Licensed in Washington and Oregon.
Founding Partner, along with Craig Schauermann
- Location: Vancouver, Washington
- Phone: 360-695-4244
- Fax: 360-696-0583
- Emphasis: Bill is "of counsel" with the firm now. He previously advised and represented clients in personal injury and wrongful death claims and litigation from 1980 to 2021.
- Injury/Death tort claims: In addition to other areas of practice early on in his career, Bill handled wrongful death cases, construction site injury claims, automobile collision claims, dog bite cases, and a myriad of other types of injury claims. While most claims were settled through negotiation or mediation, Mr. Thayer litigated, arbitrated and/or tried to verdict many cases for his clients. In his current capacity, he continues to be appointed by other lawyers to serve as an arbitrator of tort claims.
- Professional Qualifications & Education: Admitted to the practice of law in 1980. Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, 1977, from Southern Oregon College (magna cum laude) and a Juris Doctorate degree, 1980, from the University of Oregon. Bill served at one time on the Bench-Bar Committees for both Superior and District Courts in Clark County. He was frequently asked to be a speaker at various legal education seminars.
- Professional Experience: Initially hired as an associate in a Hazel Dell law firm, he commenced his own solo practice in 1983 and was joined by Craig Schauermann in 1986. Although Bill's nearly four decades of practice were for the most part been anchored in Clark County, he also handled cases in Cowlitz, Skamania, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Klickitat, Multnomah, Deschutes and Marion counties as well.
- Professional Affiliation: Licensed to practice before all district, superior and state appellate courts in the State of Washington. Licensed to practice in Oregon courts since 2006. Admitted to practice in the Western District Federal Court of the State of Washington, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the District of Oregon in 2007. Long-standing member of the Washington State Association for Justice (Eagle member since 1999), and of the Clark County Bar Association. Previously served as a judge pro tempore in Clark County District Court.
- Personal: Bill is no stranger to hard work. He grew up on a cattle ranch in southwestern Oregon bucking hay, moving irrigation pipes, building fences and doctoring cattle. He worked in a lumber mill, cooked in a restaurant, and worked at other odd jobs as he completed his education. He has enjoyed being with his family, fishing, fly tying, playing and coaching basketball and soccer, coaching mock trial, music, reading and writing literary classics and novels in his free time. Bill and his wife live in Vancouver, Washington and have two adult children, and four grandchildren.
Year Joined Firm
1986
Areas of Practice
Personal Injury
Wrongful Death
Claims and Litigation
Bar Admissions
Washington, 1980
U.S. District Court Western District of Washington, 1980
U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit, 1982
U.S. Supreme Court, 1995
Oregon, 2006
U.S. District Court District of Oregon, 2007
Education
University of Oregon School of Law, Eugene, Oregon
J.D. – 1980
Southern Oregon College
B.A. magna cum laude – 1977
Major: Business Administration
Professional Associations and Memberships
Washington State Trial Lawyers Association, Eagle Member (1999 – Present) (now WSAJ - Washington State Association for Justice)
Clark County Bar Association
Clark County Superior Court Bench-Bar Committee (former member)
Clark County District Court Bench-Bar Committee (former member)
Board Member – Clark County Volunteers Lawyers Program Board of Directors (2015 – 2018)
Past Employment Positions
Lee, Schauermann, Thayer & Day, Associate, 1980 – 1983
William K. Thayer, Sole Practitioner, 1983 – 1986