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.