William La Salle III, J.D.
THE GLOW IN THE DARK LAWYER™
William La Salle III, Esq. is the Glow in the Dark Lawyer™!
Background
Will is originally from Philadelphia, PA. Intending to become an attorney following high school, the events of 9/11 led Will to pause his collegiate career in favor of enlisted service in the U.S. Navy. For just over 9 years, Will worked as a Nuclear Mechanical Operator. Will served aboard two nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. He served first aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), deploying in 2004 in support of the Global War on Terrorism, as well as sailing to the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 as part of relief efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Following his tour on CVN 75, Will served as a Plankowner (a member of the initial crew) of USS George HW Bush, the nation’s final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. While in the Navy, Will was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and Sea Service Ribbon with bronze star. While serving aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), the Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier earned two Battle “E” awards.
As a lawyer and as an engineering technologist, Will is inspired by the technical principles instilled in him by the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Admiral Rickover’s innovative engineering philosophy. Following his military service, Will continued to advance his engineering acumen. He first worked as a control room operator and maintenance technician for a combined cycle (HRSG) peaking power plant. Although his collegiate endeavors began with political science in mind, Will ultimately completed his undergraduate in Applied Science and Technology, focusing on Nuclear Energy Engineering Technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree while working as a Nuclear Inactivation Test Engineer for Newport News Shipbuilding. Alongside his sailor counterparts, Will supervised defueling plant operations during the decommissioning of ex-USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
Will’s career as in nuclear power was paused when his wife, an enlisted U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, transitioned from precommissioning duty aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and was assigned to instructor duty at the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Training Command in Charleston, SC. Will’s wife blessed him with two children while she taught reactor theory to the U.S. Navy’s next generation of nuclear operators. During this time, Will attended Charleston School of Law and graduated cum laude (22 out of 217) and with honors in Maritime Law. While in law school, Will volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and as a student guardianship and conservatorship volunteer for the Charleston County Probate Court under the supervision of the Honorable Irvin G. Condon. In addition to maintaining his high academic standing and pursuit of volunteer opportunities in the Lowcountry, Will also studied for and passed the Patent Bar Exam and was registered as an agent with the USPTO.
Will’s professional interests span a vast spectrum, not only within the realm of engineering but also within the law. Proficient in mechanical, electrical, and electronic engineering as well as computer science, Will is an adept Intellectual Property attorney and can assist in all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret prosecution and defense. Will has appeared as counsel of record in federal copyright infringement matters with potential for liability valued at over $2.3 million. He has also assisted clients protect their creative and scientific endeavors by obtaining patent, trademark, and copyright registrations for clients. Will’s intellectual property clients are served in proud association with Thrive IP®.
The son of a union business agent and labor advocate, Will is also highly interested in all forms alternative dispute resolution. He has been named to FINRA®’s panel of public arbitrators and has qualified to sit as arbitration panel chair. When not acting as a neutral, Will offers his services as counsel for parties engaged in arbitration or mediation of commercial and employment disputes.
Will is also highly adept in the law of the sea and practices as a maritime attorney. Will’s admiralty practice extends to all aspects of maritime logistics and vessel ownership, including insurance, vessel arrest, salvage, and maritime injury claims (including Jones Act and Longshore and Harbor Workers Act claimants and defendants).
Will is also highly adept in other areas of the law, including bankruptcy, military and veteran law (including VA claims), regulatory and administrative law, and Native American (Tribal) Law.
Whether you want to advance and protect or defend your intellectual property; arrest a vessel and recover on a lien; make a claim under the Longshore and Harbor Workers Act for an injury at a shipyard or on an oil rig; plan to form a new business; have a regulatory or utility issue; need to defend or challenge a professional license; have an issue with a tribal casino; want to hunt tribal lands; fish or navigate tribal waters; want to upgrade a military discharge; or are seeking an advocate for a labor dispute, The Glow In The Dark Lawyer™ is ready to represent you.
Professional Honors & Activities
Registered Patent Attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Bachelor of Science, Applied Science and Technology (focus on Nuclear Energy Engineering Technologies)
MicroBachelors® NYUx – Computer Science Fundamentals
Former Navy Nuclear Mechanical Operator and Nuclear Maintenance Planner (A4W)
Former Control Room Operator, York Energy Center I (Calpine, LLC)
Former Nuclear Shift Test Engineer (A2W) (Newport News Shipbuilding)
Member, American Nuclear Society
Member, Southeastern Admiralty Law Institute
Member, Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
Member, Military Spouse J.D. Network
Member, Physicists Coalition for Nuclear Threat Reduction
Bar Associations
International Bar Association
American Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
AIPLA
Virginia State Bar
Virginia Bar Association
Richmond Bar Association
Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar
Licenses & Bar Admissions
Commonwealth of Virginia (# 95,857)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (# 78,869)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Eastern District of Virginia
EDVA – Bankruptcy Division
Western District of Virginia