William (Derick) Blakely
At William Blakely Law, Derick advises clients on cases involving federal employment litigation involving the EEOC, MSPB administrative hearing process, and federal court matters involving employment law. In addition, Derick has advised clients regarding general employment law related matters in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Following years of service as both an Assistant US Attorney and a state prosecutor, DERICK BLAKELY has joined his father as a partner in William Blakely Law. Derick is an experienced litigator with 6 years of prosecution experience at the federal and state level. He started his prosecution career as an AUSA in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. before moving to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. In both roles as an AUSA, he prosecuted violent crimes and conducted a First-Degree Murder jury trial with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. After serving in those roles, Derick returned to Nashville, TN to serve as an ADA in the Davidson County DA’s Office. During his time as a federal and state prosecutor, he conducted and participated in a dozen felony court level jury trials involving various offenses and crimes such as First-Degree Murder, Second Degree Murder, Felony Murder, Felon in Possession of a Weapon, Aggravated Burglary, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assaults, Robbery, DUI, Disorderly Conduct, Resisting Arrest, Assault on an Officer, Unlawful Possession of Controlled Substance among many others. In addition to his jury trial experience, he regularly conducted extensive hearings at the state and federal level involving a diverse set of legal issues, including detention hearings, competency hearings, preliminary hearings, probation violations hearings, bond revocation hearings, motion hearings regarding suppression and dismissal.
Prior to becoming a prosecutor, Derick served as an attorney with two large law firms in Nashville, TN where he specialized in healthcare mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and transactional law for healthcare companies. More specifically, he advised clients regarding acquisitions of healthcare companies, which included thorough and extensive reviews of potential or on-going legal and regulatory issues involving those transactions, and operations of companies. He also provided extensive litigation assistance in the multi district opioid litigation (In re National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804, Case No. 1:17-md-2804 (N.D. Ohio)).
Prior to his legal career, Derick was a Business Systems and Government Contracts Analyst with two large defense contractors, Deloitte Consulting and CACI International. In these roles, he travelled extensively for federal clients while serving projects in Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, North Carolina and Kentucky.
EDUCATION
- JD, American University Law, 2016, cum laude
- BA, University of Virginia, 2008
BAR ADMISSIONS
- District of Columbia Bar
- Virginia State Bar
- Tennessee State Bar
- Wisconsin State Bar
PAST ACTIVITIES AND RECOGNITIONS
- Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, Associate Attorney (Nashville, TN)
- Bass, Berry and Sims PLC, Associate Attorney (Nashville, TN)
- American University Law, International Law Review Editor, Civil Advocacy Clinic Student Attorney
- Legal Intern, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services OIG, Washington D.C. OIG
- Consultant, Deloitte
- Business Systems and Government Contracts Analyst, CACI International
- U.S. Senate Intern, 2007 & 2009
- University of Virginia, Phi Eta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Lambda, Kappa Alpha Order Fraternity
- Denison University, Member of Division III NCAA Tournament Lacrosse Team, 2005
703.627.4866
dblakely@williamblakelylaw.com