Brian J. Williams

Member

Recent News:

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 19 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

Ira Bodenstein, Jack Carriglio, Janet Davis, John Dunn, Mitch Edlund, Wendy Enerson, Gary Gassman, Tia Ghattas, Jeremy Glenn, Erin Bolan Hines, Mark Rabinowitz, Peter Roberts, Brian Shaw, Joseph Tilson, Julie Trester, Peter Valeta, Anna Wermuth, and Brian Williams were recognized as Leading Lawyers, Christina Sanfelippo was recognized as an Emerging Lawyer.

Brian Williams has trial and litigation experience in a wide array of practice areas. He has an extensive background in professional negligence, product liability, fiduciary duty, employment, personal injury, construction and commercial litigation. He has been involved in and argued numerous appeals in the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal, the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Appellate Courts. A primary focus of Brian’s practice is the defense of a variety of professionals against claims of errors and omissions. Brian’s professional liability defense work includes defending insurance agents and brokers in defense of claims for breaches of fiduciary duty, and negligence. He has handled cases involving significant business interruption losses relating to the placement of commercial liability policies and policy recommendations.

Brian has also successfully defended numerous attorneys facing claims of malpractice, breach of fiduciary duties, and violations of ethical responsibilities. Through this work, Brian has helped create new precedent in the Illinois appellate courts which provides immunity to attorneys in certain circumstances. In addition, he represents engineers in multimillion-dollar claims arising out of alleged errors and omissions in construction design. He has also represented numerous medical professionals involving claims of negligence and malfeasance. 

Brian’s extensive litigation experience extends beyond representing professionals into multiple other areas of commercial litigation. He has litigated employment discrimination matters in federal and state courts across the nation. He has successfully defended major corporations in numerous product liability cases in courts throughout Illinois, including mass tort and food-borne illness claims. Brian has represented numerous national and international corporations in commercial disputes and complex litigation.

In addition to his trial experience, Brian has resolved numerous cases through motion practice in the state and federal court systems. He has also helped many clients favorably settle a variety of disputes through negotiation, mediation, and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. In addition, Brian devotes his efforts to advising clients on good business practices to avoid litigation in the first instance.

Brian earned a Bachelor’s of Science, with highest honors, from Western Illinois University in 1982 and a law degree from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1986.

Experience

News

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 19 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 05, 2024

Ira Bodenstein, Jack Carriglio, Janet Davis, John Dunn, Mitch Edlund, Wendy Enerson, Gary Gassman, Tia Ghattas, Jeremy Glenn, Erin Bolan Hines, Mark Rabinowitz, Peter Roberts, Brian Shaw, Joseph Tilson, Julie Trester, Peter Valeta, Anna Wermuth, and Brian Williams were recognized as Leading Lawyers, Christina Sanfelippo was recognized as an Emerging Lawyer.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 23 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 02, 2022

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 22 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named one other as an Emerging Lawyer in its 2022 survey results.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 26 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

January 26, 2021

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 24 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named two others as Emerging Lawyers in its 2021 survey results.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 17 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

May 21, 2019

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 17 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners - including one Emerging Lawyer - in its 2019 survey results.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 22 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

November 29, 2017

Leading Lawyers Network has recognized 22 Cozen O'Connor attorneys as top Illinois practitioners, including 19 "Leading Lawyers" and 3 "Emerging Lawyers" for its 2017 survey results publication.

Publications

Finish with a Punch: Tips for Writing Effective Conclusions

November 02, 2018

Brian J. Williams, a member in the firm's Commercial Litigation Department, authored "Finish with a Punch: Tips for Writing Effective Conclusions" for the American Bar Association.

Industry Sectors

Education

  • IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., with honors, 1986
  • Western Illinois University, B.S., with honors, 1982

Awards & Honors

Leading Lawyers Network, Top Illinois Practitioner

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Michigan
  • American Bar Association