Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Names Three New Partners: Jason Snyder and Will Brewer IV in New York, and Noah Peters in Dallas
January 3, 2024 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announces that three attorneys have been promoted to its partnership – Jason Snyder and Will Brewer IV in New York, and Noah Peters in Dallas. The announcements highlight another successful year for the firm, as it prepares for trials in New York, Texas, and Delaware and celebrates a string of successful outcomes with the Brewer Storefront, the firm’s community-service legal affiliate.
“We are excited to move these talented professionals into senior leadership positions,” said William A. Brewer III, founding partner of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “These promotions reflect the value of their contributions – and speak to our commitment to continuously reward excellence, cultivate talent, and position the firm for success in high-stakes advocacy.”
Jason Snyder
Partner, New York City
With a robust background in commercial litigation, Snyder’s experience includes representing diverse clients, including financial institutions, healthcare companies, and a prominent multistate cannabis entity. At Brewer, Snyder is particularly active in the hospitality practice group – representing owners, developers, and management companies in some of the industry’s most high-profile matters.
Snyder began his legal career at Cahill, Gordon & Reindel LLP, representing issuers, underwriters, and initial purchasers of equity and debt securities from Cahill’s offices in New York and London. He also served as Of Counsel at Paduano & Weintraub LLP, where he represented individuals, financial institutions, healthcare companies, and one of the largest vertically integrated multistate cannabis companies in the United States in state and federal litigation, arbitration, and appeals. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Queens College – CUNY.
Will Brewer IV
Partner, New York City
Brewer’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution, with a particular focus on employment issues. In recent years, he has built a thriving labor and employment practice at the firm, where he has successfully represented parties in disputes from initial stages through resolution. With oversight from Brewer IV, the practice group helps the firm’s corporate and nonprofit clients ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, while also providing strategic counsel on matters of significance. Brewer’s current docket includes representing individual clients on matters regarding wrongful termination, harassment, and discrimination. Brewer is instrumental in the firm’s national recruiting efforts – helping to expand its roster of lawyers, business professionals, and communications experts.
Prior to joining the Brewer firm in September 2018, Brewer was an associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in New York, where he practiced complex commercial litigation with a focus in entertainment and media. Brewer has also worked as an associate at Withers Worldwide, where he represented clients in the art industry. Brewer received his Juris Doctor degree from New York University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree in government from Colby College.
Noah Peters
Partner, Dallas
Based in the Dallas office, Peters brings extensive expertise in appellate advocacy, focusing on Labor & Employment and Civil Rights law. He has been a senior member of the team representing the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) in its First Amendment case against a former New York financial regulator. In November 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted the case for review.
Peters was previously the Solicitor at the Federal Labor Relations Authority, a federal agency that administers the labor-management relations program for 2.1 million federal employees worldwide. In this senior-level position, Peters was the agency’s chief legal officer and briefed and/or argued 17 different cases before federal appellate courts, many of them involving novel questions of labor law and/or federal jurisdiction. He successfully briefed, argued, and won numerous federal appeals, as well as the dismissal of multiple federal district court lawsuits.
Peters holds a Juris Doctor degree from The University of Virginia School of Law, an M.A. in American legal history, and bachelor’s degree in politics and history from The University of Virginia.
National Law Journal Reports on ACLU Joining Brewer in First Amendment Case
December 13, 2023 — The National Law Journal reports that the ACLU is joining the Brewer firm as co-lead counsel in a First Amendment lawsuit for the NRA, NRA v. Vullo, which will soon be heard before the Supreme Court.
The article states that, while the ACLU has faced criticism for this "rare alliance" with the NRA, the organization "chose to partner with Brewer and the NRA, believing the First Amendment issue sufficiently important to cross ideological lines and try to secure the best possible outcome in the Supreme Court."
Securing the ACLU's support, the article notes, is a coup.
“At a certain point you can only have so many people on the team and make it an effective team that collaborates in the advocacy,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for the NRA. “And we’re blessed to have some superstars.”
Best Lawyers Names Senior Associate Gizem Petrosino to 2024 "Ones to Watch" List
August 17, 2023 - Senior Associate Gizem Petrosino has been selected to the fourth edition of the 2024 Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" in America list. Petrosino earned the recognition in the practice area of Labor and Employment Litigation.
Using a peer review methodology, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes relatively younger attorneys for their outstanding professional excellence in private practice. The recipients have typically been in practice for five to nine years. Candidates are nominated, and then go through a rigorous peer review process before being nationally recognized.
Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. A listing in the publication signals not only legal expertise but also ethics and professionalism of the highest caliber.
Petrosino's practice focuses on complex commercial, construction, intellectual property, securities and employment litigation. She has achieved early dismissals and dispositive motion awards, in addition to negotiating favorable settlements for clients. She has admissions in both New York and Texas and has practiced extensively in both jurisdictions and numerous federal and state courts across the nation.
Business Today Names Cecelia Fanelli A Top Hospitality Lawyer for 2023
July 17, 2023 - The online business news publication Business Today has named Brewer Partner Cecelia Fanelli one of the Top 10 Most Influential Leisure and Hospitality Lawyers Across the USA.
Business Today states of the top named hospitality lawyers that, "With an in-depth understanding of both domestic and international laws, these lawyers embody expertise and dedication. Possessing a wealth of experience in their respective domains, they provide their clients with valuable advice and guidance. The list below comprises some of the most prominent Leisure & Hospitality lawyers in the United States who are known for their impressive professional capabilities."
The recognition notes that Fanelli, “focuses her reputed practice on dispute resolution for hotel owners and lenders. Known for her involvement in large cases and additional expertise in labor, employment issues, and environmental matters, Cecelia is a recommended hospitality litigator.”
Fanelli is a partner in the New York office and has decades of experience in litigation and dispute resolution, practicing across the country in federal and state trial and appellate courts. She has been lead counsel in numerous domestic and international arbitrations. Ms. Fanelli is also regularly chosen to serve as an arbitrator in high stakes arbitrations, particularly in the hotel, lending, and real estate industries. Her practice involves a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on matters relating to the hotel and real estate industries. Since 2011, she has been ranked by Chambers USA in the Leisure & Hospitality, Nationwide category.
Vault Names Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors to “Top 150 Under 150 List”
July 13, 2023 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has been named to Vault's 2024 "Top 150 Under 150" list. The list recognizes leading small and midsize law firms with 150 or fewer attorneys.
According to Vault, its editors "assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities and then narrowed down the results to come up with a list of 150 law firms known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results."
Of the Brewer firm, Vault writes, "The firm’s legal team is not afraid to take on complex commercial litigation battles, and its no-holds-barred approach to litigation has earned grudging admiration from its competitors."
Above the Law reported on the national award, and reported that Brewer was among the most recognizable firms on the list.
The firm was also named to Vault's 2019 "Top 150 Under 150" list and to its 2017 "Best Law Firms in Texas" list.
Read more here.
Law 360 Interviews Will Brewer on Impacts of ABA Opinion
June 20, 2023 -- Law360 quoted Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Senior Associate Will Brewer in an article about recent American Bar Association guidance that outlines the role of non-attorneys in client intake.
The ethics opinion states that in regards to client intake, paralegals can collect basic information, handle conflict checks, identify if the matter is in an attorney’s specialty area, answer questions about fees and representation, and collect a client’s signature. Brewer said that he hopes the opinion encourages firms to keep lawyers involved in the client onboarding process.
"Our philosophy has always been to have our lawyers in the pivot — directing retention efforts, client activities and the pursuit of every positive outcome," Brewer said.
Brewer also commented, “Everything is custom-designed, depending on the needs of the client.” He added, "at our firm, attorneys are ultimately responsible. They provide oversight and direction — managing the process from the beginning. We view that commitment as an investment in our professionalism and client service.”
Taking Notice: Bloomberg, Law 360, and ATL Report on Brewer
June 15, 2023 – Major legal media outlets are taking notice of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announcing that starting salaries for new lawyers are being increased to $250,000. Bloomberg Law, Law360 and Above the Law all reported on the big salary news.
Bloomberg observed that the starting salary for associates now exceeds the $215,000 salary level set under the “Cravath scale” that many major law firms use.
“When you start out in a higher place, you are able to contribute more significantly to the firm, your clients and in community impact cases,” partner William Brewer told Bloomberg. “A rising tide lifts all boats, so when we increase pay at the base level, everyone benefits.”
Law360 reported that Brewer said the firm is launching “the most ambitious hiring initiative in the history of our firm.” He added that “Like all self-perceived change agents, we view ourselves differently than the BigLaw crowd.” Brewer stated, “We believe our firm occupies a unique space in the market, hiring top talent and giving them unprecedented opportunity from day one.”
Law360 also reported that as part of the hiring push, the firm hired Matthew Davis as a Dallas partner. Davis stated that he was attracted to the bet-the-business cases and advocacy that have defined the Brewer firm.
Above the Law highlighted that the Brewer firm’s news offered a bright spot as other law firms struggle with layoffs. The article described the firm’s “generous compensation scheme.”
Texas Lawyer Report: Brewer Firm Ups Associate Salary to $250,000, Aims for Growth
June 13, 2023 –Texas Lawyer reports that, effective immediately, the Brewer firm has increased first-year associate salaries to $250,000. The firm recently announced the hiring of a new Dallas partner, Matthew H. Davis, and is in the midst of expanding its national platform – adding professionals across various sectors.
Founded in 1984, the Brewer firm has a unique staffing model in commercial litigation. The firm is comprised of several professional groups – financial and management consultants, researchers and private investigators, and public affairs strategists – who work with the firm’s lawyers to develop insights that shape case strategy. All the groups are poised for expansion in the firm’s Dallas and New York offices.
The firm continues to promote one of the most aggressive partnership tracks in the nation. Associates who join Brewer are eligible to be promoted to partner after five years.
Brewer told Texas Lawyer, “We are looking for people who want to get out, have a great career, get involved in exciting things…down at the courthouse.”
Speaking of the firm’s hiring initiative, Davis said, “The idea is to expand the Dallas office and really push to grow the association head count. Our intent is to train them and have them stay at the firm through partnership. We plan to be very aggressive in recruiting.”