James J. Brosnahan

James J. Brosnahan is a nationally respected trial lawyer and Senior of Counsel at Morrison & Foerster LLP. Over the course of more than 60 years in practice, he has tried more than 150 cases to verdict, covering a wide range of subjects including antitrust, white-collar crime, intellectual property, and complex criminal and civil matters.

He began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Districts of Arizona and Northern California, where he gained a reputation for integrity and skilled litigation. Since joining Morrison & Foerster in 1976, Brosnahan has played a critical role in shaping the firm’s litigation practice and mentoring generations of trial lawyers.

Brosnahan has handled a number of high-profile cases, including work related to the Iran-Contra affair, and has served as defense counsel in cases involving major corporate clients and public figures. In addition to his courtroom work, he has been deeply committed to legal education and public service. He taught trial advocacy at Berkeley Law for a decade and has been a regular lecturer on legal and constitutional issues.

He is the founder of the Volunteer Legal Services Program in San Francisco (now the Justice & Diversity Center), and a strong advocate for expanding access to justice through the Civil Gideon movement.

James Brosnahan has received numerous honors for his contributions to the legal field, including the John H. Pickering Achievement Award from the American Bar Association and the Bernard E. Witkin Medal from the California Lawyers Association. He is a member of the State Bar of California’s Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame.

A graduate of Boston College and Harvard Law School, he lives in Berkeley, California, with his wife, retired judge Carol Brosnahan. In addition to his legal work, he is also a dedicated plein air painter.