William M. Lorensen

Will Lorensen is a partner in our firm’s Charleston, West Virginia office who handles complex litigation involving class actions, governmental decision-making, and appellate advocacy.

Will has significant experience with mass litigation and class actions.  Will played a leadership role on a national counsel team in nationwide litigation. Will has also successfully defended multiple putative class actions—including institutional reform litigation and data privacy litigation—in both state and federal court.

Will regularly represents government entities and officials in litigation involving matters of public importance.  Will has, among other things, successfully defended the government’s administration of public health laws, education laws, federal grants, and economic development programs.

Will is also a member of the firm’s appellate team.  He has represented clients in state and federal appellate matters, including oral argument before the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

Before entering private practice, Will clerked for Judge Stephanie D. Thacker of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge Frank W. Volk of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He also served as Per Diem Staff Counsel to the West Virginia House of Delegates Judiciary Committee during the 2019 Legislative Session.

Will earned his law degree from the West Virginia University College of Law, where he served as an editor and published author of the West Virginia Law Review, and earned distinctions in Trial and Appellate Advocacy

Representative matters:

• Perry v. Marteney, 172 F.4th 314 (4th Cir. 2026) (defense of the constitutionality of West Virginia’s childhood vaccination law)
• Local2U (West Virginia) LLC v. Herridge et al., CC-20-2025-P-570 (Kan. Cir. Ct. 2026)  (defense of state administration of federal grant program)
• State ex rel. Ayers v. Harman, et al., CC-20-2026-C-493 (Kan Cir. Ct. 2026) (defense of candidate’s eligibility to run for State Senate)
• G.T. et al. v. Bd. of Educ. of the Cnty. of Kanawha, 117 F.4th 193 (4th Cir. 2024) (defense of putative class action challenging quality of special education policies)
• Bd. of Educ. of the Cnty. of Cabell v. The Cabell County Public Library, et al., 249 W. Va. 618 (W. Va. 2024) (challenge to unconstitutional legislation placing limitations on excess levies for education funding)
• DiGregorio v. Brownells, Inc., 2:23-cv-04557, Doc. 19 (E.D. Pa. 2024) (defense of putative data privacy class action regarding retailer’s use of internet cookies)

• Cnty. Comm’n of Fayette Cnty. v. Pardee and Curtin Realty, LLC, et al., No. 2:21-cv-307 (S.D.W. Va. 2023) (defense of complex environmental claims against current and former landowners)

• Hunter v. Fathom Realty, No 22-0230 (W. Va. 2023) (memorandum decision) (defense of real estate agent in commission dispute)
• Porter v. First Bankshares, Inc., No. 22-1685, Doc. 19 (4th Cir. 2022) (defense of employer’s administration of retirement program under ERISA)

• West Virginia Representative, Advisory Committee on Rules and Procedures for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (2024 – present)

• Selected to the West Virginia Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers, since 2024