Bill Arnone has been an invaluable asset to our organization from its very inception. Bill and the staff at Merrill, Arnone and Jones conduct themselves in a professional manner. They consistently demonstrate a high work ethic in their interaction with our Board of Directors, our organization's staff and partners. The Sonoma County Tourism Bureau looks forward to a positive, productive and protected future thanks to our affiliation with Merrill, Arnone and Jones.
-Kenneth J. Fischang,
CHME, CMP, President/CEO
Sonoma County Tourism Bureau
William Arnone, Partner
Business counseling, public entities, government, intellectual property, complex business litigation
Bill started his career with a boutique high tech law firm in Palo Alto, California. There he sharpened his litigation skills representing leading technology firms in intellectual property disputes. In 1987, Bill and his wife, Deneene saw the greener grass of Sonoma County, and decided it was the perfect place to raise a family. Since then, he has broadened his practice areas to include business counseling and the representation of public entities. Bill and his wife still enjoy hiking the byways of Sonoma County and beyond. Racquetball and Bocce Ball are also among Bill's favorite pastimes.
Education:
J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law, 1979
B.A., University of California, Davis, 1976
Oxford University Special Studies, 1979
Bar Admissions:
1979, California and U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
1986, U.S. Tax Court
1990, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, and U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
1992, U.S. Supreme Court
1994, U.S. District Court, Central District of California
2001, U.S. Court of International Trade
2006, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
Author:
"The Extent of State Ownership of Submerged Lands of California,"
31 Hastings Law Journal 329, 1979.
Contributing Author:
"Protection of Technology," California Continuing Education of the Bar, Advanced Business Law Series, Program Materials for January 1983.
Reported Cases:
Mizirawi v. Holl (1982) 135 Cal.App.3d 322;
University Fin. Consultants v. Barouche (1983) 148 Cal.App.3d 1165;
Mosher v. Commissioner (1987) T.C. Memo 1987-231;
Mosher v. Mayacamas Corp. (1989) 215 Cal.App.3d 1;
Rice v. Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc. (1991) 235 Cal.App.3d 1016;
Hartman v. City of Petaluma (1994) 841 F. Supp. 946;
In re Ankeny (1995) 184 Bankr. 64
El Encanto, Inc. v. La Tortilla Factory, Inc. (2005) TTAB Opposition No. 91159343
Traffic School Online, Inc. v. Superior Court (2003) 89 Cal.App.4th 222
Community Outreach:
Bill enjoys active involvement in a number of community organizations. His membership in those organizations usually involves leadership roles. Please explore the links below to learn more about the organizations that Bill supports.
Volunteer Work:
President, California Programs for the Autistic, 1989-1993
Coach, Santa Rosa Central Soccer, under 6 boys and under 10 girls
President, Santa Rosa Children's Chorus, 1992-1993;
President, Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic, Inc., 1994-1995;
President, Rotary Club of Windsor, 1995-1996;
President, Leadership Santa Rosa Alumni Association, 1999-2000;
Chairman, Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce Leadership Committee, 2006-2007;
Chairman, City of Santa Rosa Housing Authority, 1999-2000;
Chairman, City of Santa Rosa Redevelopment Agency, 2000-2001 and 2007;
Settlement Judge, Pro Tem, Sonoma County Superior Court
Member:
Phi Delta Phi
Sonoma County and American Bar Associations
State Bar of California (Member, Sections on: Litigation; Intellectual Property Law)