William R. Scherer, Jr.
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Conrad & Scherer, LLP
Practice areas: Business Litigation, Class Action & Mass Torts, Construction Litigation; view more
Licensed in Florida since: 1973
Education: Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2018, 2020 - 2026 Call today:
954-546-7822
Conrad & Scherer, LLP
614 S Federal HwyFort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Visit website
William R. Scherer, Jr. is the founding partner of Conrad & Scherer, a premier litigation firm with offices in Fort Lauderdale, North Carolina, and Ecuador. With a legal career spanning over five decades, Scherer has built a reputation as a tireless advocate for his clients and a leader in high-stakes litigation.
In 2025, Scherer led a trial team in Gopher v. Wells Fargo, where Broward County jurors returned the largest jury verdict in the county’s history, awarding approximately $826 million for Wells Fargo’s mismanagement of a trust established for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s children. The court later entered an amended judgment exceeding $1.25 billion with prejudgment interest. This landmark case, representing approximately 2,000 children of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, exposed significant breaches of fiduciary duty and intentional gross misconduct by Wells Fargo, resulting in a resounding victory for the tribe’s minors. Scherer’s leadership was critical in uncovering years of financial mismanagement, setting a powerful precedent for accountability in the financial industry.
Scherer also led the initial lawsuits against Chiquita Brands International for financing Colombian paramilitary groups responsible for human rights abuses, securing substantial compensation for the families of victims and establishing a significant precedent for corporate responsibility. He has represented major healthcare organizations in litigation against opioid manufacturers, addressing one of today’s most urgent public health crises.
Throughout his career, Scherer has handled some of the nation’s most high-profile cases, including representing President George W. Bush in the 2000 Broward County recount and leading the legal fight for victims of the multi-billion-dollar Scott Rothstein Ponzi scheme, one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history.
Scherer has been consistently recognized for his impact in the legal community, including listings in Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers®, and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. He holds a Juris Doctor from Indiana University and a Bachelor’s from Franklin College of Indiana.
Scherer and his wife, Anne, are deeply involved in the South Florida community, supporting organizations like the Broward Center for the Arts, NSU College of Law, and St. Anthony’s Foundation for Education.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Construction Litigation: Business, Land Use/Zoning, Professional Liability: PlaintiffFocus areas
Class Actions, Construction Defects, Professional Malpractice - Other
- 40% Business Litigation
- 20% Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff
- 20% Construction Litigation: Business
- 10% Land Use/Zoning
- 10% Professional Liability: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 1973, Florida
Professional Webpage: https://www.conradscherer.com/attorneys/william-r-scherer-jr...
Bar / Professional Activity
- American Board of Trial Advocates, Member/“Advocate", 1989 - present , 2020
- Broward Workshop, Board Member, 2002 - 2012, 2012
- Judicial Nominating Commission, 17th Circuit, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Martinez, Governor Bush, and Governor Scott) 1987 - 1999, 2001 - 2007, 2011 - 2012, 2012
- Broward County Ethics Commission, 2009 - 2010, 2010
- City of Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority, Board Member, 1989 - 1996 and 2003 - 2010, 2010
- Franklin College Board of Trustees, 2000 - 2008, 2008
- Chair, Judicial Nominating Commission, 17th Circuit, 2006
- Judicial Nominating Commission, Fourth District Court of Appeal, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Bush), 1999 - 2003, 2003
- Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Interim General Counsel, Gubernatorial Appointee (Governor Bush), 2000
- Florida Lawyers for Bush, Broward and Palm Beach County Chair, 1998 - 2000, 2000
- Florida Lawyers for Bush, Statewide Co-Chair, 1998 - 2000, 2000
- Federal Bar, Grievance Panel for the Southern District of Florida, 1995 - 1997, 1997
- Florida Patient Compensation Fund, Board of Directors, 1992
- Federal Bar Association, Broward County Chapter, Past President, 1982 - 1983, 1983
Videos
- We celebrate William "Bill" R. Scherer as he marks 50 years as an attorney. Braulio interviews Bill and guest Steve Osber and takes us down the legal memory lane of Broward County and Florida. Bill is an iconic lawyer with many legal accomplishments. According to Conrad Scherer website: "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." Further, "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." Just to name a few of Bill's accomplishments., Bill Scherer 50th Anniversary: A Legal Legacy, 2024
- Conrad & Scherer, LLP, Legal Philosophy, 2018
- Conrad & Scherer, LLP, A Team Approach, 2018
- Conrad & Scherer, LLP, Commitment to the Community, 2018
Honors
- Best Lawyers, www.bestlawyers.com, 2026
- Recognized as one of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s “Top People to Know” in Florida Trend’s January 2025 Issue, Florida Trends, 2025
- Voted the 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions in Plaintiffs in Fort Lauderdale, Lawyer of the Year, www.bestlawyer.com, 2025
- Commercial Litigation Land Use and Zoning Law Legal Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Best Lawyers, bestlawyers.com, 2025
- Commercial Litigation Land Use and Zoning Law Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Recognized in Best Lawyers, https://www.bestlawyers.com/lawyers/william-r-bill-scherer-jr/224684, 2024
- AV® Preeminent™ Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, since 1987
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Plaintiffs for The Best Lawyers in America©, 2022, Best Lawyers
- Recognized as a Best Lawyer in Commercial Litigation for The Best Lawyers in America©, 2018-2022, Best Lawyers
- Listed in Super Lawyers® "Super Lawyer", 2006-2018, 2020-2022, https://www.superlawyers.com/
- Listed in South Florida Legal Guide, “Top Lawyer”, 2006-2021
- Recognized as an “Apogee Award Honoree” by South Florida Business & Wealth, 2020
- Listed in Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, “Florida Legal Elite”, 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2020
- Listed as one of the “FACES of Fort Lauderdale” in Complex Commercial Litigation by Fort Lauderdale Illustrated, 2019-2020
- Recognized as an "Ultimate CEO" by the South Florida Business Journal, 2013
- Recognized as "Most Effective Lawyer" by the Daily Business Review, 2005 and 2012
- Listed in VerdictSearch’s, “Top 100 Verdicts of 2005”, 2005
- Profiled as a “Political Power Broker” by Gold Coast Magazine, April 2002
- 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, May/June 2002
Educational Background
- School of Law at Indiana University, Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 1973
- Franklin College of Indiana, Bachelor of Science, 1969
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- C5’s 3rd Forum “Fraud, Asset Tracing and Recovery,” Miami Beach, Florida, “Miami Vice—Unraveling the $1.2 Billion Rothstein Ponzi Scheme,” October, Speaker, “Miami Vice—Unraveling the $1.2 Billion Rothstein Ponzi Scheme,”, C5’s 3rd Forum “Fraud, Asset Tracing and Recovery,” Miami Beach, Florida, 2012
- American Board of Trial Advocates and the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of ABOTA “Masters In Opening Statements and Closing Arguments”, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, May , Speaker, “Masters In Opening Statements and Closing Arguments”, American Board of Trial Advocates and the Fort Lauderdale Chapter of ABOTA, 2011
- BankAtlantic Attorney Seminar, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, “Unraveling a Ponzi Scheme,” October, Speaker, “Unraveling a Ponzi Scheme”, BankAtlantic Attorney Seminar, 2010
- Boys and Girls Club of Broward County Men’s Luncheon, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, “The Ponzi in its Aftermath,” April, Featured Speaker, “The Ponzi in its Aftermath”, Boys and Girls Club of Broward County Men’s Luncheon, 2010
- Medicaid Reform – A Call to Action, South Florida Hospital News, March, Editorial, Medicaid Reform – A Call to Action, South Florida Hospital News, 2005
- Vital Reforms – Why Everyone Needs to Pay Attention to Proposed Medicaid Reforms, Smart Business – Broward/Palm Beach, March at 24, Editorial, Vital Reforms – Why Everyone Needs to Pay Attention to Proposed Medicaid Reforms, Smart Business, 2005
- Directors and Officers Face Liability – Check Your D&O Insurance Now, Smart Business – Broward/Palm Beach, April at 14, Editorial, Directors and Officers Face Liability – Check Your D&O Insurance Now, Smart Business, 2005
- Editorial, Recommended Reforms Must Pass in Session, South Fla. Sun Sentinel, June at 21A, Editorial, Recommended Reforms Must Pass in Session, South Fla. Sun Sentinel, 2003
- Commercial Fraud Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Land Use Litigation
- Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
- Professional Negligence & Malpractice
Office location for William R. Scherer, Jr.
614 S Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
Phone: 954-546-7822
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2006 - 2018, 2020 - 2026
