William David Cornwell

William David Cornwell, Sr., who uses the name David Cornwell (born September 28, 1960 in Washington, D.C.), is an African American attorney who is highly regarded as a leading expert in sports and entertainment law having represented numerous high profile clients including: Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders, Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins in Williams' quest for reinstatement into the National Football League and Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints in defending allegations arising from Bush's time as a member of the USC Trojans football team.
Cornwell has over 20 years experience as a lawyer in the sports and entertainment industry. In 1987 he commenced his career in sports as Assistant General Counsel for the National Football League. Following his tenure with the NFL he served as General Counsel to the Upper Deck Company and later served as General Counsel to the sports management practice of Leigh Steinberg and Jeff Moorad. and as a consultant to Hollywood productions including Any Given Sunday a 1999 release directed by Oliver Stone. Cornwell works closely with attorney Don West, Jr. providing 'out-sourced general counsel services,' diversity training and 'high visibility consulting' to individuals, organizations and entities.
Notable cases
The Steinberg Case
In 2001, Cornwell represented the firm of Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn, the firm's parent company - the Assante Corporation and the firm's principle agents Leigh Steinberg and Jeff Moorad in a federal civil lawsuit against their former partner David Dunn and Dunn's new firm Athlete's First accusing Dunn and Athlete's First of stealing clients and violating non-competition agreements. Dunn had left Steinberg's firm in Feb. of 2001, and in the months that followed, more than half of Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn's 86 NFL clients had left, many of whom signed with Dunn and Athletes First, according to court documents. In 2002, a Los Angeles jury awarded Steinberg, Moorad and Dunn $44.66 million in damages. That included $2 million in compensatory damages and $2.66 million in punitive damages against Dunn personally. Athletes First owes $20 million in punitive damages and $20 million in compensatory damages.
The Ricky Williams Case
In 2004, Cornwell successfully represented Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams in Williams' pursuit to challenge a one-year suspension and return to actively playing in the NFL after having been suspended for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. Many NFL insiders and observers commented that Cornwell had, "worked wonders" in negotiating the terms that would allow Williams to return to playing football. However, Williams opted not to immediately accept the "miracle deal", but ultimately Williams accepted the terms and officially returned to the Dolphins on July 24, 2005, paid back a percentage of his signing bonus and completed his four game suspension for substance abuse.
Cornwell lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia and is married with two children.

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