Brian is a principal in the Business & General Litigation practice group and specializes in resolving complex disputes with government regulators. He regularly provides counsel to clients in their efforts to avoid or respond to federal, state, and local government investigations and enforcement matters. Brian also serves as an advocate on behalf of clients in proceedings before government agencies, and strategizes with them regarding their government relations and advocacy efforts.
Brian also serves as the cochair of the firm’s E-Discovery group and is regularly called upon to advise clients in their efforts to preserve, collect, process, and produce electronically stored information in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Before joining Gray Plant Mooty, Brian served as an assistant attorney general in the Minnesota Attorney General's Office in the Health, Antitrust, and Complex Litigation groups. Before moving to Minnesota, Brian worked as an associate in the Madison office of a large Wisconsin law firm focusing on administrative and regulatory matters.
Experience
- Managed complex litigation and government investigations involving health care, public and private health insurance, government contracting, false advertising and fair trade practices, fraud and embezzlement, election law and political advocacy, and land use and zoning issues
- Obtained $1.5 million judgment against a client’s former employee who orchestrated a complex fraud and embezzlement scheme
- Advised money transmitting company in its daily efforts to cooperate with requests for electronically stored information received in connection with federal, state, and foreign government investigations
- Obtained grant of asylum for client who fled her home country of Cameroon due to political persecution
Publications
- “Stepped Up Efforts Under the False Claims Act Lead to Large Recoveries,” coauthor, GPM Litigation Update, September 21, 2011
- "What Does Citizens United v. FEC Mean for Minnesotans?" Nonprofit Alert, February 2010
- "Minnesota Regulators Expected to Pass False Claims Act," Health Law Newsletter, Winter 2009
- "The Department of Justice Under President Obama and Attorney General Holder: Priorities and Expectations," White Collar Update, Winter 2009
- "Quality of Care as a Basis for False Claims Act Liability: Is the Proof Insurmountable?" co-author, The Sedona Conference Journal, Fall 2008
Presentations
- “Priorities at the U.S. Attorney’s Office Under the New Administration—A Conversation with New U.S. Attorney B. Todd Jones,” panelist, September 2009
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., with honors
- University of Notre Dame, B.A. in economics and environmental science, with honors, Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
- U.S. District Court, District of Wisconsin
- Wisconsin
Professional Activities
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Wisconsin State Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Judicial intern, Wisconsin Supreme Court
- Aide for Congressman Paul Ryan
Community Involvement
- Minnesota Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP), co-president of the board
- The Advocates for Human Rights, volunteer attorney
- Twin Cities Diversity In Practice, volunteer attorney mentor
- Dane County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), former board president