Partner
William Caldarelli is a trial lawyer and founding partner of Caldarelli Hejmanowski & Leer LLP who represents corporate and individual clients in complex business, real estate, and intellectual property disputes in state and federal courts and before arbitration panels.
Bill has built his practice over more than three decades on the conviction that the best litigation counsel combines rigorous legal analysis with common sense and genuine trial ability. He has litigated and tried cases across a wide range of commercial disputes, and his clients span industries from real estate and technology to financial services and beyond.
Bill began his legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward J. Schwartz, former Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California — a clerkship that shaped his deep respect for the federal courts and for the craft of litigation. He then joined Latham & Watkins as a litigation associate before becoming a partner at Mazzarella Dunwoody & Caldarelli, LLP.
Beyond his courtroom practice, Bill has been a prominent leader in the San Diego legal community. He has served as Chairman of the Litigation Section of the California State Bar, President of the San Diego Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, and on the Board of Governors of the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. He holds the rank of Master in both the Louis Welsh and Hon. J. Clifford Wallace Chapters of the American Inns of Court, and served as an Officer in the Wallace Chapter.
Bill has been selected to the San Diego Super Lawyers list every year since 2008 (as a Top 50 lawyer for over a decade) and to San Diego Magazine’s Top Lawyers list since 2012. He was named a Lawyer of the Year by The Best Lawyers in America in 2023 and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Education
- Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley
J.D. (1990) — Order of the Coif - Harvard Law School
Reciprocity Exchange Program (1989–1990) - University of California, Irvine
B.A. summa cum laude (1987) - University of Sussex
Education Abroad Program (1986–1987) - NITA College of Trial Advocacy
Clerkship
- Hon. Edward J. Schwartz, Chief Judge
U.S. District Court, Southern District of California (1990–1991)
Bar Admissions & Courts
- State Bar of California
- U.S. District Court
Southern | Central | Eastern | Northern Districts of California
Awards & Honors
- San Diego Super Lawyers® (2008–present)
Business Litigation | Real Estate Litigation - The Best Lawyers in America
Lawyer of the Year (2023) - The Best Lawyers in America (2016–2023)
- San Diego Magazine Top Lawyers (2012–present)
- San Diego Business Journal: Best of the Bar
- AV® Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell
Professional Affiliations
- California State Bar, Litigation Section
Former Chairman - Federal Bar Association, San Diego Chapter
Former President - Association of Business Trial Lawyers, San Diego Chapter
Former Board of Governors - American Inns of Court: Louis Welsh Chapter
Master - American Inns of Court: Hon. J. Clifford Wallace Chapter
Master and Former Officer - National Italian American Bar Association
- Knights of Columbus
San Diego, CA 92121
(858) 764-8105
wjc@chllawfirm.com