Profile
Brian L. Duffy is the Chief Executive Officer at Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Previously, Brian served as a firm President and as Chair of the firm’s 700-member Global Litigation Department. A true “working CEO,” Brian focuses his practice on trial and appellate work in the class action, employment, energy, commercial contract, and product liability areas, serving as counsel in high-profile cases throughout the United States.
Greenberg Traurig has approximately 2,750 attorneys and 1,800 professional staff in 48 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported over $2.3 Billion in revenue during FY 2023. It was its tenth consecutive year reporting record numbers.
Greenberg Traurig has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the United States on the Law360 400 and among the Top 25 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule Certified Plus.
Brian is recognized for his inclusive and effective “big picture” leadership methods and personable communication style. He has helped to further position the firm as a global, highly respected, diverse, and innovative “go-to” firm for complex matters in some of the most critical areas of practice, business markets, and industry sectors.
One General Counsel observed that Brian “exercised a highly unusual interest in putting the client first. Achieving higher rates and creating higher invoices were obviously not on his priority list… He became someone I would rely on extensively if I had a difficult situation [for which] I needed legal counsel.” Editors at a legal directory recently published that Brian is recognized as a “superb trial lawyer and is noted for handling a broad array of litigation at both trial and appellate levels.” In a recent industry survey, clients describe Brian as “responsive, trustworthy, and excellent in a crisis situation – he’s calm and knows what to do.” The Denver Business Journal honored him with a Most Admired CEO award. Additionally, other leaders at top real estate and financial services organizations taking part in a research study noted that Brian is “responsive and uses a truly practical operational approach;” “uber practical and has great suggestions and recommendations;” and is “highly skilled, proactive and knows how to put together the best teams for us.”
Brian holds a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School, which honored him with a Colorado Law Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice. He received a B.S., summa cum laude, from the University of South Dakota.
Capabilities
Experience
- Acted as lead defense counsel in multi-district litigation proceeding involving 35 putative wage and hour class actions.
- Acted as national coordinating counsel for Fortune 50 company in defense of approximately 70 wage and hour class actions.
- Acted as lead defense counsel in multi-district litigation proceeding involving approximately 50 putative consumer class actions arising out of the sale of motor fuel.
- Defended over 200 class actions covering nearly every type of consumer and business.
- Represented company in proceedings related to alleged violations of immigration laws, including governmental and internal investigations, related civil litigation and compliance programs.
- Represented companies alleged to have violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including design and implementation of compliance programs, and related internal investigations.
- Represented major energy company in three-week breach of contract trial involving a defective piece of mining equipment, which resulted in judgment of $30 million in favor of our client.
- Represented major pipeline company in seven-week jury trial arising out of a pipeline rupture and explosion, which resulted in the deaths of 12 people. The jury returned a defense verdict on all claims.
Recognition & Leadership
- Listed, Benchmark Litigation, "Litigation Star," 2022-2025
- Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Labor and Employment, 2010-2025
- Named, Client Service All-Star, BTI Client Service All-Stars Report, 2023
- Team Member, a Law360 "Environmental Practice Group of the Year," 2022
- Team Member, a Law360 "Product Liability Practice Group of the Year," 2011, 2021-2022
- Listed, Acritas Stars™ Independently Rated Lawyers, “Star Lawyers,” 2018-2021
- Listed, Chambers USA Guide, 2013-2020, 2022-2023
- Listed, Super Lawyers magazine, Colorado Super Lawyers, 2006-2018 and 2020-2022
- Recipient, Most Admired CEOs Award, Denver Business Journal, 2019
- Recipient, "Alumni Award for Distinguished Achievement in Private Practice," University of Colorado Law School, 2015
- Rated, AV Preeminent® 5.0 out of 5.0
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, Colorado Bar Association
- Member, Denver Bar Association
- Member, Faculty of Federal Advocates
Credentials
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J.D., University of Colorado Law School, 1991
- Order of the Coif
- Notes and Comments Editor, University of Colorado Law Review
- B.S., summa cum laude, University of South Dakota, 1988
- Judge Jim R. Carrigan, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
- Colorado
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado