Brian Burgess > Goodwin > Washington DC, United States > Lawyer Profile

Goodwin Offices

Goodwin
901 NEW YORK AVENUE, NW
WASHINGTON DC 20001
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
United States
Visit website 1 202 346 4000 1 202 346 4444

Brian Burgess

Brian Burgess photo
2023464215 bburgess@goodwinlaw.com

Position

Partner

Career

Brian Burgess is a partner in Goodwin’s Litigation Department and Appellate and Supreme Court Litigation practice, co-chairs the firm’s FDA Litigation practice (which was honored by LMG in 2022 as the FDA Litigation & Enforcement Firm of the Year) and is a member of the firm’s Life Sciences Disputes group. His work focuses on appellate matters and complex civil litigation in federal courts, and he has experience in a wide range of areas including antitrust law, administrative law (with a particular focus on FDA litigation), constitutional law, intellectual property and financial services litigation. Brian has argued appeals in numerous courts, including twice in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Brian is recognized in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as an “Up and Coming” attorney in the Nationwide Appellate Rankings, where he is noted in particular for “expertise in advising life sciences clients in disputes work.” Clients laud Brian for providing “timely and helpful advice across a variety of issues” and describe him as “a tremendous up-and-coming litigator” with “the unique skill of taking complicated controversial topics and making them simple, understandable and logical.” Another client notes that Brian is “a phenomenal lawyer with an impressive command of a variety of issues” and describes him as “a good writer and a strong oral advocate” with “tremendous drive.” Brian has also been named to Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under Hot List” for six consecutive years, from 2017-2022 and is a recommended lawyer for appellate by the Legal 500. In 2020, Brian was named a “D.C. Rising Star” by the National Law Journal.

Prior to joining Goodwin, Brian served as a law clerk to Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the Supreme Court of the United States. He previously worked in the Department of Justice as a special assistant to the Solicitor General.

Education

J.D., 2009 New York University (summa cum laude) / A.B., 2005 Dartmouth College (summa cum laude)

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Dispute resolution > Appellate: courts of appeals / Appellate: supreme courts (states and federal)

The appellate practice at Goodwin finds favor for its ‘ability to synthesize complex and nuanced legal issues’. Historically best known for its record in life sciences and technology-related appeals, where it can lean on the wider firm’s dominant industry offerings, the group additionally handles a steady stream of class actions, financial services and transport-related cases. In Washington DC, high-profile appellate specialist William Jay contributes experience in arguing seventeen cases before SCOTUS; he recently scored a win for Boeing—and co-defendant Southwest Airlines—at the Fifth Circuit in a case concerning Boeing’s 737 MAX aircraft. The DC team also draws on Brian Burgess, who co-chairs the FDA litigation practice, and up-and-coming appellate partner Jaime Santos, who has a focus on ERISA litigation, patent litigation, constitutional law and product litigation. Recommended in Boston are experienced department head Kevin Martin; David Zimmer, who specializes in IP, administrative law and consumer financial services; and newly promoted partner Gerard Cedrone.

Lawyer Rankings

Top Tier Firm Rankings

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