Overview

William H. Foster focuses his practice on issues of employment law, human resources, employee benefits and immigration on a local, regional and national basis. He advises and defends employers in employment-related matters, including:

  • Discrimination and retaliation under federal and state equal employment opportunity laws
  • State common law wrongful discharge
  • Non-compete and trade secrets agreements and related litigation
  • Employee benefits litigation under ERISA
  • Immigration compliance
  • Contract disputes
  • Corporate investigations and risk management
  • Allegations of sexual abuse

Bill's extensive experience includes numerous employment law and employee benefits class actions. He has defended clients in jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

Prior to joining Littler, Bill led the employment practice of a large South Carolina firm. After law school, Bill clerked for the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Bill is a frequent lecturer for both industry and legal forums.

 

Professional & Community Affiliations

Member, Executive Committee

Blue Ridge Council of Boy Scouts of America

Member

Leadership Greenville

Past Chair

Greenville Events

Recognition

Named, The Best Lawyers in America®

2009-2025

Ranked, Labor & Employment

Chambers USA

2007-2024

Named, Legal Elite of the Upstate

Labor and Employment Law

Greenville Business Magazine

2013, 2015-2017, 2019

Named, Super Lawyer

South Carolina

Super Lawyers

2009-2017

News, Analysis & Press

Tap-dancing in the Minefield: Handling on the Job Injuries Under the ADA

FMLA and Workers Compensation

February 2008

Stress and Mental Disorders in the Workplace: Increased Focus Under the Americans with Disabilities

South Carolina Lawyer

July/August 1996

Speaking Engagements

2024 Carolinas Regional Employer Conference

Charlotte, NC

September 12, 2024

2023 Carolinas Regional Employer Conference

Charlotte, NC

September 14, 2023

Stop! Thief! Protecting Confidential Information and Trade Secrets in the New World of Work

Littler Executive Employer Conference, Phoenix, AZ

May 11, 2023

2022 Carolinas Regional Employer Conference

Charlotte, NC

September 8, 2022

Littler Greenville Roundtable: What to Expect in 2021

Greenville, SC

April 27, 2021

2020 Year in Review and What to Expect in 2021 in North and South Carolina

December 1, 2020

COVID-19 FAQs with Littler

Greenville SHRM Webinar

April 9, 2020

Breaking Up is Hard to Do: Managing the Challenges That Arise When the Employment Relationship Ends

2020 ACC-SC Winter Meeting, Greenville, SC

February 28, 2020

The Time is Now to Plan for AI & Robotics to Improve Your Company’s Hiring Learning Security Productivity & Morale

Association of Corporate Counsel South Carolina Annual Meeting, Charleston, SC

September 23, 2019

Back in Black II, The South Carolina Year in Review

South/North Carolina Bar Labor & Employment Sections Law Joint Annual Meeting

Fall 2013

We’re From the Government and We’re Here to Help: Recent Developments in Employment Law under the Obama Administration

SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association

April 15, 2010

Send Lawyers, Guns and Money, the Poop Has Hit the Fan: Current Trends in Employment Law

South/North Carolina Bar Labor & Employment Sections Law Joint Annual Meeting

October 15, 2008

Key Employment Decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, South Carolina Courts

South Carolina/North Carolina Employment Law Annual Bar Meeting

July 15, 2004

Education

  • J.D., University of South Carolina, School of Law, 1993magna cum laude
  • B.A., Furman University, 1990

Bar Admission

South Carolina

Courts

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina