Butzel Long adds attorney specializing in financial litigation and enforcement actions

William J. Kraus represents individuals and businesses involved in governmental and regulatory investigations

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – William J. Kraus has joined Butzel Long as a shareholder in the firm’s Ann Arbor, Mich. office. He concentrates his practice on disputes relating to the financial industry, with a particular focus on legal and regulatory issues related to digital currencies (e.g., Bitcoin) and blockchain technology.

Kraus represents individuals and businesses involved in governmental and regulatory investigations, U.S. state and federal litigation, and alternative dispute resolution.

Notably, he represents diverse parties before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), National Futures Association (NFA), CME Group Market Regulation; and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).

Additionally, Kraus assists clients with all aspects of litigation in state and federal forums, and has experience practicing before the Northern District of Illinois and Circuit Court of Cook County; Southern District of New York; Eastern District of Michigan; the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation; Courts of Appeals for the Second, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits; and the U.S. Supreme Court. He also has a successful record of resolving disputes before the American Arbitration Association and JAMS, as well as before NFA and FINRA hearing panels.

Prior to joining Butzel Long, Kraus was an attorney in the Chicago office of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, where he focused on financial litigation and enforcement actions. 

He continues to maintain an active pro bono practice focusing on fair housing and civil rights litigation, and was recognized by the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. as “not only a skilled attorney, but a valued ally in affirmatively furthering fair housing and increasing awareness of fair housing rights and responsibilities.”

Kraus is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 2009) and the University of Michigan (B.A., 2005).  While attending law school, he was selected by a faculty panel for placement at the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland, where he worked to further the participation of developing nations in the World Trade Organization through litigation and dispute settlement training.