Brian M. Schnarr

Brian’s trial and arbitration experience includes the following:

• Brian and his partner Andrew Giacomini won a $156 million jury verdict in the Federal District Court of Colorado.  The in-person trial was held during the COVID-19 pandemic and operated under strict health and safety protocols.  Overcoming these challenges, he was able to prove claims for fraud, concealment, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy against a former business partner related the foreclosure and loss of a large shopping center.  The victory was highlighted by Law360 in its June 22, 2021 article, "How Hanson Bridgett Took A $156M Case Over The Finish Line."
   
• As lead attorney, Brian obtained a $12 million arbitration award against a private equity firm following the acquisition of a SaaS technology company.  The buyer sought to re-trade the deal through asserting bogus indemnification claims and an artificially low earn out calculation.  Brian presented his clients’ case to a JAMS arbitrator, who awarded the entire claim value, dismissed all counterclaims, and awarded attorneys’ fees and costs.  The Buyer then tried to overturn the award in two different courtrooms on opposite sides of the country, California and Delaware.  Brian managed both litigations and aggressively pursued judgment until the matter settled on the eve of the confirmation hearing.
   
• Brian was trial counsel on a landmark $103 million payment and disruption claim involving a major design/build highway expansion project. The jury trial was 52 days long. The court received testimony from over 40 witnesses and admitted over 600 exhibits. The case is one of the largest design/build disputes tried to a jury, and is remarkable for innovative decisions on the California Contractors’ Licensing Law, and using a “Spearin” jury instruction against a designer in a design/build project.
   
• Brian brought a $90 million claim to trial against five defendants (including a top ENR contractor) on behalf of the owners of the Intercontinental Hotel in San Francisco. The dispute involved defective gray sealant (PIB) installed in over 6,400 insulating glass units that made up the entire exterior of the new luxury hotel.  Brian helped defeat five summary judgment motions on cutting edge legal issues, and fought off numerous pre-trial motions in limine to get the matter to trial.  After presenting substantial evidence of the PIB defect to the jury, including its cause at a molecular level, the defense settled on terms that were very favorable to the clients.
   
• Brian won Trial Lawyer of the Year by both the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association and by Public Justice for securing a $1.15 billion dollar judgment against manufacturers of lead-based paint.  In this fourteen year old case for public nuisance, Brian worked alongside ten cities and counties in various parts of California, included the City and County of San Francisco, Alameda County, Los Angeles County, and the City of San Diego.  The case stands as the largest representative public nuisance judgment in California history.
   
• Brian brought a multi-million dollar delay and differing site condition claim to trial in the Central District of California.  The case involved a complex landfill cover system (a monolithic evapotranspiration (ET) cover) that was installed at a federal military base.  The case settled on the first day of trial for 100% of the claim value plus attorney’s fees.
   
• Brian was lead trial attorney in a JAMS arbitration where he obtained a half-million dollar arbitration award for a large commercial real estate company in a dispute against a corporate tenant over deferred repair and maintenance obligations.
   
• Brian was lead trial attorney in an engineering defect case where the homeowners brought fraud claims against the former mayor of a well-known Silicon Valley city.  This high profile case was resolved on the first day of trial after Brian successfully tried his affirmative defense on statute of limitations first, which resulted in a complete defense of the claims and a monetary payment to his client.
   
• One year after passing the bar, Brian appeared in his first civil jury trial where he represented an 86 year old resident of San Mateo County in an elder abuse action against a skilled nursing facility. After a two week trial in the San Mateo Superior Court, the jury returned a verdict for $1,844,400.  The matter settled before the punitive damages stage.
   

"Hanson Bridgett's Brian Schnarr and David Casarrubias Featured on 2023 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation," (July 2023) 

"Rising Star: Hanson Bridgett's Brian Schnarr," Law360 (June 2022)

"Del. Superior Judge To Oversee Chancery Merger Dispute," Law360 (December 2021)

"How Hanson Bridgett Took A $156M Case Over The Finish Line," Law360 (June 2021)