Will M. Helixon is synonymous with excellence in trial advocacy. He is the founder of our firm and a gifted trial lawyer who has litigated 100s of cases to a jury. With 26 years of active duty and reserve experience as a judge advocate, and over a decade of private practice, Will served as a senior prosecutor, a senior defense counsel, and Special Victim Prosecutor. As a retired, combat tested, judge advocate, he brings the knowledge of an Army insider with the freedom of a civilian practitioner to your defense team. Known as The Warrior AdvocateTM, Will’s core value of helping others through difficult times extends to his Warrior ClientsTM. From working on a capital murder defense team as a civilian, to defending sexual assault, domestic violence, and premeditated murder cases in the Army, Will understands and is well-versed in the intricacies of high profile, complex, and difficult cases. From Privates to Generals, he has worked with them all. Teamed with Will, you won’t just navigate the storm; you’ll find calm seas.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW)
American Legion
Founder & Managing Partner, the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, November 2015 to present.
Manage, operate, and defend Warrior ClientsTM for the military law practice specializing in defending Warrior ClientsTM in courts-martial, administrative boards, adverse administrative actions and other legal matters negatively affecting their careers.
Corporate Counsel, Retail Securities (VSR Financial Services) August 2014 to February 2016.
Defended VSR Financial Services, Inc., in all aspects of FINRA Arbitrations related to investments including all pre-arbitration matters, answers, complaints, motions, discovery, production, arbitrator selection, case preparation and ultimate hearing on the merits; represented VSR in all mediations, and resolved customer complaints in the most efficient manner possible; developed arbitration prevention strategies, and shared them with the approximately 275 Registered Representatives associated with VSR Financial Services; provided legal advice to the Chairman, CEO, CFO, and Co-Presidents.
Lieutenant Colonel, Judge Advocate (8th Legal Operations Detachment (LOD) August 2014 to August 2022.
Prepared complex powers of attorney (general and special) and wills during Soldier Readiness Programs and Yellow Ribbon events. Served as legal assistance attorney advising United States Army Reservists on legal matters ranging from personal property matters, consumer’s rights, landlord rights, tenant’s rights, contract and insurance law, and family law issues including annulment, divorce, separation, property division and child custody matters. Served as Preliminary Hearing Officer in multiple sexual assault cases for active duty OSJA in the 8th LOD area of operations. Served as legal advisor for U.S. Army Reserve Boards of Inquiry and separation boards.
Special Victim Prosecutor, Lieutenant Colonel (United States Army Legal Service Agency) June 2010 to August 2014, with duty in Grafenwoehr, Germany (Area of Responsibility: Germany, Italy, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan).
Was responsible for the investigation, preparation, and litigation of all cases of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual crimes against children, and cases of domestic violence in my area of responsibility. Ensured the training of young prosecutors on case preparation, discovery, and trial tactics for cases involving sexual violence. Tried over 35 cases to military panel members. On requests, tried cases of political and military significance such as negligent homicide cases involving German National civilian victims and the prosecution of senior Army leaders including Generals, Colonels, and Command Sergeants Major.
Chief of Advocacy & Litigation Training (Chief of DCAP, U.S. Army Trial Defense Services) September 2008 to June 2010.
Trained and assisted defense counsel world-wide responsible for defending soldiers in courts-martial; rained defense counsel on best practices in litigating courts-martial, especially cases involving sexual assaults; prepared and developed training programs on specific litigation topics and taught scores of courses at various training conferences.
Brigade Judge Advocate (173d Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Vicenza, Italy) June 2006 to August 2008.
Advised the brigade commander on all legal matters, including operational law and military justice; trained assisted trial counsel with courts-martial on an as needed basis; assisted trial counsel try five (5) cases as brigade judge advocate. Provided operational law and rule of law advice to the brigade commander to support the war-fighters and the counter-insurgency mission in Afghanistan.
Senior Defense Counsel (U.S. Army Trial Defense Service, Hanau, Germany) July 2003 to July 2005.
Defended soldiers accused of UCMJ violations at courts-martial, administrative board, Article 15s, and administrative separation (Notification Procedure); supervised three defense lawyers in the Hanau office responsible for defending soldiers in courts-martial and administrative separation boards.
Trial Counsel & Administrative Law Attorney (First Infantry Division, Bamberg, Germany) October 2000 to June 2003.
Prosecuted soldiers accused of violations of the UCMJ and sought separation of soldiers engaging in misconduct at administrative separation boards. Processed non-judicial punishment and administrative chapter packets under the Notification Procedure. Prosecuted 58 courts-martial, nine (9) of which were contested trials.
As the administrative law attorney, I advised investigating officer regarding conducting AR 15-6 Investigations and board presidents conducting administrative separation boards. Conducted legal reviews on all administrative law actions, including LODs, ROSs (now FLIPLs), Reports of Investigation, and the use of government resources.
Administrative Law, Legal Assistance & Claims Attorney (Joint Readiness Training Center & Fort Polk, Louisiana) October 1998 to January 2000 and August 2000 to October 2000.
Advised soldiers pending adverse administrative actions including separation, reduction, referred performance evaluations and letters of reprimand; represented the government at labor law (MSPB) and EO hearings; represented the government on Federal Torts Claims Act claims.
Brigade Paralegal (U.S. Army Armor Center & Fort Knox, Kentucky) January 1997 to July 1997, and February 1998 to June 1998.
Secretary for the Joint Staff, Joint Task Force – Bravo (Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras) July 1997 to February 1998.
As the brigade legal NCO, was responsible for processing all legal actions for the brigade including Article 15s, chapters, and other administrative legal actions. As the SJS, was responsible for maintaining the commander’s calendar, coordinating daily appointments and VIP visitors, and ensuring the command suite was efficiently managed and operated.
Civilian Criminal Defense Counsel (Helixon & Woods, LLC, later Helixon & Helm, LLC, Houston, Texas) November 1993 to August 1996.
Defended 126 cases on a variety of charges including capital murder, murder, aggravated assault, rape, sexual assault, distribution of narcotics, possession of cocaine, DWI, arson, burglary, theft, credit card fraud, welfare fraud, organized crime, injury to a child, kidnapping and forgery. Fifteen (15) cases were contested trials.
Joint Task Force Bravo, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras (Secretary for the Joint Staff) (6-months) August 1997 to January 1998.
Joint Task Force Bravo, Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras (Secretary for the Joint Staff) (6-months) August 1997 to January 1998.
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Baghdad International Airport, (Senior Defense Counsel) (Temporary Duty) June 2004.
Operation Enduring Freedom, Jalalabad, Afghanistan – 2007-2008 (Brigade Judge Advocate) (16-months) May 2007 to August 2008.
Operation Enduring Freedom, Kandahar, Afghanistan – 2012 (Special Victim Prosecutor) (Temporary Duty) February, April 2012.
Deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to advise the staff judge advocate (SJA) and commander of the 82nd Airborne Division on the initial stages of several high-profile cases covered widely in the media. After conducting an initial review of the then-existing evidence and interviewing the then-known available witnesses, advised the commander and SJA of the strengths, weaknesses and recommended courses of action in the cases of the United States v. 1LT Schwartz, United States v. SGT Holcomb, United States v. SPC Offutt, United States v. SSG Van Bockel, United States v. SGT Hurst, United States v. Curtis, United States v. Carden, United States v. SSG Dugas (collectively known as the PVT Danny Chen hazing/suicide cases) and the case of the United States v. BG Sinclair. The accuseds in the PVT Chen cases were charged with offense ranging from involuntary manslaughter to dereliction of duty stemming from widespread hazing causing PVT Chen to take his own life. BG Sinclair was ultimately charged with multiple offenses stemming from inappropriate relationships with several subordinates, including maltreatment and forcible sodomy. The forcible sodomy charges were subsequently dismissed by the government..
Advocacy & Legal Issues Trainer (Chief of Training, 8th Legal Operations Detachment, USAR) August 2014 to August 2022.
Responsibilities as Chief of Training include supporting training requests from area reserve units for legal training on multiple legal topics including the law of war (international humanitarian law), escalation of force, and sexual assault prevention. Additional responsibilities include advocacy training for judge advocates at Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Leavenworth. Specific courses taught include Cross-Examination of the Criminally Accused, Effective Opening Statements, and How to Conduct Meaningful Voir Dire.
Conference Developer & Sexual Assault Prosecution Trainer (Special Victim Prosecutor, USAREUR) July 2010 to July 2014.
In addition to trying nearly 40 cases to a jury, was responsible for training military prosecutors on how to investigate and prosecute sexual assault cases. Courses taught at include the Sexual Assault Trial Advocacy Course (SATAC), New Prosecutor’s Course, Military Institute for the Prosecution of Cases of Sexual Violence, and other TCAP sponsored courses. Specific classes researched, planned, and taught include Investigating Sexual Assault Cases, Direct & Cross-Examination of Experts, Use of Experts, Prosecuting Article 120 Cases, Discovery, Interview of Non-Adversarial Witnesses, Conducting Direct Examination, Pre-Trial Motions in a Sexual Assault Case, Effective Closing Arguments, Presenting the Government’s Case in Sexual Assault Cases, MRE 412, Pre-Trial Preparation and Conducting Voir Dire.
Chief of Advocacy & Litigation Training (Chief of DCAP, U.S. Army Trial Defense Services) September 2008 to June 2010.
Was responsible for developing and delivering the training program for the approximately 300 active and reserve component TDS defense counsel worldwide. In conjunction with TCAP, he personally created and developed the Program of Instruction for the Sexual Assault Trial Advocacy Course (SATAC). Designed and implemented the “Defense Counsel 101” 3-day seminar. Courses taught include the SATAC, multiple Regional Defense Training Conferences, Defense Counsel 101 and other DCAP sponsored training seminars. Classes researched, planned, and taught include Article 32 as a Discovery Tool, Defense of Child Sexual Abuse Cases, Discovery and Requesting Expert Assistance, Investigation and Pre-trial Preparation of Witnesses, Motions Practice, Developing a Persuasive Sentencing Case, Defense Voir Dire, Cross-Examination of Government Witnesses, Themes – Strategies and Tactics, Defense Counsel Ethics, False Confessions, Defense of Article 112a Cases, Witness Impeachment and Attacking the Government Case.
Advocacy Conference Developer & Instructor (Senior Defense Counsel, U.S. Army Trial Defense Services) July 2003 to July 2005.
In addition to trying cases, was responsible for planning, developing and presenting three European Defense Counsel Conferences, each with five days of instruction. The design of these conferences included developing the classes offered and the Program of Instruction for most of the classes taught at each 5-day conference. Taught multiple classes at each conference including Closing Arguments, Cross-Examination, Use of Experts, Defending Child Sexual Assault Cases, Defending Drug Cases, Developing Effective Impeachment, Understanding Forensic Evidence, Utilizing the Article 32 as Discovery, and Maximizing the Sentencing Case.
Adjunct Professor (University of Phoenix, Germany) January 2001 to May 2003.
Taught graduate business law classes as his schedule permitted. Twice he taught Law 531, Business Law, which prepared students to evaluate the legal risks associated with business activity. Students were required to create proposals to manage an organization’s legal exposure. Other topics taught in the course included the legal system, alternative dispute resolution, enterprise liability, product liability, international law, business risks, intellectual property, legal forms of business, and corporate governance.
Adjunct Speech & Communication Professor (University of Maryland University College, Germany) January 2001 to May 2003.
In addition to military duties, taught 1-2 classes each term, schedule permitting. The communication classes taught included Speech 100, Foundations of Speech Communication, an overview of the principles of communication, Speech 101, Introduction to Public Speaking, a study of the basic principles of communication as applied to public speaking, and Speech 200, Advanced Public Speaking, a study of the rhetorical principles and models of speech composition.
Litigation & Trial Consultant (Legal Communication Concepts, Houston, Texas) June 1991 to October 1993.
Utilized vast communication background to advise trial attorneys on pending litigation matters. The case analysis would identify case specific strengths and weaknesses, identify favorable and unfavorable juror characteristics, improve witness performance, develop demonstrative exhibits, and evaluate attorney’s presentation skills. Case analysis employed qualitative and quantitative research to ascertain how jurors would interpret competing stories, issues and themes presented by the litigants. Types of cases consulted included aviation mishaps, admiralty, fraud, lender liability and deceptive trade practices.
Speech & Debate Coach (Houston Baptist University) August 1990 to May 1991.
Taught, directed, and mentored the 12-15 members of the HBU debate team, prepared students for intercollegiate debate tournaments, and traveled to 8-10 tournaments a year. Assisted students with preparing cases, responding to opponent’s arguments, developing areas of cross-examination, anticipating opponent’s cross examination questions, structuring case arguments and conducting research on topical policy issues. Advised and coached students competing in individual speaking events such as extemporaneous speaking, original oratory and impromptu speaking.
Undergraduate Communication Studies Teaching Assistant (University of North Texas, Denton, Texas) May 1988 to May 1989.
While enrolled in graduate school, assisted the communication faculty teaching COMM 1010, Introduction to Communication Studies. The course examined how communication principles and skills influence our understanding of current social problems. The course covered the basics of communication and community engagement, focusing on communication skills and collaborative group building skills.
The Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, with over a century of combined legal experience, has served as Warrior AdvocatesTM in multiple complex and high-profile military cases. Founded in 2015, and rebranded and relaunched on October 14, 2023, the Warrior AdvocatesTM of the firm represent Warrior ClientsTM in most military law cases, including military justice matters, adverse administrative actions, complex legal assistance issues, affirmative administrative actions, and fundamental military employment problems.
Experts in rebutting adverse administrative actions, our Warrior AdvocatesTM represent Warrior ClientsTM facing command-directed investigations and AR 15-6 investigations, responding to adverse findings of investigations and AAIP filings, and answering notices seeking to revoke security clearances and professional de-credentialing.
Pending the need for legal advice for complex legal assistance questions, Warrior ClientsTM routinely rely on our Warrior AdvocatesTM in responding to GOMORs, letters of reprimand, and referred, relief for cause, and negative performance evaluations (NCOERs and OERs), assisting with medical issues such as MEBs and PEBs, navigating centralized board actions such as applications to the service component Board of Correction of Military Records (BCMRs) and Discharge Review Boards, and answering QMP Boards, the DASEB, the AGDRB, SSRBs, and other service-specific boards.
When our Warrior ClientsTM suffer wrongs by their command or fellow service members, our Warrior AdvocatesTM advise and assist submitting Inspector General (IG) complaints, Equal Opportunity (EO) complaints, and Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention (SHARP) grievances and filing complaints and claims under Article 138 UCMJ (remedying command wrongs) and Article 139 UCMJ (compensation for wrongful taking/damage to personal property).
Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.
Call our Warrior AdvocatesTM at the Law Office of Will M. Helixon, your Warrior Law TeamTM, today to help with your legal issues in Germany, Poland, and the United States. All our Warrior AdvocatesTM maintain licenses to practice before all military trial courts.Our Warrior AdvocatesTM also assist Warrior ClientsTM with basic military employment issues including responding to notices of suspensions and terminations and submitting initial applications with the EEOC and MSPB.
Vilseck: Bürgermeister-Weiss-Strasse 5, 92249 Vilseck, Germany
Wiesbaden: Bärenstrasse 3, 65183 Wiesbaden, Germany
Kaiserslautern: Europaallee 33, 67657 Kaiserslautern, Germany
POLAND
Poznan: Andersia Business Ctr., 1st Floor, 7 Anders’ Square, Poznan, 61-894
UNITED STATES
Central Texas: 700 Smith St. #61070, SMB# 50377, Houston, TX 77002
Washington: 1201 Pacific Avenue, 6th Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402
Colorado: 102 S. Tejon Street, Suite 1100, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
KY/TN: 1860 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Suite 128L, Clarksville, TN 37040
OKC/N. Texas: 1019 Waterwood Parkway, Suite C, Edmund, OK, 73034
Germany +49 (0) 152 2990 0341
United States (913) 353-6466 (main)
Toll Free (844) HELIXON (435-4966)