Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Announces Promotion of Litigator Claiborne Hane to Partner
January 23, 2025 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors today announced the promotion of litigator Claiborne Hane to partner.
Hane’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution, with an emphasis in business disputes, corporate investigations, and securities fraud litigation. He joined the firm’s New York office as counsel in May 2024. Since joining the firm, Hane has played an instrumental role in several leading matters – including the successful pursuit of shareholder actions.
Prior to joining the firm, Hane practiced with Kasowitz Benson Torres LLP, Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP, and Labaton Keller Sucharow LLP. He received his Juris Doctor from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law and his bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University.
“Our firm is defined by the contributions of its professionals and their passion for high-stakes advocacy,” said William A. Brewer III, founding partner of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. “This promotion reflects Clay’s extraordinary contributions and results achieved. It also speaks to our commitment to having one of the fastest partnership tracks in the country.”
Today’s announcement highlights another successful year for the Brewer firm, as we successfully concluded our multi-year defense of a major client against multiple attempts by the New York Attorney General to “eliminate” that client. For that same client, we achieved a unanimous 9-0 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which vacated a ruling by the Second Circuit that dismissed First Amendment claims against a public official who conspired with others to financially destroy our client. Our high-stakes advocacy nationwide also resulted in over $200 million in awards and settlements for our other commercial clients.
This past year marked the continued growth of the Brewer Storefront, the firm’s community-impact legal affiliate. The Storefront successfully defended the victim of an elaborate financial scam, blew the whistle on widespread consumer fraud in New York, and initiated a comprehensive statewide effort to ensure that Texas school boards operate in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
“The firm provides a platform to make a difference in the courtroom – and the community,” said Hane. “This place is testament to what happens when you combine entrepreneurial spirit with a desire to exclusively handle bet-the-business cases. I’m excited to be part of the Brewer vision and the firm’s blueprint for the future.”
Pressure is a Privilege: A Look Back at 2024
December 31, 2024 — Built with the conviction that “pressure is a privilege,” Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors faced significant challenges in 2024 and delivered outstanding results in courtrooms, boardrooms, and the communities we proudly serve.
Achievements for Our Clients: This year, we successfully concluded our multi-year defense of a major client against multiple attempts by the New York Attorney General to "eliminate" that client. For that same client we achieved a unanimous 9-0 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, which vacated a ruling by the Second Circuit that dismissed First Amendment claims against a public official who conspired with others to financially destroy our client. And - along the way - our high-stakes advocacy nationwide also resulted in over $200 million in awards and settlements for our other commercial clients.
Contributions to Our Community: The Brewer Storefront, our community impact legal affiliate, achieved significant victories. We successfully represented a senior citizen who was the victim of an elaborate financial scam. We pursued several cases to protect voting rights against school board voting schemes that diluted the votes of citizens of color throughout Texas, and we initiated a comprehensive statewide effort to ensure that Texas school boards operate in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
Strengthening Partnerships: Showcasing the continued strength of the Brewer Foundation’s partnership with New York University, the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) began its 24th year of inviting high school students around the world to engage in written and oral debates on public policy issues. The 2025 competition is ongoing and involves more than 300 high schools and thousands of students globally.
Fostering the Next Generation: In 2024, the Brewer Foundation’s Future Leaders Program provided essential leadership and academic development to more than 200 students from the Dallas Independent School District. The Future Leaders Program equips the next generation with the tools to flourish in an everchanging world.
A Commitment to the Challenges of Tomorrow: Emerging technologies and innovative tools will empower our professionals to achieve even greater levels of efficiency as we continue to deliver superior outcomes for our clients. In line with our commitment to remaining at the forefront of these advancements, we are excited to announce the launch of many new projects including a brand-new podcast, The Art of Advocacy, hosted by Bill Brewer, that will explore issues at the intersection of law, business, and communications.
We take pride in what we achieved in 2024, and your unwavering support propels us toward even greater results. As we move forward, we remain steadfast in our commitment to continuously push the boundaries of excellence in our advocacy. We embrace every obstacle, every challenge, and every fight, all while appreciating that pressure is a privilege.
Best Lawyers Names Senior Associate Gizem Petrosino to 2025 "Ones to Watch" List
August 15, 2024- Senior Associate Gizem Petrosino has been selected to the fifth edition of the 2025 Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" in America list. Petrosino earned the recognition in the practice area of Labor and Employment Litigation for the second consecutive year. She was also selected for the 2024 "Ones to Watch" list.
Using a peer review methodology, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch recognizes 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.
Vault Names Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors to 2025 “Top 150 Under 150" List
July 12, 2024 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has been named to Vault's 2025 "Top 150 Under 150" list of leading small and midsize law firms.
The annual list recognizes firms with 150 lawyers or less that "deliver big results." The firms highlighted are determined by analyzing peer feedback, survey data, other published rankings, news stories, trade journals, and other legal publications.
The Brewer firm was also named to Vault's 2023 and 2019 "Top 150 Under 150" lists, as well as to its 2017 "Best Law Firms in Texas" list.
Above the Law reported on the national award, stating that Brewer was among the most "recognizable" firms on the list. Read the report here.
Lights, Camera, Action! Brewer Summer Program Profiled by Law 360
June 25, 2024 – Law 360 showcased the Brewer firm in its article, “Small Firms Put Unique Spin on Summer Associate Programs.” The article notes how the Brewer summer program provides participants with real-life experience, networking opportunities, and social activities.
Firm partner Will Brewer says, “We had the law clerks and even the college interns working on substantive stuff, preparing for depositions, attending depositions, taking notes in meetings, going to court if that arises," he said. "We're just trying to give them a good experience, not just watching but also contributing to the end product and really working on the case."
As Law 360 reports, Brewer's [summer] program is also unique in that it takes not just law students but also MBA students who work with the firm's business consultants, and undergraduate public relations and communications majors who work with the firm's public affairs managers.
"It's big, but it's super fun," Brewer said. "And it kind of gives people a chance to shadow and work with the people who they would potentially want to step into their role one day."
Click here to read the full article.
William A. Brewer III Named “Litigator of the Week” by The Am Law Litigation Daily
June 7, 2024 – Brewer Partner William A. Brewer III was named today as “Litigator of the Week” (LOTW) by The Am Law Litigation Daily. Brewer joined ACLU National Legal Director David Cole in receiving the top LOTW honors, following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling unanimously for their client, the National Rifle Association of America (NRA), in a case against a former New York state financial regulator. The case has been recognized as among the highest-profile First Amendment cases in the nation.
As reported, “The National Rifle Association’s legal team, led by William Brewer III of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, called on David Cole of the American Civil Liberties Union to revive its First Amendment case against ex-New York state Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo.”
Brewer told the Litigation Daily what he will remember most about the case is “that a handful of good men and women—nine Supreme Court justices—put aside whatever differences they may have to protect our First Amendment freedom. What happened here restores one's confidence in the judicial system. The decision comes at a critical time for not only the NRA, but anyone who believes that our most precious asset is that we are a nation of laws.”
The Am Law Litigation Daily, published by American Lawyer Media, bills the LOTW series as “being all about the issues that obsess elite litigators, with expert perspective on the biggest court battles.”
As the series notes, “We look for cases with an impact, where the outcome matters to more than just the parties involved. We’re impressed by high stakes, long odds, new precedents, bold strategies—and cases that are just plain interesting.”
Brewer was joined in representing the NRA by Brewer partners Sarah B. Rogers and Noah Peters, along with Mr. Cole, Eugene Volokh, and Alan Morrison.
Read the report here.
Law360 Names Brewer Firm "Legal Lions of the Week"
June 1, 2024 — Law360 has named Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors one of its "Legal Lions of the Week" after the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled for Brewer client the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) in its First Amendment case against a former New York state regulator.
The recognition noted that the NRA is represented by The NRA is represented by William Brewer III, Sarah Rogers and Noah Peters of Brewer Attorneys & Counselors.
Law360 writes that, “In a unanimous decision, the high court said Thursday that the NRA sufficiently showed that former New York Financial Services Superintendent Maria T. Vullo likely breached the group's First Amendment protections through the collective actions the NRA accused her of taking against banks and insurance agencies affiliated with it.”
Read more here.
Brewer Associate Named to Law360 Editorial Advisory Board
March 27, 2024 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors associate Alexandria Oberman has been named to Law360's 2024 Texas Editorial Advisory Board. The editorial advisory board provides feedback on Law360’s coverage and expert insight on how best to shape future coverage.
Ms. Oberman joined Brewer in 2023 after serving as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Debra H. Lehrmann, Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.