William J. Brennan

WBRENNAN@BUTERALAW.COM

Law Practice:

William J. (Bill) Brennan is an "AV" rated trial lawyer and municipal solicitor who has spent his entire 35 year legal career with the Firm. Bill routinely represents local government, large and small corporations, partnerships and individuals in complex civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. As a result of his diligence, persistence and attention to detail, his clients have achieved excellent and cost effective results. In 1992, Bill tried a catastrophic personal injury case to a jury in Bucks County, Pennsylvania which resulted in the largest personal injury verdict in the history of that county – it stood as the largest verdict for more than 10 years Bui v. Officine Meccaniche No. 90-3443. Bill has represented municipalities, landowners and developers in significant zoning and development litigation and has also been involved in numerous labor law and employment cases. Judges rarely note favorably the performance of lawyers who appear before them, however, in a published U.S. District Court Opinion, the Honorable Clarence Newcomer specifically commented on Mr. Brennan’s “excellent performance at trial”. 1995 W.L. 116646. In another published Opinion, the Honorable William Vogel of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas commented favorably on Bill’s "skillful research" and the "eloquence with which it was presented at oral argurment." 102 Montg. L. R. 319.

Recognizing the importance of cost effective business resolutions, Bill strongly favors practical, thoughtful and innovative solutions to business disputes, but is experienced, creative and aggressive on behalf of his clients when formal litigation is required.

Bill spent more than 20 years as the municipal Solicitor to Upper Providence Township in Montgomery County, where he also represented the Upper Providence Municipal Authority. During that time, he defeated, after 42 hearings, a well funded development proposal for a 50,000 watt 6 tower AM radio station and was involved in management of municipal legal affairs for the development of major commercial and industrial sites, including the present world headquarters of several Fortune 500 drug companies. Bill has recently been appointed to serve as Solicitor to Schuylkill Township, Chester County and the Lower Providence Township Sewer Authority. Bill has also been involved in litigation which ultimately resulted in a change in the law of Pennsylvania concerning the so called “English Rule” regarding malicious prosecution, allowing victims of improper lawsuits to recover.

Bill has written articles in the field of personal injury, tort law, including on the topic of “assumption of risk” and he regularly participates in writing for the Firm’s newsletter. He is a former member of the Planning Commission in Schuylkill Township and the Council of Trustees at West Chester University.

Professional Memberships:

• Montgomery County Bar Association
  
• Pennsylvania Bar Association
  

Admissions:

• Pennsylvania, 1976
  
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 1976
• United States Tax Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• United States Supreme Court

Education:

• Villanova University (B.A., cum laude, 1973)
  
• Villanova University (J.D., 1976)

Professional Activities:

• Solicitor to Schuylkill Township
• Solicitor to Lower Providence Township Sewer Authority

Selected Practice Areas:

• Major Business Civil Litigation in state and federal court
• Municipal Law and Land Use/Zoning
• Major Personal Injury matters/Wrongful Death
  
• Motor Vehicle Law and Arbitration
• Estate/Probate Litigation
• Employment Litigation/Non-Union Labor Matters (Plaintiff and Defense)
• Discrimination Cases (Race/Sex/Age/Disability) (Plaintiff and Defense)
• Corporate/Partnership Disputes
• Insurance Matters (Claims disputes, Coverage matters)
• Shareholder/Investor Litigation
• Estate/Probate Litigation
• Civil Rights Litigation