William “Billy” Klaess

BIOGRAPHY

William “Billy” Klaess is an associate in the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice group, focusing on drafting and negotiating confidentiality agreements for the firm’s private equity clients. Prior to joining the firm, he served as a senior associate at KPMG LLP, primarily handling export controls and sanctions matters and specializing in dual-use regulatory compliance for multinational technology corporations.

Mr. Klaess earned his J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law and holds a B.A., magna cum laude in History and Spanish from Texas Christian University.

EXPERIENCE and HIGHLIGHTS

• Reviewed third-party R&D NDAs to ensure they include adequate export control language for global automobile company
• Assisted with largest BIS corporate compliance monitorship of multinational telecommunications technology company
• Prepared internal and external memos and requests to government agencies (BIS, CBP) regarding the applicability of Foreign-Direct Product and De Minimis Rules

AFFILIATIONS & HONORS

• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Tarrant County Young Lawyers Associaton

EDUCATION

• SMU Dedman School of Law, J.D., 2018
  • International Law Society
  • Real Estate Law Association
  • Family Law Association
• Texas Christian University, B.A., magna cum laude in History and Spanish, 2015.
  • John V. Roach Honors College, Departmental Honors

ADMISSIONS

• State Bar of Texas, 2018