Brian J. Donnelly, Esq.
Mr. Donnelly has more than 30 years of experience as a hands-on business-oriented legal professional. His practice has focused on the insurance and managed care industries, and his talent for negotiation has facilitated some of the state’s most remarkable mergers.

From 1988 to 1996, Mr. Donnelly was senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Blue Cross of California. He has been of Counsel to Paul, Hastings, Janofsky and Walker, and was president of the National Organization of Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association from 1997 to 1998. He has also served as general counsel, associate general counsel, and assistant counsel of some of California’s largest life and health insurance companies.

Mr. Donnelly was counsel to an independent Blue Cross of California board committee engaged in a complex, multiple-party transaction that resulted in the conversion and formation of the first for-profit Blue Cross plan, the formation of the largest publicly held managed care company in California, and the creation of two health care foundations with combined assets of over $3 billion. He has testified before some of California’s legislative committees. His accomplishments also include helping to consolidate five life insurers into a single company through personal contacts with insurance regulators and by representing the company in public hearings.

As general counsel, he has resolved hundreds of disputes. His experience has schooled him thoroughly in collaboration and negotiation, and endows him with a unique ability to manage and handle large, complex legal disputes.

SPECIALIZES IN:

Business and contracts, insurance coverage, complex litigation, employment, and managed health care issues.

ORGANIZATIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

  • Past president, Conference of Insurance Counsel of Los Angeles;
  • Dean’s Advisory Council (1981-85)
  • Contributions Committee (1993 to present)
  • American University Law School
  • Executive Committee, Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Corporate Counsel Section 1990-96).

NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS:

  • Private Judge since 1984
  • 1983, sat as Justice Pro Tem of California Supreme Court
  • Numerous articles written aimed at the human side of judging
  • 1978, Recipient of Valley Forge Freedom Foundation Award
  • 1962, Graduated Order of the Coif, U.S.C.
  • 1961-62, Managing Editor, U.S.C. Law Review

EDUCATION:

  • J.D., American University Law School
  • B.A., Youngstown State University

AVAILABLE:

Based in Southern California and available worldwide.