Brownell Partners PLLC

Richard J. Brownell

Email: rbrownell@brownell-law.com

RICHARD J. BROWNELL is a partner at Brownell Partners, PLLC. His practice includes general liability, products liability, premises liability, professional liability, construction, employment discrimination, commercial litigation, and insurance coverage litigation.

Mr. Brownell received his Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, in 1981, graduating summa cum laude. He received a Master of Arts degree in history from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, in 1983, and a Juris Doctor degree from The American University in Washington, DC, in 1986. He was admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1986, the District of Columbia Bar in 1987, and the New York State Bar in 1990.

Mr. Brownell practiced law in Virginia and the District of Columbia from 1986 to 1990. His areas of practice included personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, appellate work, and criminal defense.

In 1990 Mr. Brownell accepted an appointment as an assistant corporation counsel for the City of New York. Initially, he prosecuted over 200 felony cases in juvenile court. In 1993 Mr. Brownell transferred to the civil side of the New York City Law Department to defend the city. His clients included the New York City Police Department, Fire Department, and Board of Education; the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; and other agencies. Cases involved police assault, false arrest, defamation, premises liability, and wrongful death.

After working for the City of New York, Mr. Brownell returned to private practice, including serving as house counsel for Wausau and Zurich Insurance Companies and, most recently, an international litigation firm.

Mr. Brownell has been retained by some of the country’s best-known carriers and companies. A partial list of his clients includes AIG Technical Services, Inc.; Arch Insurance Group; Calvert Insurance Co.; The Cheesecake Factory, Inc.; Carl Warren; Claims Management Services, Inc.; CNA Insurance; Commercial Underwriters Insurance Co.; Engle Martin & Associates; Evanston Insurance Co.; Essex Insurance Co.; Firemen’s Fund Insurance Co.; Gallagher-Bassett; Gerling America Insurance Co.; Great American Insurance Co.; Gulf Insurance Group; Markel Insurance Co.; Meridian Comp. of New York, Inc.; NAS Insurance Group; St Paul/Travelers; Shand Morahan & Co.; Vericlaim; Ward North America; York Claims Services, Inc.; XL Insurance; Zurich NA; One Beacon Insurance; Everest Insurance; Brownstone Agency; CorVel; and Philadelphia Insurance Companies.

In addition to the New York, District of Columbia and Virginia Bars, Mr. Brownell is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Mr. Brownell also has made several appearances as a commentator on Court TV.