About Attorney Bill Gifford

Bill Gifford graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1980 and began his practice of law with the Chicago, Illinois firm of Clausen, Miller, Gorman, Caffrey & Witous, P.C. His primary areas of practice were insurance coverage and insurance defense litigation.

Bill joined the Chicago firm of Shefsky, Saitlin & Froelich, Ltd. in January 1987 and became a partner there in 1990. His practice consisted of general commercial litigation in both federal and state courts. Bill prosecuted and defended claims based on employment contracts, leases, real estate listing agreements, partnership agreements, construction contracts, and contracts for the sale of goods. He also represented lenders in commercial mortgage foreclosures and in adversary proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court.

From 1996 until April 2004, Bill served as Director of Litigation for Oakwood Homes Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange-listed company engaged in the manufactured housing business. In that capacity, he coordinated the response to all consumer claims brought against Oakwood and its subsidiaries across the country. When claims could not be resolved, Bill was responsible for hiring outside defense counsel; he then worked with those outside attorneys in the development of defense strategies. He also participated in numerous mediated settlement conferences, arbitration hearings and trials.

Following the sale of Oakwood’s assets in April 2004, Bill was hired as Director of Litigation by the OHC Liquidation Trust, an entity created by the Delaware Bankruptcy Court. In that position, Bill managed the resolution of consumer claims filed in the Oakwood Homes bankruptcy cases.

Since 2005, Bill has been a manager in the law firm of Martin & Gifford, PLLC. In addition to his continued representation of manufactured housing industry clients, Bill has represented clients in a wide variety of real-estate related commercial disputes across North Carolina. Along with his partner, Will Martin, Bill has counseled members of the North Carolina Association of Realtors regarding their legal and ethical obligations to their clients and to the general public. Bill has also represented licensed real estate brokers in litigation alleging breach of contract, negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. Last but not least, Bill has represented dozens of licensed agents facing investigation or potential disciplinary action by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.

Bar Admissions

• Illinois – 1980
• North Carolina – 1998