William R. Scherer, Jr.

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 secured a historic $1.1+ billion jury verdict in Gopher v. Wells Fargo, the largest in Florida’s history against a solvent bank or public company. 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.