Brian Kerwin is a former federal prosecutor who represents corporations and individuals in civil lawsuits, criminal matters, and internal investigations. Brian has represented clients in disputes alleging fraud, negligence, legal malpractice, breach of contract, RICO, trade secrets, and antitrust violations, among others.
Brian previously served as Chief of Appeals at the U.S. Attorney's Office in Chicago. In that role, he oversaw all of the Office's criminal litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and he supervised the dispositive motion practice of more than 100 federal prosecutors in countless cases in the Northern District of Illinois. As Appellate Chief, Brian frequently advised the U.S. Attorney and trial teams on legal strategy, litigation risk, and novel questions of law.
A seasoned litigator and legal strategist, Brian has authored or co-authored more than 75 federal appellate briefs, and he has argued 19 appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Brian has tried complex cases to judges and juries, on charges ranging from securities and wire fraud to serial pipe bombing. He has handled scores of evidentiary hearings and arguments on contested motions in federal district court. As an AUSA, Brian also led a wide variety of grand jury investigations, from racketeering conspiracy to public-company accounting fraud and other white-collar crimes.
Earlier in his career, Brian was a litigator in the Washington, D.C. office of one of the world’s largest law firms. He also served as a law clerk to Judge Joel M. Flaum on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and to Judge Robert M. Dow, Jr. on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Brian graduated magna cum laude and in the top 3% of his class from Georgetown Law. Before that, he was a scholarship cross country runner at the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a finance degree.
Selected Engagements
Defend large national food supplier in federal antitrust suit alleging price fixing and bid rigging.
Defended large international law firm in state court against allegations of legal malpractice surrounding a hedge fund’s lending transactions.
Defended large international law firm against claims of fraud and other misconduct involving underlying state court litigation.
Represented corporate plaintiff, a home appliance manufacturer, in breach of contract dispute against major American retail chain in federal court.
Prior to joining this firm, successfully defended government contractor in three-week federal trial, where proposed class alleged negligent construction work caused catastrophic damage to surrounding area.
Prior to joining this firm, represented large pharmaceutical company in investigation brought by federal government into allegedly anti-competitive behavior.
As an Assistant United States Attorney, argued numerous cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, involving issues of first impression, statutory interpretation, constitutional law, and various claims of trial and sentencing error.
As an Assistant United States Attorney, represented the government in four-week trial of CEO and other executives of publicly-traded company on charges of securities fraud, wire fraud, and false certification of 10-K and 10-Q forms.
As an Assistant United States Attorney, represented the government in three-week trial of serial pipe bomber who detonated an IED in a commuter train station, where evidence was based almost entirely on scientific and other expert testimony.
Prior to joining the firm, first-chaired criminal jury trial in state court, obtaining full acquittal for client charged with multiple forms of assault.
Education
J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, 2010
Graduated magna cum laude
Top 3% of Graduating Class
Order of the Coif
Editor, The Georgetown Law Journal
B.B.A., University of Notre Dame, Finance, 2004
Varsity Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field
Experience
Partner with this firm since 2026
Assistant United States Attorney, Northern District of Illinois, 2018-2025
Chief of Appeals, June 2024-December 2025
Deputy Chief of Appeals, February 2023-June 2024
Associate with this firm, 2015-2018
Law clerk to the Hon. Joel M. Flaum, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, 2014-2015
Law clerk to the Hon. Robert M. Dow, Jr., U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, 2013-2014
Associate with Jones Day, Washington, D.C., 2010-2013
Bar Admissions
Admitted to the Illinois Bar, 2010
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Memberships
Notre Dame Monogram Club
