William O. Wagstaff III’s selfless commitment to social justice is the consistent driving force behind his work in the community and as an attorney and principal of The Wagstaff Firm, P.C.

Mr. Wagstaff has developed and executed trial strategies from jury selection through post-trial activities. He also holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Fordham University Business School, where he graduated #2 in his class; this has proven to be an invaluable tool he employs during negotiations.

Mr. Wagstaff’s practice concentrates on Civil Rights Litigation, Criminal Defense, and Municipal Law. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, and several Federal Districts. His cases have been covered in the New York Law Journal and The New York Times and on CNN, MSNBC, and ABC, among other media outlets.

Born in Mount Vernon, N.Y., Mr. Wagstaff has served his hometown while wearing various hats. His service includes Special Prosecutor for Police Disciplinary Hearings, Special Counsel to the Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and the City’s Law Department, Member of the Police Reform Commission, and Chair of Mayor Patterson-Howard’s Judicial Appointment Committee. Mr. Wagstaff is also former Special Counsel to the Village of Spring Valley Board of Trustees.

Mr. Wagstaff is committed to driving police reform and accountability for bad actors. He created a training module and trained the Mount Vernon Police Department on the laws regarding police encounters with civilians, use of force, litigation prep and report writing, and handling civilians with disabilities or mental health concerns. Mr. Wagstaff successfully represented the Rockland County Chapter of Black Lives Matter and its members in an illegal surveillance case against the Town of Clarkstown.

His active involvement in the legal community includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Westchester, being a member of the New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, and the Westchester Black Bar Association.

Mr. Wagstaff’s commitment to his community matches his commitment to justice. He co-sponsors an annual coat drive with the Yonkers YMCA that collects thousands of coats and donates to families in need. He is the Chairman of the African American Men of Westchester Mentoring Committee. Mr. Wagstaff is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated and, through the New Rochelle White Plains Alumni Chapter, has mentored Guide Right Kappa League Mentoring Program participants.