Brian W. Bell

Biography

Brian W. Bell is a founding partner of Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP, a firm formed by nine partners who left a large Chicago law firm to better serve the needs of their clients. Over the last three decades, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP has become a dynamic litigation powerhouse employing more than 100 lawyers.

Brian has a broad range of trial experience. He has tried cases involving contracts, fiduciary duties and professional liability involving lawyers, accountants and other professionals, guarantees, lender liability, product liability and toxic tort in many states throughout the country. He regularly handles cases and manages litigation in forums sometimes referred to as "Judicial Hellholes." He is licensed and actively practices in Illinois, Indiana and Missouri.

He has represented many of the prominent manufacturers of automobile and industrial equipment in product liability and commercial cases. He has also recovered millions of dollars for clients in multiple actions where his client was entitled to damages or other relief. Brian has been retained by his peers in other Chicago-based law firms relating to a wide variety of professional disputes.

Brian also has served for many years as a hearing officer for the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission, the regulatory body that is responsible for the discipline of attorneys in the State of Illinois.

Practices

Product Liability
Commercial Litigation and Business Disputes
Toxic Tort Litigation
Lawyers Liability
Admiralty, Maritime and Transportation

Memberships & Affiliations

  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Indiana State Bar Association
  • Missouri Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Chicago Society of Trial Lawyers
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Product Liability Advisory Council

Awards

  • Selected for inclusion in Leading Lawyers and prospective Advisory Board Member, 2024
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America®
    • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants and Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, 2024
  • Selected for inclusion in Illinois Super Lawyers in 2005-2006, 2008-2024

News

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, Indiana, Kansas City, August 15, 2024
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2025 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-six Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2025 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America® lists. In addition, Partners Michael W. Drumke and Gary C. Pinter were recognized as "Lawyer of the Year" in their respective practice areas.

Chicago, Libertyville, January 25, 2024
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers & Rising Stars
Swanson Martin & Bell LLP is proud to announce that 15 of the firm's attorneys have been honored as 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, August 17, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2024 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Fifty-five Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2024 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ lists.

Chicago, January 23, 2023
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers
Five Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys have been named to the 2023 Super Lawyers® list as leading practitioners in their field across Illinois.

August 18, 2022
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2023 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Thirty-nine Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named to the 2023 Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ lists.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, St. Louis, Madison County, Indiana, August 19, 2021
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to 2022 Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch Lists
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review.

Chicago, February 2, 2021
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 25 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 12 attorneys have been named n to the 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers list and 13 have been named to the Illinois Rising Stars list.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 11, 2021
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2021
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, February 3, 2020
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2020
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommended by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, January 30, 2020
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 25 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 12 attorneys were named to the 2020 Illinois Super Lawyers list and another 13 were named to the 2020 Illinois Rising Stars list.

Chicago, May 6, 2019
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP and Women's Bar Association of Illinois Host Third Women's Business Development CLE
"How to Get the Business" continues the conversation started at our sold-out 2015 and 2017 gatherings, bringing in more experienced Business Givers and Business Getters for a two-part panel discussion.

Chicago, Libertyville, St. Louis, January 28, 2019
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 29 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is proud to have 14 Super Lawyers and 15 Rising Stars in 2019.

Chicago, January 16, 2019
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2019
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommend by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, May 28, 2018
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights Summary Judgment Ruling in Alleged BIPA Violation
The article focused on the recent summary judgment that Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP clients were awarded in a proposed class-action regarding the alleged violation of Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

Chicago, May 21, 2018
Employees Lose Bid for Statutory Damages for Alleged BIPA Violation Without Proof of "Injury or Adverse Effect"
Attorneys from Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP and Verticchio & Verticchio Law Office were awarded summary judgment on behalf of their clients in a proposed class-action regarding the alleged violation of Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA).

Chicago, Libertyville, Madison County, January 26, 2018
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 35 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP is proud to have 20 Super Lawyers and 14 Rising Stars among its attorneys.

Chicago, Lisle, Libertyville, Madison County, January 23, 2018
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers for 2018
Those designated Leading Lawyers were recommend by their peers to be among the top lawyers in Illinois.

Chicago, Indiana, October 30, 2017
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights New Indiana Office, 25th Anniversary
The article quotes partners Brian W. Bell and Timothy G. Nickels, and speaks of the firm's long history in Indiana.

Chicago, January 16, 2017
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 38 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 38 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2017 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

July 1, 2016
Bell, Weiler and Sphar Win Opinion in Employment Discrimination Case
The opinion affirmed a jury verdict for their client, a medical corporation, in an employment discrimination case.

May 5, 2016
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys Named to Leading Lawyers, Emerging Lawyers List
Thirty-six Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP attorneys were named Leading Lawyers or Emerging Lawyers.

January 13, 2016
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

June 3, 2015
2Civility Highlights Givers and Getters Panel with WBAI
'“Women tend to be natural relationship-builders in their personal lives. The trick is how to translate those relationships to business opportunities.”'

May 4, 2015
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois Host Women’s Business Development Seminar
Prominent in-house counsel and law firm attorneys served as panelists.

March 31, 2015
WBAI, Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Pair Up on Women's Business Development CLE Presentation
Today women law school graduates outnumber men – but how do they become rainmakers? Join us for an informative, two-part panel discussion with experienced Business Givers and Business Getters.

February 4, 2015
Bell, Monaco Defeat Plaintiff’s Federal False Claims Act Complaint
The lawsuit alleged that the manufacturer violated the federal False Claims Act in relation to warranties provided to the government.

January 29, 2015
Bell, McCaskey Recognized in "Unique Verdicts of 2014" Publication
The case was tried in Cook County, Ill. in March 2014.

January 12, 2015
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2015 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

March 31, 2014
Bell, McCaskey Win Not Guilty Verdict in Cook County
The trial resulted in a defense verdict for Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP's client, an industrial lift manufacturer.

February 11, 2014
Bell, Monaco Win Not Guilty Verdict for Automaker
The trial ran for two weeks in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

January 13, 2014
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2014 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

December 12, 2013
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Highlights Entertainment and Media Law Practice
The article quotes Partner Brian W. Bell and Practice Group Chair Jeffrey S. Becker.

September 11, 2013
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Wins Not Guilty Verdict in ADA Case
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP represented the client at both the administrative level before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and through to verdict.

January 3, 2013
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 39 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 39 of its attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2013 Illinois Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists.

January 3, 2012
Illinois Super Lawyers Recognizes 34 Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Attorneys
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces that 23 of its attorneys were recognized as Illinois Super Lawyers, while 11 others were recognized as Rising Stars.

March 6, 2009
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Awarded #1 Top Defense Verdict in 2008 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly
Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP Partners Brian W. Bell and Anthony J. Monaco were recently awarded #1 Top Defense Verdict in 2008 by Missouri Lawyers Weekly.

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