Brian Panish is a trial attorney, often considered one of the best in the country. He has represented several clients in high-profile cases, with one of these worth approximately $4.9 billion.
He has received verdicts totalling over $500 million since 2011. He has a net worth of approximately $9 million.
Net Worth
It is unclear what Panish’s exact net worth is. However, it is speculated to be around $9 million.
This figure comes from Panish’s work as a lawyer for numerous high-profile cases. The most prominent of these was in 1999, with a product liability case known as Anderson vs General Motors. Panish won a $4.9 billion victory for his client with this case (1).
Additionally, approximately 100 of his verdicts and settlements have resulted in victories worth $10 million or more, while Panish has won six cases with a result of $5 million.
In total, Panish has won approximately $500 million in cases since 2011. One of his more recent cases involves Alec Baldwin and the fatal shooting of one of the crew members for the film ‘Rust,’ named Halyna Hutchins.
Panish has also won several awards, including being ranked on the Los Angeles Business Journal’s “Top 100 Lawyers” for 2022 (2).
Company
In 2005, Panish opened the law firm Panish Shea Boyle with his colleagues from his previous law firm.
According to reports, the firm has an annual revenue of approximately $11 million per year (3). In 2020, Paycheck Protection Program gave the company a loan of between $1 to $2 million (4).
The company has secured several notable victories. This has included Sheppard vs Mandalay Bay, which resulted in an $800,000,000 landmark win.
Doe vs Roe resulted in a win of $160,500,000, while Lampe vs Continental General Tire was another landmark case, winning $54,000,000.
Earnings
Panish’s first position was as an associate at the law firm Engstrom, Lipscomb and Lack. He worked here from 1983 to 1987, although it is unknown what his salary was at this time.
After this, Panish worked as a trial attorney for Greene Broillet Panish and Wheeler from 1987 to 2005. He later became a partner for the law firm (5).
Although Panish lost several of his first cases with the firm, he eventually achieved a victory with Rastello vs City of Torrance in 1984. With this case, Panish achieved a victory for his client that was worth $5.5 million, or $15,683,522, when adjusted for inflation (6).
In 1991, Panish became a partner with the firm. Although his salary is unknown, he made several victories after becoming a partner.
From 1991 to 2005, Panish achieved 100 victories that were worth more than $1 million, with 11 of these being equal to $10 million. One of these included a case where the jury gave Panish’s client $15.6 million (7).
After this victory, Panish won several other high-value cases.
In 1999, Panish gained his greatest victory to date after winning a $4.9 billion case known as Anderson vs General Motors (8). Panish also won a $58 million verdict in Griggs vs Caterpillar (9).
Panish continued to earn substantial amounts when he established his law firm. In 2005, Panish worked on his first case for the firm, winning $27 million in compensation for his client (10).
Some other notable victories include $3.3 billion in LA County vs Tobacco Industry, $53.745 million in Lennie vs CRST, $32.5 million in Johnson/Allen/Cassio vs City of Beverly Hills and $17.4 million in Sheaffer vs NuC02 (11).
Panish has also appeared as part of Steering and Executive committees during several cases involving serious disasters. However, it is unclear how much Panish earns from this position (12).
Real Estate
It is unclear where Panish currently lives, although it is likely to be in Los Angeles (I).
Early Life
Panish was born in either 1959 or 1960 in Los Angeles, California. His father, Howard, was a former soldier during World War 2. When he returned to America, he studied law and became a trial attorney.
Panish’s mother worked as a nurse for delivery and labor, although her name is unknown.
Thanks to his father, Panish was interested in becoming a lawyer from a young age. However, he did also consider becoming a professional football player.
It is unknown which high school he attended, although he played football well enough there to win a scholarship to California State University Fresco. However, he decided against this as he believed the NFL would be too challenging.
Eventually, Panish attended Fresno State University from 1976 to 1981, where he achieved a Bachelor of Science with a specialisation in Agricultural Business and Management.
He also attended the Southwestern School of Law, gaining a Juris Doctorate, which allowed Panish to practice law.
Career
After finishing university, Panish joined Engstrom, Lipscomb and Lack as an associate. Panish worked here from 1983 to 1987 and eventually began to make a name for himself as a trainee lawyer.
In 1987, he joined his father’s law firm, Greene Broillet Panish and Wheeler, from 1987 to 2005. Eventually, Panish became a partner with the firm. During this time, he worked on many landmark court cases, one of which totalled more than $4 billion.
Panish formed a law firm in 2005 named Panish Shea Boyle. He is a co-founder of the firm, along with the other partners, Adam Shea and Kevin Boyle. In 2021, Rahul Ravipudi joined the firm as a partner also, leading to the firm changing its name to Panish Shea Boyle Ravipudi.
According to the firm’s official website, the attorneys “vowed to fight corporate greed and protect consumers from corporations that strive for profits over the safety of their customers.
The three founding partners worked together previously and found their shared advocacy for the consumer a driving force behind founding a new firm dedicated to working for you.”
One of Panish’s most infamous losses was in 2013 when he represented pop singer Michael Jackson’s mother, Katherine.
She attempted to take a wrongful death lawsuit against Jackson’s tour promoter AEG Live.
Panish is currently working on representing the family of the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. She was shot by actor Alec Baldwin and killed during the filming for the movie “Rust.” He is also part of the case related to the Asians Flight 261 crash.
Panish is the President of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates.
Career Highlights
- From 1983 to 1987, he worked at Engstrom, Lipscomb and Lack as an associate
- From 1987 to 2005, he worked at Greene Broillet Panish and Wheeler
- In 1991, he became a partner with Green Broillet Panish and Wheeler
- In 1999, he won a $4.9 billion case and won a $58 million verdict in a separate case
- In 2005, he created Panish Shea Boyle
- In 2005, won $27 million in his first case
- In 2013, represented Michael Jackson’s mother
- Currently representing Halyna Hutchins’s family
Personal Life
Panish is married to his wife, Rosie. It is unclear when the pair met or how long they have been together. However, they have three children, including a daughter named Kathryn. Rosie is also an attorney, and Panish has credited her with helping him succeed in his own career. Like her parents, Kathryn chose to become a lawyer and is currently studying at Georgetown University Law Center.
Interesting Facts
- Panish enjoys playing football and horse racing.
- Panish has won several awards over the years. In 2022 alone, he won the West Trailblazer award from the American Lawyer. He was one of Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America and 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers. He was also named by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of LA’s top 500 and top 100 lawyers. He also won the title of Titan of the Plaintiff’s Bar from Law 360 this year. Panish has regularly appeared as one of the Best Lawyers of the Year in Los Angeles across various publications.
- During his career, Panish has only ever lost approximately 6 cases.
- Through his law firm, Panish works with several local communities. This includes the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital, Seven Tepees Youth Program, Mental Health Advocacy Services, Sacramento Child Advocates, Loyola Law School, and many others.
- In 2019, California State University Fresno awarded Panish the Distinguished Alumnus Award for his successful lawyer career.
Summary
Brian Panish is an experienced lawyer with more than 30 years of experience. He has worked on many high-profile cases with significant end results.
The highest of these resulted in a $4.9 billion payout. He is a partner of Panish Shea Boyle and has a net worth of approximately $9 million.