Specializing in high exposure, complex civil litigation, Brian has represented his clients in the rail, trucking, construction, and insurance industries as Wisconsin State Counsel and has expanded his practice throughout the Midwest. A career long member of the National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel, he prides himself in having defended Class I as well as regional, and short line railroads in all areas of litigation, from administrative law forums to the defense of catastrophic crossing accidents.

Brian originated multi-disciplinary defense strategies for Class I railroads in Wisconsin, leading to the aggressive defense of his clients by mobilizing first-day assessment strike teams to protect them from major liability exposure.

A specialist in the defense of cumulative trauma and environmental exposure litigation, Brian argued and won the seminal case of Fries v. CNW, 909 F.2d. 1092, before the Federal Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, establishing a protective interpretation of the statute of limitations which continues to protect the rail industry from FELA exposure.

His keen interest in the art as well as the science of trial practice has led Brian to study the psychology of jury decision-making and to speak nationally on this subject. His clients benefit from his attention to more than just the facts of a case, as he focuses as well on the creative use of mediation strategies to secure the early resolution of high exposure legal claims.

EDUCATION

University of Tulsa, J.D., cum laude, Law Journal, Published
University of Wisconsin, B.A., Political Science

BAR ADMISSIONS

Wisconsin

COURT MEMBERSHIPS

Wisconsin Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

AFFILIATIONS & COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

American Bar Association
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Wisconsin Bar Association