Brian Shaw

Member

Brian focuses his practice on financial restructuring, bankruptcy, and other in- and out-of-court distressed solutions, along with attendant litigation, representing debtors, creditors, and other parties-in-interest in proceedings throughout the country. Over the past three decades, he has guided Chapter 11 debtors, Chapter 7 and 11 trustees, creditors’ and noteholders’ committees, assignees, landlords, liquidating trustees, labor organizations, preference and fraudulent conveyance defendants, receivers, and secured and unsecured creditors through all aspects of bankruptcy, insolvency and restructuring.

A fellow at the American College of Bankruptcy, he has also served as president, chairman, and vice president of membership at the American Bankruptcy Institute and previously chaired the Chicago Bar Association’s Bankruptcy and Reorganization Section. Brian has earned accolades from Chambers USA, Martindale Hubbell (AV Rating), Super Lawyers (Top 100 in Illinois-2020), Best Lawyers in America, Lawdragon (Top 500 Bankruptcy Lawyers), and Marquis Who’s Who in America. Brian also authors a regular column for Law360, where he shares insights on current bankruptcy, insolvency, and restructuring law issues.

Brian earned his J.D. from University of Illinois College of Law and his B.A. from Tufts University.

Experience

News

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys in its Best Lawyers in America 2025 Edition

August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers selected 242 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America.

Lawdragon Names Mark Felger and Brian Shaw Among Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers

June 28, 2024

Lawdragon has named Cozen O’Connor attorneys Mark Felger and Brian Shaw, both members in the firm’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2024 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.

Nearly 100 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 27 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2024 Guide

June 10, 2024

Chambers USA rankings are based on an “assessment of a firm’s work and opinions from external market sources, with an emphasis on client feedback.” In order to be ranked in the guide, lawyers and firms must demonstrate “sustained excellence.”

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 19 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 05, 2024

Ira Bodenstein, Jack Carriglio, Janet Davis, John Dunn, Mitch Edlund, Wendy Enerson, Gary Gassman, Tia Ghattas, Jeremy Glenn, Erin Bolan Hines, Mark Rabinowitz, Peter Roberts, Brian Shaw, Joseph Tilson, Julie Trester, Peter Valeta, Anna Wermuth, and Brian Williams were recognized as Leading Lawyers, Christina Sanfelippo was recognized as an Emerging Lawyer.

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2024 Illinois Super Lawyers

January 29, 2024

The Cozen O’Connor attorneys who have been recognized by their peers in Illinois as Super Lawyers are Jack Carriglio, Janet Davis, Jeremy Glenn, Allen Guon, Peter Roberts, Brian Shaw, Joe Tilson, and Anna Wermuth. Amy Doig, David Doyle, and Corey Hickman were named to this year’s Illinois Rising Stars list. This is Hickman’s first year on the Rising Stars list.

Best Lawyers Honors More Than 200 Cozen O'Connor Attorneys to its Best Lawyers in America 2024 Edition

August 17, 2023

Best Lawyers selected 232 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s U.S. offices for inclusion in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Lawdragon Names Cozen O’Connor’s Brian Shaw Among Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers

July 10, 2023

CHICAGO, July 10, 2023 — Lawdragon has named Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2023 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.

Eighty-eight Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 23 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2023 Guide

June 05, 2023

Of the 88 lawyers ranked, 17 lawyers have been recognized nationally, and eighteen were recognized in Band 1. Eight of the firm's practice areas have been recognized nationally, and nine were ranked Band 1.

Illinois Connection Remains a Constant for Shaw

April 21, 2023

Brian Shaw is featured in a University of Illinois article discussing his career path and what he finds most rewarding in his job.

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2023 Illinois Super Lawyers

January 26, 2023

Super Lawyers has named 11 attorneys at Cozen O’Connor to its 2023 lists of top practitioners in Illinois.

More Than 200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch

August 22, 2022

210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 24 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Chambers Ranks 86 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 22 Practice Areas in Chambers USA 2022 Guide

June 02, 2022

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 86 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2022 edition.

Cozen O’Connor’s Brian Shaw Named to The American College of Bankruptcy Board of Regents

April 21, 2022

CHICAGO, April 21, 2022 — The American College of Bankruptcy (ACB) has named to its Board of Regents Chicago attorney Brian Shaw, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 23 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

March 02, 2022

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 22 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named one other as an Emerging Lawyer in its 2022 survey results.

Lawdragon names Cozen O’Connor’s Brian Shaw and Thomas Horan Among Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers

January 31, 2022

Lawdragon has named Brian Shaw and Thomas Horan, members of Cozen O’Connor’s Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice, to its 2022 list of the Top 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy and Restructuring Lawyers.

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers

January 28, 2022

Nine were recognized as Super Lawyers and two were named to its list of "Rising Stars," a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

82 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers, 19 Practices Earn Top Recognition in Chambers USA 2021 Guide

May 26, 2021

Chambers USA, the leading annual guide to the top lawyers and law firms in the United States, has ranked 82 Cozen O’Connor lawyers as leaders in their respective fields in the guide’s 2021 edition; of those, 15 lawyers have been recognized nationally.

Eleven Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named 2021 Illinois Super Lawyers

January 29, 2021

Super Lawyers has named eleven attorneys at Cozen O’Connor to its 2021 lists of top practitioners in Illinois.

Leading Lawyers Network Recognizes 26 Cozen O’Connor Lawyers as Top Illinois Practitioners

January 26, 2021

The Leading Lawyers Network has named 24 Cozen O’Connor lawyers to its annual list of Illinois’ top practitioners and named two others as Emerging Lawyers in its 2021 survey results.

PPP loans kept many small businesses afloat this summer. Without more funds, experts say a wave of bankruptcies is coming.

September 10, 2020

Brian Shaw was quoted in a Chicago Tribune article discussing an anticipated wave of bankruptcies among small businesses when Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans run out, absent additional funding.

With Global Bankruptcy Filings Increasing, Cozen O’Connor Adds Eight Veteran Attorneys to its Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring Practice

September 01, 2020

Hires Expand Offerings in Chicago and Add Depth to the firm’s Corporate Bankruptcy Practice

Publications

Bankruptcy Trustees Need More FinCEN Guidance

August 09, 2024

Brian Shaw and David Doyle co-authored a Law360 article addressing the need for clearer guidance on the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted by Congress in 2021.

How Purdue Pharma High Court Case May Change Bankruptcy

April 02, 2024

Brian Shaw and David Doyle co-authored a Law360 article on the potential implications of the Supreme Court decision in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case.

Pa. Ruling Shows Why Term Sheet Can Be Worth The Wait

December 06, 2023

Brian Shaw discusses the challenges attorneys face during lengthy mediation sessions and emphasizes the importance of promptly documenting mediated settlements in a Law360 article.

Bankruptcy Ruling Shows Section 363’s Magic Has Its Limits

August 10, 2023

Brian Shaw analyzes the significant role Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code plays in commercial bankruptcy cases in Law360.

Bankruptcy Ruling Affirms High 9th Circ. Evidentiary Standard

March 08, 2023

Brian Shaw discusses how the use of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in recent high-profile cases has resulted in debtors raising protection concerns in a Law360 article.

Golf Cart Ruling Exposes Bankruptcy Exemption Law Issue

October 03, 2022

Brian Shaw and Christina Sanfelippo discuss the In re: Smith decision and what it means for bankruptcy practitioners in a Law360 article.

9th Circ. Subchapter V Case Clarifies Commitment Periods

July 06, 2022

Brian Shaw and David Doyle analyze the Legal Service Bureau Inc. v. Orange County Bail Bonds Inc. decision, which that addresses the commitment period under Section 1191(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Code in an article titled “9th Circ. Subchapter V Case Clarifies Commitment Periods,” in Law360.

2 Years Of Small Biz Bankruptcy Law: Winners And Losers

April 04, 2022

Brian Shaw discusses the beneficial and detrimental effects of the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) in an article titled, “2 Years Of Small Biz Bankruptcy Law: Winners And Losers” in Law360.

8th Circ. Ruling Clarifies Bankruptcy Rent Cap Guidance [Law360]

December 22, 2021

Brian Shaw authored an article in Law360 exploring unfamiliarity with the impact Section 502(b)(6) has on the balance of the landlord's underlying, substantive state law claim for breach or termination of a lease once it's reduced by application of Section 502(b)(6)'s cap.

Bankruptcy Courts' Equitable Discretion May Be In Danger [Law360]

September 20, 2021

Brian Shaw and Mark Radtke co-authored an article in Law360 exploring the concerns about the bankruptcy court’s ability to make impartial decisions.

Expedited Bankruptcies Are Cause For Concern [Law 360]

June 09, 2021

Brian Shaw and David Doyle discuss the U.S. Trustee’s Offices’ position on Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in which the debtor seeks to either confirm a plan or sell substantially all its assets in a matter of weeks or less after the petition date in Law360.

How Consumer Bankruptcy Rulings Can Aid Ch. 11 Practice

March 09, 2021

Brian Shaw discusses the importance of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Chicago, Illinois v. Fulton in Law360.

Fixing Ch. 11 For Small Biz: What SBRA Means By 'Engaged'

February 05, 2021

Brian Shaw and Christina Sanfelippo discuss the Small Business Reorganization Act (SBRA) that went into effect on February 19, 2021 and is designed to improve the Chapter 11 reorganization process for small business debtors in Law360.

Events & Seminars

Past Events

Seventh Circuit Education Seminar 2024

October 18, 2024 - Chicago, IL

All Things Ethics

September 27, 2024 - Washington, D.C.

Emergency Chapter 11 Filings

September 05, 2024 - Las Vegas, NV

Subchapter V – The New Kid on the Block

November 09, 2022 - Webinar

Top Cases/Decisions

June 25, 2022 - Lake Geneva, WI

Bankruptcy from a Governmental Perspective

November 03, 2021 - Webinar

Education

  • University of Illinois College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1993
  • Tufts University, B.A., cum laude, 1989

Awards & Honors

Chambers and Partners USA, 2019-2024

Martindale Hubbell, AV Rating

Named an "Illinois Leading Lawyer" by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company, 2018

Best Lawyers in America, 2019-2025

Super Lawyers for Bankruptcy, 2006-2022

Marquis Who’s Who in America

  • Illinois
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court -- Central District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court -- Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court -- Northern District of Illinois

Board of Regents, American College of Bankruptcy 

Fellow, American College of Bankruptcy

Law360 - Columnist

Past president, past chairman, past vice president of membership, American Bankruptcy Institute 

Chicago Bar Association

Past member, University of Illinois College of Law Recent Alumni Advisory Board