William R. Scherer co-founded the firm in 1974 with his late partner Rex Conrad. Over the past almost four decades, Mr. Scherer has grown Conrad & Scherer into one of Florida’s leading law firms and has expanded the firm’s presence with offices in New York, New York, Brevard, North Carolina, and Quito, Ecuador.
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell® since 1987, Mr. Scherer is a seasoned trial attorney. He has litigated over 100 trials in both jury and non-jury cases before state, appellate, and federal courts. Mr. Scherer’s cases and legal accomplishments have received coverage by major television networks such as CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and FNN and national and local newspapers such as The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, South Florida Business Journal, the Daily Business Review, the Sun-Sentinel and the Miami Herald. Mr. Scherer was lead counsel for victims of the infamous multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Scott Rothstein. Notably, Mr. Scherer led his complex litigation team and achieved an historic settlement returning to investors what is said to be the highest percentages of recovery for victims of a Ponzi scheme. News outlets described the settlement as a “huge victory” and a “landmark” lawsuit.
In 2005, Mr. Scherer served as plaintiff’s counsel in a high-profile commercial lawsuit involving the sale of a health insurance company and obtained, by jury verdict, one of the largest damage awards in Broward County history.
During the historical 2000 Presidential Election Litigation in Florida, Mr. Scherer led a team of attorneys representing President George W. Bush and personally represented the President in the Broward County recount.
In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Scherer has also served as counsel to various government entities. Mr. Scherer served as General Counsel to the North Broward Hospital District, one of the largest public health care providers in the nation. As General Counsel for the Hospital District, he supervised teams of legal experts in healthcare and malpractice law, and was responsible for all trials and legal actions taken by or against the Hospital District.
Mr. Scherer began his legal career as a law clerk to the Indiana Supreme Court and the Honorable Charles Fulton, Former Chief of the United States District Court for the South District of Florida.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT / AFFILIATIONS
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member/“Advocate”
- Broward Workshop, Board Member
- Broward County Ethics Commission
- City of Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, Board Member
- Franklin College Board of Trustees
- Judicial Nominating Commission for the Seventeenth Circuit, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Martinez, Governor Bush and Governor Scott)
- Judicial Nominating Commission for the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Bush)
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Interim General Counsel, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Bush)
- Florida Lawyers for Bush, Statewide Co-Chair
- Florida Lawyers for Bush, Broward and Palm Beach County Chair
- Federal Bar, Grievance Panel for the Southern District of Florida
- Florida Patient Compensation Fund, Board of Directors
- Federal Bar Association, Broward County Chapter, Past President
AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Commercial Litigation for The Best Lawyers in America©, 2018 – 2023
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Plaintiffs for The Best Lawyers in America©, 2022-2023
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning Law for The Best Lawyers in America©, 2023
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, since 1987
- Listed in Super Lawyers®, “Super Lawyer”, 2006 – 2018, 2020 – 2022
- Selected as a “Top Lawyer” by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated Magazine for Business Litigation & Commercial Litigation, 2021
- Selected as a “Top Lawyer” by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated Magazine for Mass Tort Litigation & Class Action, 2020 – 2021
- Listed in South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyer” for Commercial Litigation, 2006 – 2021
- Listed as one of the “FACES of Fort Lauderdale” in High-Stakes Litigation by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated Magazine, 2021
- Listed in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, “Florida Legal Elite”, 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2020
- Recognized as an “Apogee Award Honoree” by South Florida Business & Wealth, 2020
- Listed as one of the “FACES of Fort Lauderdale” in Complex Commercial Litigation by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated Magazine, 2019 – 2020
- Recognized as an “Ultimate CEO” by the South Florida Business Journal, 2013
- Listed in VerdictSearch’s, “Top 100 Verdicts of 2005”, 2005
- Recognized as “Most Effective Lawyer” by the Daily Business Review, 2005 and 2012
- Profiled as a “Power Broker” by the Sun-Sentinel Newspaper, 2002
- Listed as one of “The 50 Most Powerful People in Broward County” by Gold Coast Magazine, 2002
- Profiled as a “Political Power Broker” by Gold Coast Magazine, 2002
PUBLICATIONS/TEACHING & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
- C5’s 3rd Forum “Fraud, Asset Tracing and Recovery,” Miami Beach, Florida, Speaker, “Miami Vice—Unraveling the $1.2 Billion Rothstein Ponzi Scheme,” October 2012
- American Board of Trial Advocates and the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of ABOTA “Masters In Opening Statements and Closing Arguments”, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Speaker, May 2011
- BankAtlantic Attorney Seminar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Speaker, “Unraveling a Ponzi Scheme,” October 2010
- Boys and Girls Club of Broward County Men’s Luncheon, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Featured Speaker, “The Ponzi in its Aftermath,” April 2010
- William R. Scherer Jr., Directors and Officers Face Liability – Check Your D&O Insurance Now, Smart Business – Broward/Palm Beach, April 2005 at 14.
- William R. Scherer Jr., Vital Reforms – Why Everyone Needs to Pay Attention to Proposed Medicaid Reforms, Smart Business – Broward/Palm Beach, March 2005, at 24.
- William R. Scherer, Jr., Medicaid Reform – A Call to Action, South Florida Hospital News, March 2005.
- William R. Scherer Jr., Editorial, Recommended Reforms Must Pass in Session, South Fla. Sun Sentinel, June 16, 2003, at 21A.
- William R. Scherer Jr., Sovereign Immunity in Indiana- Requiem 6 Ind. L. Rev. 92 (1972).
