David B. Willis
Managing Partner
Boston Office
90 Canal Street 4th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
E-mail: david.willis@qpwblaw.com
Providence Office
840 Smithfield Ave Suite 203
Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865
David B. Willis is the managing partner of the Providence office of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. With over 30 years of experience, Mr. Willis has established himself as a highly skilled attorney specializing in intricate litigation matters, with a particular focus on transportation, including aviation, motor vehicle, and trucking matters. His expertise extends to a wide range of practice areas, including labor and employment, risk management, product liability, personal injury, insurance and insurers, medical malpractice defense, and international affairs.
Mr. Willis embarked on his legal career in 1991 as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of Rhode Island, where he honed his skills in criminal litigation. In this role, he successfully handled a significant number of cases, acting as First Chair for over 50 jury and 50 bench trials. He played a vital role in integrated prosecution and overseeing cases from investigation through trial to appeal. Additionally, Mr. Willis contributed to the development of legislation as part of the Attorney General's Domestic Task Force, specifically focusing on criminal sentencing matters.
Continuing his legal journey, Mr. Willis served as in-house counsel for a national insurance carrier, where he provided valuable guidance to the Special Investigation Unit. He demonstrated his proficiency in complex investigations, including those related to arson, involving first-party insureds. During this tenure, Mr. Willis successfully represented the carrier as First Chair in over 50 civil jury trials, achieving an exceptional winning percentage of over 95%. His outstanding performance earned him the Bronze Medal Award.
For over a decade, Mr. Willis played a pivotal role in managing complex litigation nationwide for one of the largest fast-food corporations in the United States. Handling an impressive caseload of over 300 cases annually, he skillfully navigated high-profile matters, including 5,000 Napa Norwalk Virus cases and 2 nationwide E-coli outbreaks. Mr. Willis was entrusted with drafting and negotiating vendor and supplier agreements, as well as employment contracts. He provided strategic oversight and attended trials, successfully formulating defense strategies in the face of national multi-million dollar exposures. Additionally, he collaborated closely with corporate counsel and risk management teams, formulating effective legal strategies for handling class actions and ensuring consistent discovery responses through coordination with local counsel. He also demonstrated his versatility by preparing trademark applications for domestic and international clients across various industries, with a specific focus on the food and beverage sector.
Prior to joining QPWB, Mr. Willis held a partnership position at his previous firm and chaired a transportation practice group, specializing in litigation matters for national and international clients. He adeptly handled cases involving contracts, employment, hospitality, food and beverage, healthcare, transportation, logistics, aviation, and maritime issues. Furthermore, he served as a Rhode Island Superior Court-appointed Arbitrator, presiding over arbitrations in employment disputes, business conflicts, and personal injury cases. His comprehensive legal acumen also extended to advising national clients on cyber security breaches and spearheading the establishment of a 24/7 crisis response team. Moreover, he collaborated with hospitality clients to develop risk management data points aimed at evaluating and mitigating potential risks.
Mr. Willis earned his Juris Doctor in 1989 from Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana where he also received a bachelor's degree in 1986. He is licensed to practice law in Rhode Island and Massachusetts and is admitted in the Federal District Court of Rhode Island, Federal District Court of Massachusetts, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. He is a member of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Associations.