Bill joined Smith Haughey in 1975, practicing in the areas of health law, medical malpractice defense, general litigation, and the defense of professional liability actions. He served as CEO of the firm from 1991 to 1997 and as President of the Board of Directors from 1997 to 2009. He is currently Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee.

Bill has trained lawyers in advocacy skills for individual law firms in several states and has also trained litigation counsel for a number of national insurance carriers. In addition, he is very active in both his industry and community, having held a number of elected positions and memberships in legal and community organizations.

In the past 10 years, Bill has transitioned his practice and built a highly successful mediation/alternative dispute resolution practice on his solid reputation as a seasoned trial attorney and devotion to the legal community. A certified facilitative mediator by the U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan, he has served as mediator and case evaluator for more than 300 cases in the state and federal courts throughout Michigan. Representative cases include catastrophic personal injury, complex multi-party commercial litigation, and complex trademark and intellectual property matters.

Noteworthy

• AV Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell  
• Listed in Best Lawyers (1999-2012) -- Alternative Dispute Resolution, Legal Malpractice Law, Medical Malpractice Law & Personal Injury Litigation
• Listed as a "Michigan Super Lawyer" (2006-2011) -- Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Recipient, Hillman Award, presented by the Hillman Advocacy Institute, 2011 
• Recipient, Service and Mentoring Award, presented by the Young Lawyers Section of the Grand Rapids Bar Association, 1998
• Recipient, Boss of the Year Award, presented by the Grand Rapids Association of Legal Support Professionals

Education

• Denison University (B.A., 1969)
• University of Denver
• George Washington University (J.D., with honors, 1973)

Admitted to Practice

• State Bar of Michigan, 1973

Smith Haughey Publications

Type	Date	Title
Newsletter	11/1/2004	Legal Ease Fall 2004

News for William W. Jack, Jr.

12/16/2011
Smith Haughey Lawyers Names “Super Lawyers”

9/14/2011
Smith Haughey and its Attorneys Voted "Best" By Their Peers

1/27/2011
Bill Jack Receives First Annual Hillman Award

10/7/2010
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

8/30/2010
Smith Haughey and its Attorneys Voted "Best" By Their Peers

9/17/2009
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

8/11/2009
Smith Haughey and its Attorneys Voted "Best" by Their Peers

7/2/2009
Jack Receives the Michigan Association for Justice's Respected Advocate Award

11/17/2008
Smith Haughey Presented the President's Special Recognition Award by the MDTC

9/25/2008
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

9/19/2008
Smith Haughey and Attorneys Voted "Best" By Their Peers

9/24/2007
Smith Haughey Lawyers Named "Super Lawyers"

9/11/2007
Lawyers Voted "Best" By Their Peers

10/26/2006
SHRR Lawyers are Super

9/5/2006
SHRR Attorneys Voted Best

5/2/2006
Mr. Roegge Receives Highest Honor From the GR Bar Assoc.

12/13/2005
Officers Elected to Lead Smith Haughey

1/4/2005
Officers Elected to Lead SHRR

11/29/2004
Lawyers Voted Best by Their Peers

2/11/2004
SHRR Elects New Officers

1/1/2003
Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge Announces Election Results

8/28/2002
Bill Jack Honored by Michigan Defense Trial Counsel

12/7/2001
E. Thomas McCarthy and William W. Jack Honored

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association (Member, Sections on: Tort and Insurance Practice; Litigation)
• Federal Bar Association (President, West Michigan Chapter, 1991)
• State Bar of Michigan (Member, Sections on: Negligence Law; Law Practice Management)
• Grand Rapids Bar Association (President, 1998-1999)
• Member, American Board of Trial Advocates
• American Health Lawyers Association
• Fellow: American Bar Foundation
• Fellow: Michigan State Bar Foundation
• Michigan Defense Trial Counsel (President, 1987-1988; Member, Board of Directors, 1986--)
• Team Leader, University of Michigan Law School Trial Advocacy Course, 1986-1996
• Faculty, National Institute for Trial Advocacy, 1985—

Community Affiliations

• Board Member, Kids Food Basket 
• Vice President, Kent Medical Foundation
• Planned Parenthood Centers of West Michigan, Board of Directors, 1995-2000