Downey & Lenkov LLC

Brian joined Bryce Downey & Lenkov in 2016 after, leaving one of Illinois’ top 25 largest law firms after nearly 15 years. Brian has previously developed and co-chaired both an “Entertainment, Media and Privacy Practice Group”, and an “Intellectual Property Group” at his past firms. Brian brings his entire platform to Bryce Downey & Lenkov, where he continues to expand his local, regional, and national practice.

Brian’s practice is focused in three main areas: entertainment (including media and advertising), intellectual property, and litigation. His entertainment practice concentrates on transactions, media clearance and liability, advertising injury, defamation, 1st Amendment issues, and corporate matters. He also handles intellectual property transactions and litigation, specifically copyright, trademark matters and unfair/deceptive trade practice litigation. Brian represents, and has represented, high-profile individuals and entities, including a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, a U.S. Presidential candidate, high-ranking officials and clergy within the Arch-Diocese, NBA All-Stars, NFL Players, international athletics gear manufacturers, award winning songwriters, multi-platinum selling recording artists, national recording artists, social media celebrities, producers, record labels, managers and national platform festivals. Brian has also represented concert promoters in contract negotiations and class action litigation. He has locally and nationally worked on numerous film, television and literary projects. He counsels start-ups, media and internet companies. He serves as general counsel for online magazines, record labels, concert promoters and tech companies.

Brian’s also handles commercial litigation, catastrophic losses, construction litigation, products liability, commercial trucking/transportation claims, employer liability, premises liability, false arrest/malicious prosecution, personal injury data security/breach, privacy, cyber liability and e-commerce matters. He has served as lead counsel in nine jury trials and over eighty bench trials. He has conducted over three hundred arbitrations and mediations and prevailed on countless motions for summary judgment relating to intellectual property, commercial claims, construction cases and personal injury matters (including trucking claims, premises liability and automobile accidents.) Brian also regularly serves as an Arbitrator for the Circuit Court of Cook County. Brian handles transactional and litigated matters across the country and has been admitted pro hac vice to several jurisdictions nationwide.

In 2006, Brian was named one of the top 40 Under 40 attorneys to watch in Illinois by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and the Law Bulletin Publishing Company. He also was named to the Illinois Super Lawyers® (a peer review designation published by Thomson Reuters) 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 list, as well as the Leading Lawyers list. Brian has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for his legal ability and ethics. Brian works with the Lawyers for the Creative Arts, handling pro bono entertainment related matters.

Brian has been an active member of the National Academy of Arts & Sciences for twenty-two years. He is on the governing committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Entertainment and Sports Industries and serves as editor in chief of the Forum’s Law Journal, Entertainment and Sports Lawyer.