As our Global Head of Complex Litigation, R. Brian Timmons is a seasoned first chair trial lawyer with a national reputation and global practice who has tried numerous cases to verdict in courts throughout the U.S., including California, Delaware, and New York. He represents corporations, boards of directors, financial institutions, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals in their most significant and business-critical disputes in the U.S. and around the world. He also Chairs the Private Investment Fund Litigation practice for Quinn Emanuel and represents many private equity firms, private credit firms, hedge funds, VC firms, and sovereign wealth funds. Praised by clients for his strategic approach, sophistication and tenacity, Brian is routinely called upon to handle “bet-the-company” disputes and arbitration proceedings involving corporate governance, M&A litigation, partnership disputes, securities litigation, distressed situations, and complex financial products. He represents public and private companies (domestic and foreign), boards, committees, and individuals spanning nearly every industry and litigation setting – earning widespread national and global recognition. Brian is frequently quoted in Law360 and has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. Brian serves on the Harvard Law School Leadership Council and maintains an active pro bono practice.
Private Equity, Venture Capital & Investment Funds. As Chair of Quinn Emanuel’s Private Investment Fund Litigation practice, Brian is valued for his deep understanding of fund structures, capital markets, financial products, and the regulatory landscape governing investment managers and sponsors. He helps private equity firms, venture capital firms, investment advisors, and fund managers navigate complex commercial and legal disputes involving billions of dollars in exposure and coordinates multi-jurisdictional litigation and enforcement strategies across global venues.
Corporate Governance. Brian is known for handling fast-moving, high-profile corporate governance disputes involving fiduciary duties, board control, changes in corporate ownership, derivative actions, proxy contests, books-and-records actions, and challenges to major strategic transactions. He frequently advises boards, special committees, controlling shareholders, and institutional investors in developing pre-litigation strategies designed to maximize leverage and minimize business disruption.
Partnership & Founders. With unparalleled experience handling partnership, founder, and “business divorce” disputes for private investment firms, closely held businesses, startups, and professional services firms, Brian earned a premier reputation for handling highly sensitive allegations in connection with fiduciary duties, governance rights, economics, succession, trade secrets, employee departures, and valuation disputes. His ability to manage emotionally charged, high-stakes conflicts while maintaining strategic focus has made him a trusted advisor in some of the most consequential internal business disputes facing investment and operating companies.
Mergers & Acquisitions. Clients rely on Brian to handle business critical disputes arising from mergers, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, and other transformative corporate transactions – such as busted deals, financing agreements, earn-out obligations, indemnification claims, fiduciary duty allegations, post-closing fraud claims, accounting improprieties, and efforts to enforce or block transactions through expedited injunctive relief. Brian is frequently consulted before or during transactions to assess litigation exposure, evaluate strategic risks, and help structure deals to withstand scrutiny. He works closely with transactional teams, boards, and financial advisors to position clients advantageously in high-value and often highly contentious transactions.
Early Career. Brian studied finance and economics at the London School of Economics, was a Teaching Fellow at Harvard College, and graduated from Harvard Law School with honors, where he also served as the Managing Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. Prior to Quinn Emanuel, he participated in the federal indigent defense panel program and was a partner at Latham & Watkins.
Outside the Courtroom. Born and raised in rural Idaho, Brian maintains an active lifestyle with a passion for outdoor adventures, including heli-skiing. A former Division 1 NCAA football player, he remains an avid sports fan and enjoys pursuing challenging experiences around the world while spending meaningful time with his family. His competitive spirit, energy, and sense of adventure reflect the same drive and discipline he brings to his practice.
- Aerospace & Defense
- Aerojet
- Terran Orbital
- BioTech & Pharmaceutical
- Allergan
- Alumis
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Motiva (f/k/a Grupo CCR)
- New Fortress Energy
- FinTech & Digital Asset
- BitGo
- Bluestem Brands
- Food & Beverage, Hospitality & Retail
- Hudson Group
- Legends Hospitality
- Madera Group
- Noble 33
- Parmalat SpA
- Litigation Trust
- MF Global Litigation Trust
- Physiotherapy Litigation Trust
- SemGroup Litigation Trust
- Private Equity, Private Credit & Venture Capital
- Beach Point Capital
- Blue Mountain Capital
- Canyon Capital
- Foresite Capital
- Fortress Investment Group
- GoldenTree
- Golub Capital
- Kayne Anderson
- Knighthead Capital
- Peterson Capital
- PIMCO
- Sixth Street Partners
- Steel Partners
- TPG
- Western Asset Management
- Real Estate
- C.J. Segerstrom & Sons
- The Irvine Company
- Accounting & Financial Reporting Litigation
- Antitrust & Competition
- Bankruptcy & Restructuring
- Class Action and Mass Arbitration Group
- Copyright Litigation
- Corporate Governance Litigation
- Delaware Practice
- Distressed Investment Litigation
- Domestic U.S. Arbitration
- Employment Litigation
- Hedge Fund Litigation
- Insurance & Reinsurance Litigation
- International Arbitration
- International Disputes
- Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice
- Investment Advisor & Asset Manager Litigation
- Investment Fund Litigation
- Lender Liability & Other Banking Financial Institution Litigation
- Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation
- Partnership and Founders Dispute Litigation
- Private Equity Fund Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Representing Pension Funds, Other Managed Funds, and Government Agencies as Plaintiffs
- Section 1782
- Securities Enforcement Defense Practice
- Securities Litigation
- Shareholder Activist Litigation
- Sovereign Wealth Fund Litigation
- Sports Litigation
- Structured Finance & Derivatives Litigation
- Transnational Litigation
- Harvard Law School
(J.D., cum laude)- Managing Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy
- The London School of Economics and Political Science
- Duke University
(A.B., summa cum laude)- Recipient, Varsity Football Scholarship
- The State Bar of California
- The District of Columbia Bar
- The State Bar of New York
- United States Court of Appeals:
- Ninth Circuit
- United States District Courts:
- Central District of California
- Eastern District of California
- Northern District of California
- Southern District of California
- Southern District of New York
- United States Supreme Court
- Spanish
- Latham & Watkins (1998-2000)
- Recommended Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: M&A Litigation: Defense, Legal 500 US (2026)
- Leading Cayman Lawyer, International Disputes and White Collar Investigations, Lawdragon 500 (2025-2026)
- Leading Lawyer in America, Complex Litigation and Private Investment Fund Litigation, Lawdragon 500 (2025-2026)
- Leading Litigator in America, Complex Litigation, Lawdragon 500 (2024-2026)
- Leading Plaintiff Financial Lawyer, Complex Litigation, Lawdragon 500 (2024-2026)
- Leading Global Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyer, Complex Litigation, Lawdragon 500 (2020, 2023-2026)
- Leading Global Litigator, Complex Litigation and Global Disputes, Lawdragon 500 (2023-2025)
- Recommended Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Financial Services Litigation, Legal 500 US (2025)
- Recommended Lawyer, Dispute Resolution: Securities Litigation: Defense, Legal 500 US (2024-2025)
- Top 100 Lawyer, Los Angeles Business Journal (2024)
- Litigator of the Year, American Institute of Trial Lawyers (2020)
- Selected, Irish Legal 100 (2020)
- Super Lawyer, Business Litigation, Southern California, Los Angeles Magazine
- Lifetime Charter, Best Attorneys of America, Rue Ratings
- Top 1% of Attorneys, Complex Litigation, Premier Lawyers of America
- Quoted, “Battle over smoke-damaged homes from LA County wildfires could reshape fire insurance,” Los Angeles Daily News (May 2026)
- Quoted, “Restaurant Group Alleges Ex-GC Embezzled, Shared Secrets,” Law360 (February 2026)
- Quoted, “Chancery Orders New Doc Handover In Crypto Co. Merger Suit,” Law360 (September 2025)
- Quoted, “Del. Justices Reverse BitGo-Galaxy Merger Suit Dismissal,” Law360 (May 2024)
- Interview, “Leading Litigator Limelight: Brian Timmons,” Lawdragon (July 2023)
- Quoted, “Galaxy Validly Ended $1.2B BitGo Crypto Deal, Del. Court Says,” Law360 (June 2023)
- Quoted, “BitGo Hits Galaxy Digital With $100M Suit Over Busted Merger,” Law360 (September 2022)
- Quoted, “BitGo Threatens Lawsuit As Galaxy Digital Ends $1.2B Merger,” Law360 (August 2022)
- Quoted, “Gibson Dunn Stumbles In Bid To Quash Docs In Aerojet Case,” Law360 (May 2022)
- Quoted, “Del. Justices Say Dyal-Owl Rock Merger Can Go Through,” Law360 (May 2021)
- [Co-/Contributing] Author, “Duty of Loyalty Issues for Designated Directors and the Board of Portfolio Companies,” Deal Lawyers (November-December 2020)
- Co-Author, “Think Twice Before Using Deal Counsel As Litigation Counsel,” Law360 Expert Analysis (April 2020)
- Co-Author, “Coronavirus Presents Novel Legal Challenges For Retailers,” Law360 Expert Analysis (March 2020)
- Quoted, “Physiotherapy Trust Claims Revived By Supreme Court Ruling,” Law360 (May 2018)
- Quoted, “Physiotherapy Ex-Owners Denied Appeal In $250M Fraud Suit,” Law360 (December 2017)
- Quoted, “PE Firms Aim To Toss $248M Physiotherapy Ch. 11 Fraud Suit,” Law360 (March 2016)
- [Co-/Contributing] Author, “Mistakes Smart Clients Sometimes Make When They Hire Litigation Counsel,” Today’s General Counsel (April 2015)
- Quoted, “Quick Ruling Nixed In Swaps Suit Tied To $895M Brazil Road,” Law360 (February 2012)
- [Co-/Contributing] Author, “Regulating Credit Default Swaps,” Financier Worldwide (July 2009)
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Board of Governors, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL) Los Angeles
- Criminal Justice Act Attorney, Federal Indigent Defense Panel Program
- Member, Harvard Law School Leadership Council
- Teaching Fellow, Harvard College (1991)
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