the world’s largest, multi-billion-dollar hospitality enterprises with global operations in multiple sectors, including restaurants, lodging, sports and entertainment and the highly regulated gaming industry. His portfolio included oversight of commercial transactions, litigation, acquisitions and divestitures, crisis management, compliance and security.
Insights
News
Credentials
Recognition
Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Service, 2003
Partnership for Public Service – Service to America Award, 2003
Education
- cum laude
Professional history
- Counsel, Davis Polk, 2024-present
- Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Delaware North Companies, 2016-2023
- U.S. Department of Justice, 1987-2016
- U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, 2010-2016
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, Western District of New York, 1991-2010
- Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of Columbia, 1987-1991
Qualifications and admissions
- District of Columbia
- State of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit
- U.S. District Court, W.D. New York