Brian  Murnane


Brian specializes in complex commercial litigation, product liability and multiparty mass tort litigation. For over eight years he helped defend a multinational corporation in on-going product liability litigation in state and federal courts around the country. He currently represents that client, and others, in the New York asbestos litigation.

Brian has also represented clients in a range of commercial matters, including an oil drilling company in connection with an interpleader action filed by a Lloyds insurance syndicate; a large, regional bank against breach of contract claims filed by co-lenders in a syndicated asset-based loan; an Irish life insurance company in a loan participation dispute; a Middle East bank in an effort to attach debtor's New York assets; a debt issuer against interest default claims asserted by a subordinated debt holder; a convertible preferred shareholder in an action against the debt issuer to enforce liquidity event rights; and a cable television station in a sales commission dispute with its former sales representative (three-day arbitration).

Brian has extensive experience with all phases of the litigation process, including large scale document productions; e-discovery disputes; protective orders; depositions; preparation of company witnesses; motion practice; trial strategy; and appeals. Brian has served as client representative at numerous toxic tort/product liability trials around the country; he second-chaired a federal court trial involving cost-recovering claims under the federal CERCLA statute; and he has argued appeals in U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.

Experience

  • 2012 - Darger Errante Yavitz & Blau
  • 2009 - Zukerman Gore Brandeis & Crossman
  • 2004 - Bingham McCutchen
  • 1989 - Richards & O'Neil
  • 1985 - Connell, Foley & Geiser
  • 1985 - Law Clerk, Hon. Thomas S. O'Brien (N.J. Superior Ct., Appellate Division)

Education

  • J.D., University of Notre Dame Law School
  • B.S., State University of New York, Brockport

Court Admissions

  • New York
  • US District Court, Southern District of New York