Atty. Brian O'Connor Watson
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.
Profile Summary
About Brian O'Connor Watson at a glance
Brian O'Connor Watson is a business and litigation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar, Indiana, Indiana State Bar, Missouri, Missouri State Bar, and Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Bar. Educated at Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT (J.D., 2010) and Purdue University (—, 2005). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- 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
Practice Areas Explained
Brian O'Connor Watson's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Brian O'Connor Watson handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Brian O'Connor Watson is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Illinois →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
Brian O'Connor Watson is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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