William J. Goines

William J. Goines brings over five decades of legal experience to his work as a mediator and arbitrator at Signature Resolution. Throughout his career, he has represented clients across California in disputes involving real estate transactions and leases, commercial contracts, joint ventures, financial institutions, trade secrets, toxic torts, medical devices and employment law. Known for his courtroom skill and strategic insight, Goines has successfully tried and resolved multimillion-dollar cases across industries ranging from large-scale real estate development to family-owned businesses.

Goines’s legal career began as an Associate at Kindel & Anderson, where he developed a foundation in civil litigation and gained early trial experience. He then spent nearly three decades as an Associate and Partner at Berliner Cohen where he built a reputation for excellence in litigation, particularly in real estate, employment, and commercial matters. During this time, he guided leading Silicon Valley developers through the region’s rapid growth and represented corporate and individual clients in cases involving wrongful termination, discrimination, employee mobility and real estate transactions.

In 2004, Goines joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP, where he served as Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Silicon Valley until 2025. In this role, he helped shape the strategic direction of the office, earning the trust and respect of colleagues through his sound judgment, leadership and mentorship. His tenure there marked a culmination of his legal experience and further solidified his standing as a leader in California’s legal community. Among his notable achievements is securing a $31 million verdict in a complex Ponzi scheme case, a trial that required years of preparation, careful management of intricate evidence and an unwavering commitment through the lengthy jury process. Also, in one of the first Zoom trials in California, he successfully defended a public REIT in an action brought by a commercial tenant seeking to terminate a long term lease, leaving the tenant on the hook for about $120 million in lease liabilities.

In addition to his time as a trial lawyer, Goines has also worked as a neutral. In both court-appointed and private settings, Goines has served as Judge Pro Tem, Settlement Conference Judge, Special Discovery Master and as a private mediator and arbitrator. This time was deeply rewarding, as it has taught him about decision-making dynamics in order to find lasting resolutions. These experiences showcase that Goines is deeply committed to identifying the obstacles holding parties back from finding their resolution and prioritizing patience, careful listening skills and persistence to find common ground between parties. His philosophy lies in not only understanding the technical aspects of each case, but the emotional intelligence needed to approach each conflict with compassion.

Goines’s leadership and contributions to the legal community have been recognized time and again. He has been listed as a “Litigation Star” by Benchmark Litigation, included on the list of The Best Lawyers in America and recognized by the esteemed Super Lawyers. In his local community, Goines was honored as one of the “Top 100 Attorneys in Northern California” by San Francisco Magazine and included in San Jose Magazine’s list of “Silicon Valley’s Top Lawyers.”

Goines is also a dedicated member of the legal field within his local community. He has served on committees for the Santa Clara County Bar Association and has acted as a Judge Pro Tem in the Superior Court. He also served on the Board of Directors of Kara, a grief counseling organization, an experience he believes parallels his mediation philosophy of listening, empathy and helping individuals find constructive solutions to move forward.

With his decades of experience, proven leadership and deep commitment to resolution, Goines brings an unmatched perspective to his work as a mediator. He understands the stakes, pressures and personalities that shape disputes, and he is dedicated to guiding parties toward intelligent, fair and lasting solutions.