Intro
Brian is a nationally-recognized and award-winning trial attorney who specializes in high stakes, high profile disputes. His clients range from top ENR-ranked contractors, Fortune 500 businesses, start-up companies, partnerships, founders and entrepreneurs. He has successfully handled claims for delay and disruption, non-payment, failed acquisitions, fraud, trade secret misappropriation, commercial real estate, environmental torts, and product defect.
Brian has developed a track record of success in front of federal and state juries, judges, and arbitrators throughout the country. One of his first major victories was a $1.15 billion judgment against manufacturers of lead-based paint – the largest representative public nuisance case in California history. He later prosecuted over $1 billion in claims against Bernie Madoff, KPMG, Yahoo!, JP Morgan Chase, Micron Technologies, AECOM, and many others.
Brian serves on the firm’s Associate Evaluation Committee and is a proud supporter of the Tipping Point Community, a non-profit organization that fights poverty throughout the Bay Area.
Areas of Focus
Education
Academic Distinction
Articles Editor, University of San Francisco Law Review
Admissions and Courts
Role
San Rafael Market Leader
Northern California Chapter of the Construction Management Association of American (CMAA), Board of Directors
Corte Madera Flood Control, Board of Directors
Association of Business Trial Lawyers, Leadership Development Committee
ABA Construction Forum
San Francisco Bar Association
San Mateo County Bar Association
"Hanson Bridgett's Brian Schnarr Featured on 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America," Hanson Bridgett Press Release (September 2024)
"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)
Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025)
Lawdragon 500 X - The Next Generation, Commercial Litigation (2023)
Law360 Rising Star - Construction (2022)
The Legal 500, Recommended Lawyer (2019)
Super Lawyers, Construction Litigation; Business Litigation (2013-2022)
Trial Lawyer of the Year, San Francisco Trial Lawyers (2014)
Trial Lawyer of the Year, Public Justice (2014)
Contributing Editor, Architect and Engineer Liability: Claims Against Design Professionals (5th Ed. Wolters Kluwer 2020), Chapter 12 – Design Professional as Construction Manager
Contributing Author, Architect and Engineer Liability: Claims Against Design Professionals (5th Ed. Wolters Kluwer 2020), Chapter 5 – Liability on the Contract
"Building Blocks: Exploring Legislative Updates in the Construction Industry," CMAA Northern California Chapter’s Annual 2024 New Law Update (August 2024)
"The Economics of Access to Civil Justice," (March 2014)