A lion of the trial bar, James J. Brosnahan is one of the most respected and recognized trial lawyers in the United States. Mr. Brosnahan has 50 years of expertise in both civil and criminal trial work. He has tried more than 140 cases to verdict, including many high-profile cases involving antitrust and competition law, complex commercial litigation, IP and patent litigation, employment law, product liability, and white-collar criminal defense.
Mr. Brosnahan has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his distinguished career. In 2006, he was inducted into the State Bar of California's "Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame" and was awarded the Samuel E. Gates Award by the American College of Trial Lawyers for his "significant, exceptional lasting contribution to the improvement of the litigation process." In 2001, Mr. Brosnahan was named "Trial Lawyer of the Year" by the American Board of Trial Advocates, and the following year, the San Francisco Lawyers' Club honored Mr. Brosnahan with its "Legend of the Law" award. In 2006, he was named one of America's most influential trial lawyers by the National Law Journal. In 2007, he received the American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Award for Professionalism and Ethics to recognize a "lifetime devoted to the highest standards of ethical practice, competence, and professionalism." Mr. Brosnahan is recommended as a leading lawyer by Chambers USA every year since its launch. He is also ranked by PLC Which lawyer? 2009, Best Lawyers in America 2010 (for the past 25 years), Benchmark Litigation 2010, Euromoney’s Expert Guides and the top 10 in Northern California Super Lawyers 2009.
Mr. Brosnahan is active in professional activities and is a past president of the Bar Association of San Francisco, whose Volunteer Lawyers Service Program he founded. He was also a National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA) Teacher of the Year.
Mr. Brosnahan has served as special counsel to the California Legislature's Joint Subcommittee on Crude Oil Pricing, the lawyer representative to the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference and Chairman of the Delegation. Mr. Brosnahan also serves as Master Advocate on the faculty and member of the Board of Trustees of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
Mr. Brosnahan authored the "Trial Handbook for California Lawyers."
Selected Press Coverage:
- "Brosnahan Still Fighting After 50 Years: Veteran Trial Lawyer and MoFo senior partner has lost only 11 of 142 trials, is as busy as ever," Daily Journal, 6/25/09.
- "Top 10 Northern California Super Lawyers 2009," Super Lawyers, 2009.
- "The Right to Counsel in Civil Cases: If Not Now, When?", The Recorder, 4/18/2008.
- "The Man Who Hates Injustice," Super Lawyers, 2006.
- "The One That Got Away," California Lawyer, January 1993.
- "Who Gets the High-Profile cases?", California Lawyer, 2007.
- "Labor Woes Going Global," The Recorder, 2005.
Recipient of:
- American Inns of Court Lewis F. Powell Award for Professionalism and Ethics
- Champion of Justice award from the Civil Justice Program at the Loyola Law School
- University of Virginia Justice William Brennan Award
- Lawyers Club of San Francisco inaugural "Legends of the Law" award
- California ABOTA "Trial Lawyer of the Year"
- The Wiley E. Manuel Foundation's Community Service Award
- National Institute for Trial Advocacy Faculty Award (1991)
- National Jewish Fund, Tree of Life Award (1991)
- National Institute for Trial Advocate Award (1990)
- William O. Douglas Award (1988)
- Father Moriarty Central American Refugee Recognition (1987)
- American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award
- Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Legal Services Award (1985)