Bill has been with Stoll Keenon Ogden since 1980 and serves as Chair Emeritus from his office in Lexington. He was the Managing Director for 22 years and Chairman of the Board for four years. His leadership and many achievements over the course of his decades-long tenure at SKO are at the foundation of the firm’s Legal Horsepower™.
A highly experienced trial attorney, Bill is a Member of the Business Litigation practice, with a focus on disputes and challenges relating to Equine, Eminent Domain & Real Estate, and Trust & Estate matters. He also assists clients through the Real Estate and Government Relations practice groups.
Bill has the distinction of being named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America® from 2012-2014. Earlier in his career, from 1985-1994, he was a state representative in the Kentucky General Assembly and was recognized by the governor with the inaugural Economic Development Leadership Award.
Bill has long been active in the community and currently serves as a trustee of Keeneland Association and a board member of Commonwealth Seed Capital LLC. He is a past Chair of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce and has been inducted into the Kentucky Economic Development Hall of Fame, the University of Kentucky Law School Hall of Fame, and the Bluegrass Business Leaders Hall of Fame. In addition to his position with Keeneland, Bill serves the Thoroughbred industry as Vice-Chairman and member of the Board of Stewards of The Jockey Club.
Business Litigation: Bill represents clients throughout Kentucky in complex commercial and equine litigation. An example of his work within this practice includes his success in defending numerous landowners in negotiations and trial proceedings with multiple state entities in connection with road projects.
Real Estate: Working with clients from a variety of industries, including national and regional retailers, Bill concentrates on real estate litigation, planning, and zoning.
Government Relations: Bill’s accomplished background in the public sector, along with his extensive contributions to the state’s economic and workforce development, makes him well-suited to represent the interests of individual clients and large corporations before various government agencies.
University of Kentucky College of Law, 1975, J.D., High Distinction
Davidson College, 1972, B.A.
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky
Kentucky
Fayette County Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
American Bar Association
Keeneland Association, Trustee, Board of Directors
The Jockey Club Board of Stewards, Board Member, Vice Chairman
Commonwealth Seed Capital Corporation, Board of Managers
UK Arboretum Funding Campaign, Board Member
Business Leader Champions for Education
Lexington Strides Ahead Foundation, Board Member
Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Chairman
The Speed Art Museum, former Board of Governors
State Representative, Kentucky General Assembly, 1985-1994
Economic Development Committee, State Legislature, former Chair
Commerce and Economic Development Committee, National Conference of State Legislatures, former Chair
European Workforce Training & Business Assistance Study Tour-NCSL, Delegation Leader
Kentucky Investing in People Taskforce, former Co-Chair
Governors Tax Policy Commission, former Co-Chair
Greater Lexington Chamber of Commerce, former Chair
Lexington United, former Chair
Kentucky Science and Technology Corporation, former Board Member
Kentucky World Trade Center, former Board Member
Economic Advancement Task Force, former Chair
Lexington Downtown Development Authority, founding Chairman
Downtown Lexington Corporation, former Board Member
Sayre School, Former Board Member
United Way of the Bluegrass, former Board Member
LexTran, former Board Chair
Lexington-Fayette County Urban Renewal Commission, former Board Chair
Lexington Partnership for Workforce Development, former Chair
Davidson College Alumni Association, President, 2012
Davidson College Board of Trustees, 2011-2012
AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
Best Lawyers in America®: Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation — Land Use and Zoning, Litigation — Real Estate, 1989-present; 2012, 2014, 2025 Land Use and Zoning Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Lexington; 2013, 2025 Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Lexington
Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honoree, 2007 – 2016
Editor-in-Chief, Kentucky Law Journal
Order of the Coif
Order of the Barristers
Governor’s Economic Development Leadership Award
Kentucky Medical Association Layperson of the Year
Economic Development Award of the American Council on Economic Development Sponsor of House Bill 89, which restructured Kentucky’s Economic Development Cabinet
Kentucky Economic Development Hall of Fame
Kentucky Economic Development Hall of Fame
Junior Achievement Business Leaders Hall of Fame
Real Estate Litigation
SKO obtained a summary judgment at Fayette Circuit Court for a zone change appeal filed by protesting neighbors, resulting in a successful zone change and approval for all related development plans for a national retail outfitter and mixed-use development in Lexington.
Building Dispute/Injunctive Relief
Home Depot, U.S.A., Inc. v. Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership, Ky. App., 159 S.W.3d 339 (2005)
Represented owner of Lexington Mall and obtained injunction requiring Home Depot to remove its store and restore the Mall structure because Home Depot violated restrictive covenants; case settled.
Zone Change for Mixed-Use Development
SKO represented clients in the acquisition, zone change, development plan approvals, and all related permitting for a 50-acre Mixed-Use Development including retail, office space, and multi-family residential uses.
Landowner Defense
Represented numerous individual, agricultural, commercial and industrial landowners in negotiations and litigation against the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Department of Highways, in connection with acquisitions of right-of-way for road projects and other assorted road and highway issues.
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STOLL KEENON OGDEN PLLC | 2026
ADVERTISING MATERIAL
STOLL KEENON OGDEN PLLC | 2026
ADVERTISING MATERIAL
