Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas neut
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Overview

Bill Thomas

William S. “Bill” Thomas is a St. Louis-based lawyer, mediator, and arbitrator with more than three decades of experience resolving complex civil, commercial, and construction disputes throughout Missouri, Illinois, and beyond. He has tried more than 75 jury trials and handled hundreds of mediations, arbitrations, and negotiated resolutions. Bills’ practice has focused heavily on the representation of architects, engineers, surveyors, contractors, subcontractors, owners, developers, product manufacturers, insurers, and other parties involved in the design and construction process. He brings a seasoned trial lawyer’s understanding of risk, evidence, credibility, damages, insurance dynamics, and the practical business realities that often drive settlement to every mediation.

Bill’s construction background is particularly deep. He has represented design professionals and construction participants in matters involving professional liability, design defects, delay and disruption claims, construction defects, delegated design issues, contract interpretation, indemnity and risk transfer, payment disputes, lien claims, product failures, property damage, catastrophic loss, and insurance coverage-related issues. He is known for his ability to understand technical project details while keeping the parties focused on the practical path to resolution. Bill also serves on the American Arbitration Association’s Construction Panel and has chaired the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Construction Law Committee. This has given him a broad perspective on how sophisticated parties, insurers, lawyers, and construction professionals evaluate and resolve high-stakes disputes.

Bill combines preparation, credibility, patience, and directness as a mediator. He works to identify the real drivers of conflict, test the parties’ assumptions in a respectful but candid way, and help lawyers and clients move past positional bargaining toward durable resolution. His approach is particularly well-suited for construction and design disputes where technical facts, contractual risk allocation, insurance considerations, project relationships, and future business concerns all intersect. Bill’s goal is not simply to get cases settled, but to help parties close files intelligently, preserve value where possible, and move forward.

 

Admitted to Practice

  • Missouri, Illinois, and Colorado state courts
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Central, and Southern Districts of Illinois
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits

 

Education

  • University of Notre Dame – Notre Dame, Indiana
    Bachelor of Arts in Government, 1991

    • Certification: Hesburgh Program for Public Service
    • Summer intern, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General
    • Dorm president, Pangborn Hall (1989–1990)
    • Resident assistant, Pangborn Hall (1990–1991)
  • Saint Louis University School of Law – St. Louis, Missouri
    Juris Doctor, 1994

    • Graduated cum laude
    • Outstanding Academic Achievement Award Recipient
    • President, Phi Alpha Delta (1993–1994)
    • Articles editor, Saint Louis University Public Law Review

 

Honors & Awards

  • Eagle Scout.
  • AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
  • Avvo Rating of a perfect 10.
  • Graduate of the Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers’ Trial Academy, 1995.
  • Graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel’s Trial Academy, Boulder, Colorado, 1998.
  • Recognized by Missouri Lawyers Weekly as an “Up and Coming Lawyer” for 2007.
  • Selected as Missouri and Kansas “Super Lawyer,” 2008, 2013 – 2025, Construction Law.
  • Selected as a “Top 50” St. Louis Lawyer by Missouri and Kansas “Super Lawyer” Magazine, 2015, 2016.
  • Named in AM Best, as a “Best Lawyer in America” in Construction Law and Litigation – Construction, 2019-2026.
  • Selected by AM Best and peers as “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Construction in St. Louis, Missouri, 2022.
  • Selected by AM Best and peers as “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in St. Louis, Missouri, 2023.
  • Invited Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, 2023.
  • Named to Missouri Lawyers Media “Power List” of Construction Attorneys, (top 30 construction lawyers in the state), 2023 – 2026.
  • Selected by AM Best and peers as “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction Law in St. Louis, Missouri, 2025.
  • Named to Missouri Lawyers Media “Top 100 Power List,” recognizing the top 100 lawyers in the state, 2024, 2025.
  • Director, writer and performer in Lawyers Association’s Annual “Gridiron Show,” performer, 1994 – 2018, 2022 – present, writer, 1995 – present, assistant director, 1995 – 2003; director, 2004 – 2016.
  • Selected by the Board of Directors of the American Institute of Architects – Missouri to serve as their outside legal counsel.

 

Professional Affiliations

  • Panelist, American Arbitration Association, Roster of Construction Arbitrators and Mediators
  • Fellow, Construction Lawyers Society of America
    • Barrister, Order of Optimus (70+ cases tried to verdict)
    • Member, Trial Law Institute
    • Member, Diversity Law Institute
  • American Bar Association
    • ABA Forum on Construction Law
    • Member, Division 3: Design
    • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
    • 1996-1998, member at large, Young Lawyers Division
    • Construction Law Committee
    • Law Related Education Committee
  • Lawyers Association of St. Louis
    • 2001-2003, Executive Committee member
    • 2003, Treasurer
    • 2004, Secretary
    • 2005, Second vice president
    • 2006, First vice president
    • 2007, President-elect
    • 2008, President
  • Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers
    • Professional Liability Subcommittee
  • Defense Research Institute
    • Product Liability Committee
      • Building Products and Power Tools Specialized Litigation Groups
    • Construction Law Committee
      • Design Professional Subcommittee vice chair
      • Substantive Law Committee vice chair
    • Professional Liability Committee
      • Design Professional Subcommittee chair
    • Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee
      • Steering Committee, membership chair
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
      • Construction Law and Litigation Committee
        • Chair (two year term, 2024-2025)
        • Vice chair, Programs
        • Vice chair, Publications
      • Product Liability Committee
      • Trial Techniques and Tactics Committee
      • Professional Liability Committee
        • Vice chair, Architect and Engineer Liability
      • Missouri Bar Construction and Environmental Law Committees
    • The Harmonie Group (Former Firm Membership)
        • 2011, Board of Directors
        • 2014, Board of Directors
        • Litigation Practices Committee co-chairperson
    • International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization
    • American Society of Civil Engineers, associate member
    • American Institute of Architects, associate member
    • Illinois Association of Defense trial counsel
    • Association of Defense Trial Attorneys
    • Former Vistage Group member
    • Louis Engineer’s Club

Recent Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk in Missouri, Topic: “Managing Risk in the Practice of Engineering,” webinar, April 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk in Missouri, Topic: “Understanding How Contracts Can Shift, Reduce (or Increase) Risk,” webinar, April 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk in Missouri, Topic: “Complying with Missouri Laws and Regulations,” webinar, April 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk in Missouri, Topic: “Law of Engineering Malpractice,” webinar, April 2023.
  • Faculty member and presenter, Strafford National Seminars, “Defeating Reptilian Tactics in Construction Litigation – Responding to Reptile Techniques During Discovery, Deposition, Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Cross-Examination, Closing Argument,” eebinar, June 2023.
  • Presenter, [Client] Annual Claims Meeting, “Keeping Out of Harm’s Way – A Case Study and Lessons Learned for Handling Significant Injury Claims,” Lake Ozark, Missouri, October 2023.
  • Presenter, American Bar Association 2023 Construction Law Foundations, “Commonly Used Building Materials/Basic Structural Engineering Concepts,” St. Louis, Missouri, November 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Current Issues for Illinois Engineers, Topic: “Complying with Rules on Supervision, Responsible Charge and the Engineering Seal,” webinar, November 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Current Issues for Illinois Engineers, Topic: “Practical Ethics Workshop,” webinar, November 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Current Issues for Illinois Engineers, Topic: “Artificial Intelligence for Engineers,” webinar, November 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Current Issues for Illinois Engineers, Topic: “Recognizing Your Rights, Responsibilities and Risks Under Contracts,” webinar, November 2023.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Managing Engineering Liability and Risk, Topic: “Minimizing Risk by Maximizing Compliance with Rules of Professional Conduct,” Webinar, May 2024.
  • Faculty Member, National Business Institute (NBI) Seminars, Missouri Construction Law: Advanced Issues and Answers, Topic: “Ethics for Construction Attorneys,” webinar, June 2024.
  • Faculty Member, International Association of Defense Counsel, “Exposing the Cracks: Litigation Case Studies & Environmental Issues in Plastic Construction Materials,” webinar, June 2024.
  • Presenter, International Association of Defense Counsel, “From Contract Clause to Final Award: Best Practices in Selecting the Best Arbitrator to Hear Your Construction Disputes,” webinar, May 2025.
  • Presenter, St. Louis County, Missouri, “St. Louis County M/WBE Program: Avoiding Pitfalls and Red Flags in Subcontractor Agreements,” webinar, June 2025.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Topic: “Practical Ethics Workshop for Design Professionals,” (2 hours) webinar, July 2025.
  • Presenter, Half Moon Education Seminars, Topic: “Practical Ethics Workshop for Design Professionals (including use of AI),” (2 hours) webinar, December 2025.
  • Faculty member and presenter, Strafford/Barbri National Seminars, “Defeating Reptilian Tactics in Construction Litigation – Responding to Reptile Techniques During Discovery, Deposition, Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Cross-Examination, Closing Argument,” webinar, March 2026.

 

Recent Publications

  • Author, “Project Data Retention – Reexamining Dos and Don’ts” Modern Contractor Solutions, March 2023, p. 40.
  • Author, cover story, “Artificial Intelligence: The Arrival of AI Brings Caution for Use,” Modern Contractor Solutions, August 2023, p. 40.
  • Author, cover story, “Outsourcing: Panacea or Pariah? Outsourcing Demands Careful Consideration,” Modern Contractor Solutions, December 2023, p. 38.
  • Author, “Escalation Clauses: A Continued Necessity,” Modern Contractor Solutions, February 2024, p. 36.
  • Author, “Big Impacts: Foreseeability of Collisions Imposes Responsibility to Address Risks,” Modern Contractor Solutions, May 2024, p. 40.
  • Author, “Building a Greener Future on Unsolid Ground,” Insight – Best Lawyers, September 2024.
  • Author, “Widespread Failures: Inquiry into Fatal Fire Finds Fault with Construction,” Modern Contractor Solutions, October 2024, p. 46.
  • Author, “Labor Shortages Become Project Critical: Translating Market Volatility into Contract Language,” Modern Contractor Solutions, May 2025, p. 38.
  • Author, “When to Stop Digging: Risks Abound in Excavation Work,” Modern Contractor Solutions, September 2025, p. 34.
  • Author, “When ‘Smart’ Tools Make ‘Dumb’ Mistakes: AI Hidden Risks in Construction Documents,” Modern Contractor Solutions, December 2025, p. 32.
  • Author, “The Design-Build ‘Bridging Period’ – Can Early Pursuit Efforts Mean Project Risk,” Modern Contractor Solutions, April 2026, p. 30.

 

Rates and Fees

Rates - Bill Thomas

If you have questions regarding our rates and fees, please contact support@milesadr.com

St. Louis Rates
2 Party Case: $250 per party; per hour
3 Party Case: $200 per party; per hour
4 Party Case: $175 per party; per hour
5+ Party Case: Flat Rate Available Upon Request

Travel time and expenses, including meals and lodging, billed separately and split equally among the parties at the Neutral's hourly rate.
Pre/Post Consultation & Document Review: Hourly Mediation/Arbitration Rate

Mediation Admin Fees
St. Louis Mediation Admin Fee - $250 per party

MEDIATION CANCELLATION POLICY

Mediations cancelled within 10 days will be charged 2 hours of the neutral's hourly rate/or 500. However, all mediations cancelled, rescheduled, or settled within 24 hours of the mediation will be charged 4 hrs. of the neutral's hourly rate/or $1,800.00. Cancellation fees shall be sent to the cancelling party unless otherwise agreed to by the parties.