The Asian American Lawyers Association of Massachusetts recognized WilmerHale Co-Managing Partner William F. Lee with the Founders Award at its annual banquet on April 19, 2011. The Founders Award is presented annually to an Asian-American attorney who has made significant contributions in business, academics or the community in relation to the law.

Lee is the first Asian-American managing partner of an AmLaw 100 law firm. Despite the tremendous demands that come with this leadership role, he has remained committed to his litigation practice. Among many other awards he has received, Lee was named a “Most Admired Attorney” by Law360 in 2010 for his success in the courtroom as an intellectual property litigator. His victories in the record-breaking patent ruling reversal for Abbott Laboratories and litigation battles for Broadcom are well known.

He has also gained respect and prestige outside the office as a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and on the Advisory Committee of the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In 2010, he was appointed a fellow of the Harvard Corporation.