Brian S. Sullivan

Partner

Brian is the chair of the Litigation department, but more importantly, he is an experienced trial lawyer.  He represents clients in matters involving commercial disputes, discrimination, fiduciary litigation, intellectual property, negligence, and all varieties of insurance-related litigation. He also handles aviation-related litigation, having tried both administrative cases before the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as well as liability cases in courts throughout the region.

He analyzes an issue from every angle and recognizes the course to get his clients from point A to point B – whether via an alternative method to resolution, a settlement or going to trial.  Clients look to Brian for representation due to his perseverance and tenacity.  He approaches his clients’ matters with the strategizing, strength, determination and mental toughness he does in his personal accomplishments – dedicating the same time, effort, pain and joy into cases he did when he completed numerous IronMan competitions.

As a respected leader within the firm, Brian serves on the Board of Directors, as well as the Executive Committee, playing an important role in shaping the firm’s future. He also serves as the firm’s general counsel, and he has experience advising on ethics, lawyer liability issues, state bar investigations and malpractice claims.

Credentials

Education

University of Cincinnati College of Law (J.D., 1988)

University of Cincinnati (B.A., 1985)

Bar admissions

  • Ohio

Court admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan

Affiliations and memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • Cincinnati Bar Association
  • Ohio State Bar Association
  • Aviation Insurance Association
  • Hamilton County Public Defenders Commission
  • Leadership Cincinnati, Class XXXIV
  • National Institute of Trial Advocacy, faculty member
  • Hamilton County Republican Party, Judicial Screening Committee
  • Ohio State Bar Association, Certified Grievance Committee
  • National Business Aviation Association

Distinctions

  • Peer Review Rated AV in Martindale-Hubbell
  • Best Lawyers®
    • “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati for Insurance Law (2020)
    • “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2022)
    • Commercial Litigation, Insurance Law, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2021-2024)
  • Cincy Magazine
    • Cincy Leading Lawyer
    • Leading Lawyers Power 100 (2021)

News
  • August 21, 2025

    260 Dinsmore Attorneys Listed as 2026 Best Lawyers®, Ones to Watch

  • August 15, 2024

    250+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2025 Best Lawyers ®, Ones to Watch

  • August 17, 2023

    200+ Dinsmore Attorneys Named 2024 Best Lawyers®, “Ones to Watch”

  • March 24, 2023

    31 Dinsmore Attorneys Featured on 2023 Cincy Leading Lawyers List

  • August 18, 2022

    2023 Best Lawyers® List Recognizes 190 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • February 8, 2022

    27 Dinsmore Attorneys From a Broad Range of Practice Areas Chosen for 2022 Cincy Leading Lawyers List

  • October 19, 2021

    Award-Winning Federal Prosecutor Lindsay Gerdes Joins Dinsmore’s Litigation Department

  • August 19, 2021

    23 Dinsmore Attorneys Named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ by Best Lawyers®

  • August 19, 2021

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 191 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

  • August 20, 2020

    Best Lawyers® Recognizes 180 Dinsmore & Shohl Attorneys

Events
  • January 16, 2021

    Dinsmore’s Annual Continuing Legal Education Seminar