Thomas J. Brandi

Thomas J. Brandi is the founding partner of The Brandi Law Firm and an accomplished San Francisco personal injury trial attorney. A native of San Francisco, Tom has dedicated more than four decades to representing individuals and families in complex personal injury, wrongful death, product liability, consumer protection, and mass tort litigation throughout California and across the United States.

Tom graduated from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory, attended San Jose State University, and earned his law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law. While attending law school full-time, he also worked full-time, establishing the work ethic and determination that have become hallmarks of his legal career.

After beginning his legal career with the State of California, Tom transitioned to plaintiff-side litigation with Abramson & Smith before forming a law partnership with the late Bob Bianco, retired Court of Appeal Chief Justice Barbara Jones, and current Superior Court Judge Steve Murphy. In 1992, he founded The Brandi Law Firm, where he continues to lead a team of personal injury attorneys dedicated to helping injury victims pursue justice and full, fair compensation.

Experienced Trial Lawyer

Tom has tried cases to verdict in 18 California counties and in two federal courts. Throughout his career, he has represented clients suffering from traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, dangerous drug injuries, defective medical devices, defective products, and other serious harms.

His notable jury verdicts include a $1.382 billion class action verdict in San Francisco, a $29.3 million verdict in Solano County, a $26.6 million verdict in Santa Clara County, a $15.3 million verdict in San Luis Obispo County, a $15 million verdict in San Francisco, and a $14 million verdict in San Mateo County. At this point in his career, Tom has more than 20 verdicts in excess of $1 million and has resolved well over 150 cases in excess of $1 million.

National Leadership in Complex Litigation

Tom has held leadership positions in some of the nation's significant mass tort, product liability, consumer fraud, and class action cases. His appointments have included court-appointed leadership positions in Dalkon Shield litigation, the Plaintiffs' Management Committee in the California Fen-Phen Diet Drug Litigation, the Plaintiffs' Management Committee in the Alaska Airlines crash litigation, asbestos claimants' committees involving USG and W.R. Grace bankruptcies, executive committee roles in the California Fosamax and ACTOS litigation, co-lead counsel in the Apple OS litigation, and the executive committee in the Ghost Ship fire litigation arising from the Oakland warehouse tragedy.

In addition to mass tort and class action work, Tom has represented victims of dangerous roadways, defective vehicles, corporate misconduct, elder abuse, consumer fraud, and other forms of improper conduct.

Awards and Recognition

Tom's courtroom achievements have earned recognition from many legal organizations. He has been a four-time nominee for Consumer Attorneys of California Trial Lawyer of the Year, a seven-time nominee for San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association Trial Lawyer of the Year, named Best Lawyers' 2013 San Francisco Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs "Lawyer of the Year", inducted into the State Bar Litigation Section Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame in 2016, inducted into the Lawdragon Plaintiff Consumer Attorney Hall of Fame in 2020, and received a 2021 CLAY Award for his work in the Ghost Ship litigation.

Educator and Legal Leader

Since 2003, Tom has taught Trial Practice at the University of San Francisco School of Law, where he has twice been named Adjunct Professor of the Year and was also recognized as Alumni of the Year. Tom is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), American College of Trial Lawyers, and International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

His service to the legal profession includes serving as past president of the San Francisco Trial Lawyers Association, past president of Consumer Attorneys of California, past director of the San Francisco Bar Association, and twelve years of service on the California Judicial Council's Small Claims and Civil Litigation Committee.

Tom has received numerous lifetime achievement honors from legal, educational, and community organizations. Beyond his legal practice, he serves as president of the American Slovenian Education Foundation, founded the Saint Ignatius Legal Society, and serves as Honorary Consul for the nation of Slovenia.

Tom believes that thorough preparation, relentless advocacy, and unwavering commitment to clients are the foundations of success in the courtroom. For more than 40 years, he has fought for injured individuals and grieving families, helping them through some of the most difficult moments of their lives while pursuing justice against powerful corporations, insurance companies, and public entities. He is a firm believer that hard work and preparation are the parents of success, cross examination is the sunlight in a courtroom, and a pitcher's best friend is a double play.