William J. Hazzard, Of Counsel

William J. (“Bill”) Hazzard, an “AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated” by Martindale-Hubbell® attorney, is of counsel at Coleman, Taylor, Klaus, Doupé, Diaz & Torrez, PA. in Naples, Florida. In January, 2018 Bill shifted the primary focus of his practice to mediation and arbitration through which he frequently helps other attorneys and their clients find creative solutions to resolve disputes.  As a Florida Supreme Court Circuit Civil Mediator since 2010 and a qualified arbitrator since 2012, he is available to arbitrate or mediate disputes throughout the state of Florida. Although now focused on mediation and arbitration, Bill can provide litigation and business advice to selected clients in his of counsel role at the firm. Bill is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit and all Florida state courts.   

Bill is the author of “The Effect of Inadvertent Disclosure of Confidential Communication on the Attorney Client Privilege”, 17 Trial Advocate Quarterly 1, Spring, 1997 “Professional Responsibility: Duties Owed to an Unrepresented Party”, 44 Fl. L. Rev. 3, July 1992; and “Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave When First We Practice to Deceive Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Enhancing Sentences for Defendant Perjury at Trial”, 44 Fl. L. Rev. 4, September, 1992.  

In 1998, Bill began practicing law with Michael Coleman and together they focused their practices on business litigation, construction litigation, and probate and trust litigation. Prior to working with Michael, Bill was a litigation associate at Cummings & Lockwood in Naples. He moved to Naples from Jacksonville where he had the privilege to serve as a law clerk to the Honorable Susan H. Black, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, during the court’s 1993-1994 term.  

A firm believer in giving back to the community, Bill has served as a member of the board of directors of Grace Place for Children and Families (2007-2014), as president of the Collier County Bar Association (2006 – 2007), as a board member of the Collier County Bar Association (2000-2008), as president of the United Way of Collier County (1998), as a United Way board member (1995 – 2000) and as president of the Greater Delray Beach (Fla.) Chamber of Commerce (1988).   

A second career lawyer, Bill began law school at age 35.  He graduated from the University of Florida College of Law with high honors in 1993. During law school, Bill was selected as associate articles editor of the Law Review and received both the Phi Kappa Phi Outstanding Graduate Student Scholarship Award and the Alumni Council Scholarship Award. Bill also received the George W. Milam Award for outstanding achievement in scholarly legal writing.  

As he often tells clients, Bill hired lawyers before he became one, which gives him a unique perspective and a very practical approach to the practice of law. Bill began his business career at IBM where he worked in a variety of sales, management, personnel and public relations positions. Although IBM moved him to Florida 1981, he started with the company in the Richmond, Va. sales office. 

Bill attended the University of Richmond from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1978. He was born and raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey.