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William C. McCaughey

Associate

William C. McCaughey

Associate

William (Bill) McCaughey is a litigation and investigations attorney with broad experience in counseling clients across industries in matters involving potential violations of securities laws, class action litigation, criminal antitrust investigations, and pre-merger antitrust investigations.

Bill’s experience includes conducting internal investigations related to potential criminal antitrust matters, defending an antitrust class-action lawsuit, assisting clients with the preparation of Hart-Scott Rodino premerger notification filings, counseling clients on insider trading compliance, and representing public companies in responding to securities fraud investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He also represents complainants and respondents in Section 337 unfair importation investigations before the U.S. International Trade Commission.

While in law school, Bill interned at the SEC and at the Fraud Division and the Organized Crime and Gang Section of the U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division.

Bill is a member of the Commercial Litigation, Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations, and Antitrust Practice Groups.

Affiliations

  • Member of International Trade Commission Trial Lawyers Association

Awards and Recognition

  • Mondaq Thought Leadership Award for Antitrust/Competition Law (Spring 2025)

Presentations and Publications

  • Co-author, “Expert networks, alternative data and managing risks of material non-public information,” Journal of Financial Compliance, Volume 7, Number 2 (December 2023)
A person in a suit holds and reviews a stack of documents, with focus on their hand and the papers—reflecting the meticulous attention chicago lawyers bring to intellectual property law.
October 29, 2025 Labor & Employment Law Perspectives

Sixth Circuit Protects Internal Investigation Materials from Disclosure in Civil Suit

On October 3, 2025, the Sixth Circuit granted that mandamus petition and vacated the District Court’s order, determining the lower court had committed clear error by adopting a special master’s decision ordering the production of materials that were clearly protected.
October 28, 2025 In the News

William McCaughey Assesses Major SCOTUS Securities Case

Foley & Lardner LLP associate William McCaughey assessed a major securities case as it comes before the U.S. Supreme Court next month in the BoardiQ’s article, “Activists: Industry Groups Are ‘Dead Wrong’ in ’40 Act Read.”
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September 22, 2025 Foley Viewpoints

U.S. Supreme Court to Consider Private Right of Action Under the Investment Company Act of 1940

On June 30, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in FS Credit Opportunities Corp. v. Saba Capital Master Fund, Ltd. to resolve a circuit split over whether there is a private right of action for shareholders under Section 47(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (ICA). The ICA regulates mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and other registered investment companies.
May 20, 2025 Foley Viewpoints

First Circuit’s Reversal of Summary Judgment Clarifies Materiality Standard for Advisory Conflicts

A recent ruling may raise the bar for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in charging registered investment advisers for...
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October 14, 2024 Foley Viewpoints

FTC Finalizes Long-Awaited Rules that Will Substantially Increase the Scope and Detail of Premerger Antitrust Filings under Hart-Scott-Rodino Act

The FTC has finalized significant changes to the information and level of detail that will be required in premerger antitrust filings under the HSR Act. The new rules will take effect in early 2025.
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October 14, 2024

The Fast Follower’s Guide to Recent AI Law

As investors, entrepreneurs, and engineers supercharge the development of artificial intelligence to the tune of US$184 billion in 2024, this new era will create both winners and losers.