Commercial Litigation
Brian O'Connor Watson
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2022 View Brian O'Connor Watson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/riley-safer-holmes-&-cancila-llp/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RileySaferHolmesandCancila/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/RSHC_LAW_FIRM/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on X at https://twitter.com/rshc_llp
View Brian O'Connor Watson on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/riley-safer-holmes-&-cancila-llp/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RileySaferHolmesandCancila/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/RSHC_LAW_FIRM/ View Brian O'Connor Watson on X at https://twitter.com/rshc_llp
Awarded Practice Areas
Biography
Brian gets things done: a nationally ranked lawyer with engineering and business expertise who’s just as comfortable trying cases in the courtroom as he is creating solutions at the negotiation table.
As a trusted advisor and first-chair trial lawyer, Brian has represented clients through every stage of litigation on both sides of the “v” from pre-suit negotiations through trials and verdicts to appeals and judgment enforcement.
Earlier in his career, Brian finished graduate degrees in engineering, business, and law—all while working full time and cherishing caffeine—so he’s also spent time with clients out on their 100‑degree factory floors, their unpredictable fields, their innovative tech centers, and their company headquarters.
Brian dedicates countless hours to pro bono and community service in a broad range of areas from constitutional and civil rights, discrimination, family and consumer law, to public benefits and immigration. He’s deeply committed to helping those most in need.
Overview
- Gender: Male
- Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT, J.D., cum laude, graduated 2010
- Purdue University, M.S., Engineering, graduated 2005
- DePaul University, M.B.A., with distinction, Delta Mu Delta, graduated 2004
- Michigan Technological University, B.S., Electrical Engineering, Economics Minor, cum laude, graduated 2002
- Illinois, Illinois State Bar
- Indiana, Indiana State Bar
- Missouri, Missouri State Bar
- Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Bar
- American Bar Association - Member
- Chicago Bar Association - Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
- Federal Bar Association - Member
- Illinois State Bar Association - Member
- Indiana State Bar Association - Member
- Missouri Bar Association - Member
- Wisconsin Bar Association - Member
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
- United States District Court
- Illinois, Illinois State Bar
- Indiana, Indiana State Bar
- Missouri, Missouri State Bar
- Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Bar
- American Bar Association - Member
- Chicago Bar Association - Member
- Defense Research Institute (DRI) - Member
- Federal Bar Association - Member
- Illinois State Bar Association - Member
- Indiana State Bar Association - Member
- Missouri Bar Association - Member
- Wisconsin Bar Association - Member
- Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT, J.D., cum laude, graduated 2010
- Purdue University, M.S., Engineering, graduated 2005
- DePaul University, M.B.A., with distinction, Delta Mu Delta, graduated 2004
- Michigan Technological University, B.S., Electrical Engineering, Economics Minor, cum laude, graduated 2002
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
- Gender: Male
- United States District Court
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
Awards:
Illinois Leading Lawyer in Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Defense Law: General, and Products Liability Defense Law, Law Bulletin Media Leading Lawyers (2022-2025)
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