Willard F. Preston, III

3513 Concord Pike, Suite 2000
Wilmington, DE 19803
Telephone: 302.656.3301
Facsimile: 302.656.0643
Email: wpreston@goldfeinlaw.com

Bill Preston, resident attorney in the Wilmington office, concentrates his practice in the areas of fire loss and fire code compliance issues, construction law, mass tort, insurance defense, criminal defense and wills and estates.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Preston enjoyed a distinguished career in fire safety, criminal justice and emergency medical services, serving as the Delaware State Fire Marshal. His extensive experience in fire investigation, fire loss and fire code compliance gives him a unique perspective in the representation of his clients’ interests. His knowledge of medical issues and terminology, acquired over the 20 years of responding to thousands of emergency calls and providing life support, assists him in advocating on behalf of clients in the medical-legal arena.

Among his many accomplishments, Mr. Preston revised and updated the fire code for the state of Delaware; participated in revising the Fire and Explosion Investigations Guide for the National Fire Protection Association which is recognized worldwide as an authority on fire and explosion investigation principles; and investigated over 2000 fire and explosion incidents, working closely with insurance company representatives to bring cases to a conclusion. He has served as a chief negotiator during union negotiations and has drafted legislation, lobbied and testified before the Delaware legislature and state administrative agencies on fire safety issues.

Mr. Preston’s investigative experience together with his knowledge of the courtroom allows him to effectively evaluate the issues and represent his clients, whether in settlement negotiations or at trial. As a certified fire inspector with a depth of knowledge of fire codes, he is invaluable to developers, contractors and architects in the planning of new construction as well as to building owners facing compliance issues.

Mr. Preston is a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American, Delaware and New Jersey Bar Associations; the National Fire Protection Association where he is member of the Technical Committee on Fire Investigations; the International Association of Arson Investigators and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He graduated from Widener University School of Law where he was a member of Phi Delta Phi Honors Fraternity. He is admitted to practice in Delaware and New Jersey.