Brian Bassett’s approach is defined by a combination of deep and diverse insurance coverage insights, assertive advocacy, and detailed analysis that never loses sight of the big picture.
Brian understands that insurance disputes do not happen in a vacuum; that effective representation requires consideration of business concerns that transcend the four corners of a specific issue or case. Whether through assertive courtroom advocacy or meticulous coverage analysis, Brian provides his clients with counsel they can rely on in their most consequential matters.
Read More > Read Less >Education
- The John Marshall Law School, J.D.
- John Marshall Law Review, Lead Articles Editor
- 2005 Scribes Award for best comment in the 2005 John Marshall Law Review
- University of Dayton, B.A.
Bar Admissions
- Illinois
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court, Colorado
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit
Professional & Community Affiliations
- Co-Chair, CLM Insurance Coverage Committee Publications Sub-Committee
- Vice Chair, DRI Professional Liability Insurance Substantive Law Group
- Grants Committee, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation-IICF – Midwest Division
- Claims and Litigation Management Alliance-CLM
- Defense Research Institute-DRI
- Professional Liability Underwriters Society-PLUS
- Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel - FDCC
- Chicago Bar Association
Notable Decisions
- Landmark Am. Ins. Co. v. VO Remarketing Corp.,2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13279 (10th Cir. 2015). On July 30, 2015, the Tenth Circuit United States Court of Appeals affirmed the district court’s holding that Landmark owed no duty to defend or indemnify its insured pursuant to the policy’s auto exclusion.
- Landmark Am. Ins. Co. v. Sandona Corporation and Brothers Lounge et al., case number 1:13-cv-05120 memorandum opinion and order signed by the Honorable Andrea R. Wood on 3/26/2015
- Ricky Vosler v Knockouts Sports Bar and Grill, Inc. et al; No. 2011L001646, Circuit Court of Cook County, Law Division.
- Sarkozy v. Hub International Midwest Ltd. et al.; 9th Circuit Court for the County of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Case No. 13-0156-NZ
- U. S. Bank N. A. v CoAmerica Incorporated, et. al.; Case N. 2011-77806, District Court of Harris County, Texas, 215th Judicial District
Publications
- Co-Author, “Preserving Privilege” (CLM Magazine, March 2021)
- Co-Author, “Where Do We Draw the Line? Liability Coverage for Economic Losses” (In-House Defense Quarterly., Spring 2019)
- Co-Author, “Is Any Body Safe?” (CLM Magazine, March 2019)
- Ill. Courts Should Not Conflate Insurers And Defense Counsel (Law360, October 30, 2018)
- If You Don’t Reach Conclusion, Forget The Exclusion (CLM Magazine, December 2017)
- Dueling Loyalties: The Right to Independent Counsel (ABA Section of Litigation, August 2016)
- Gaps in Security: The Increasing Need for Cyber Coverage (CLM Magazine, Winter 2015)
- When Is Your Work Really “Your Work?” Construction Defect Claims In The GC Context (ABA Insurance Coverage Litigation Newsletter, Fall 2013)
- Co-Author, Sandy: The Second Wave. Business Interruption Claims Approach Landfall (IACP-Declarations, Fall 2013)
- Avoiding Broken Promises: Recent ISO Revisions to Additional Insured Endorsements, Litigation Management (Fall 2013)
- How to Keep the Lights On: An Exploration of the Abrogation of Wholesale Energy Contracts, 38 John Marshall L. Rev. 303 (Fall 2004)