Brian Eldridge
Founding Partner

With more than two decades of experience, Brian Eldridge is a seasoned trial lawyer who handles high-stakes cases in courts throughout the country. In 2013, Brian was honored to be named to Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” list. For eight consecutive years, from 2008 to 2015, he was selected as an “Illinois Rising Star,” an honor awarded to the top 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 in Illinois. For the last nine years, from 2017 to 2025, Brian has been selected by his peers as an “Illinois Super Lawyer,” placing him in the top 5% of all lawyers in Illinois. Over the course of his career, Brian has also been honored to be named as an “Emerging Lawyer” and a “Leading Lawyer” on multiple occasions.

Brian’s practice focuses on civil rights litigation, class actions, mass torts, complex commercial and business litigation, environmental torts, and medical malpractice. He has successfully tried cases to verdict in federal and state courts and has argued cases in front of appellate courts in Illinois. Brian’s cases and the results he has achieved on behalf of his clients are often the subject of media reports and publications.

Brian’s practice philosophy has a singular focus: the client. In his two decades of experience litigating cases, he understands that the best results inevitably come from a proactive approach, hard work, and strategic planning to efficiently drive a case forward to resolution or verdict. Brian’s cases often involve collaboration with a highly-skilled and experienced team of lawyers and paralegals who share his practice philosophy.

Through his years of practice, Brian has developed an extensive expert network, having worked with consultants in various specialized areas including medicine, engineering, epidemiology, oncology, risk analysis, statistics, pharmacology, economics, federal regulations, safety standards, and psychology.

Brian is a frequent presenter and speaker on topics involving trial techniques, jury selection, persuasive writing, motions for summary judgment, and class action litigation. He is a devoted supporter of civil rights and, in particular, the exoneree community and Innocence Projects throughout the country.

Brian founded Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge in 2015 together with Steven Hart and Robert McLaughlin. Before that he was a partner at a civil litigation firm where he primarily handled complex class actions, mass torts, and product liability matters.

Brian received his undergraduate degree from The University of Kansas in 1998. He received his law degree from University of California College of the Law (Hastings) in 2002. Brian is licensed to practice in both Illinois and California, as well as numerous federal courts throughout the country.

Brian lives in Highland Park with his wife, Jodi, and their three daughters.

Practice Areas

• Civil Rights
• Class Action & Mass Torts
• Environmental & Toxic Tort
• Antitrust Litigation
• Business Litigation & Counseling
• Employment
• Automotive & Trucking
• Medical Malpractice & Nursing Home
• Sex Abuse
• Premises Liability
• Defective Drugs & Medical Devices
• Defective Products
• Construction Accidents & Defects

Education

• The University of Kansas, B.A., 1998
• University of California College of the Law (Hastings), J.D., 2002

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

• California, 2002
• Illinois, 2003
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
• U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
• U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Awards & Recognitions

• Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch” (2013)
• “Illinois Rising Star” (2008-2025)
• “Emerging Lawyer” (2015-2016)
• “Illinois Super Lawyer” (2016-2025)
• “Leading Lawyer” (2020-2025)

Speaking Engagements & Publications

• Perrin Class Action Conference, Statutory Causes of Action, Chicago, 2015
• Perrin Class Action Conference, Battleground Discovery, Chicago, 2017
• Pincus Federal Court Boot Camp, Motions for Summary Judgment, Chicago, 2018
• Pincus Federal Court Jury Selection Seminar, Ethics and Strategies of Jury Selection, Chicago, 2019
• Pincus Federal Court Boot Camp, Motions for Summary Judgment and Post-Trial Motions, Chicago, 2019
• Chicago Bar Association, Sterigenics and Ethylene Oxide Exposure, Chicago, 2018
• Chicago Bar Association, Class Actions, Chicago, 2019
• Pincus Federal Court Boot Camp, Motions for Summary Judgment, Chicago, 2020
• Pincus Circuit Court Boot Camp, Depositions, Chicago 2020
• Pincus Mastering the Deposition Seminar, Witness Preparation, Chicago, 2021
• Pincus Circuit Court Boot Camp, Depositions, Chicago 2021
• Pincus Circuit Court Boot Camp, Depositions, Chicago 2022
• Pincus Circuit Court Boot Camp, Depositions, Chicago 2023
• Pincus Circuit Court Boot Camp, Depositions, Chicago 2024
• Pincus Mastering the Deposition Seminar, Depositions, Chicago, 2024

Notable Results

• Willowbrook Ethylene Oxide Litigation (Class Action / Mass Torts): Represented hundreds of individuals diagnosed with cancer in cases against businesses emitting ethylene oxide from a medical device sterilization facility. Brian was one of the lead lawyers in this litigation, which is believed to be the largest mass tort in the history of Cook County. After more than four years of intensive litigation, the case resolved in 2023 for more than $450 million.
• In re Potash Antitrust Litigation (Antitrust Litigation): Represented direct purchaser plaintiffs in this multidistrict class action litigation arising from the price-fixing of potash sold in the United States. After five years of tumultuous litigation, HME attorneys helped obtain a $90 million class settlement on behalf of direct purchaser plaintiffs.
• Herman Williams Wrongful Conviction (Civil Rights): Represented Herman Williams, who was wrongfully convicted of murdering his ex-wife in Lake County, Illinois. Brian and his colleagues at Hart McLaughlin & Eldridge first secured a Certificate of Innocence on behalf of Mr. Williams. Then, after just over two years of litigation, Mr. Williams was able to settle his federal lawsuit for $13 million.
• Stop & Frisk Class Action (Civil Rights, Class Action / Mass Torts): Represented a class of minority Chicagoans who alleged that the City of Chicago Police Department had an unconstitutional pattern and practice of stopping & frisking minority residents. The case was a landmark success on behalf of the class in that the settlement required the City of Chicago to implement policing reforms and policy changes designed to best ensure constitutional policing. Importantly, those reforms are now part of the Consent Decree, which is subject to judicial oversight and independent monitoring. The settlement also involved a $5 million payment on the part of the City.
• Maya Hirsch Wrongful Death (Bodily Injury): Represented the Estate of Maya Hirsch and her family in a case against the City of Chicago that resolved for $3.25 million. Maya (4) was killed in a hit-and-run accident while crossing a street in Lincoln Park. Suit was filed against the City of Chicago alleging that it failed to properly maintain the intersection in compliance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and other engineering standards. The case settled on the eve of trial.
• JUUL Consumer Fraud Settlement (Class Action): Appointed by the Lake County State's Attorneys Office to file a class action lawsuit against Juul for intentionally pushing teens to become addicted to nicotine-aided e-cigarettes through deceptive marketing campaigns. Case successfully resolved.
• Yoga Instructor Settlement (Class Action): Represented class of yoga instructors in a Wage & Hour case in federal court. The case alleged that instructors were unpaid for the extensive time required to prepare for class. After years of litigation and the successful certification of class, the case resolved the case for $1.492 million.
• Holmes v. City of Racine (Civil Rights): Represented multiple restaurant and bar owners in a complex multi-party civil rights lawsuit, ultimately resulting in a $1.45 million settlement.
• Confidential Wrongful Death (Bodily Injury): Represented the Estate of Noah Katz and his family in a negligent entrustment case against a third-party. The case resolved for full policy limits and umbrella coverage after nearly three years of hotly contested litigation. A separate settlement was reached in the case against the City of Chicago for its alleged failure to maintain the intersection.
• Confidential Medical Malpractice Settlement (Bodily Injury): Represented a client who sustained serious bodily injuries at a hospital while under suicidal watch. The case resolved for $1.3 million.
• Confidential Dog Bite Settlement (Bodily Injury): Record-setting confidential settlement on behalf of a woman who was bitten by a neighbor’s dog. Case resolved within five months of filing the complaint.
• Confidential Auto, Municipal Liability, and Dram Shop Settlement (Bodily Injury): Represented a client who sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of a car accident. Suit was filed against a driver, a social host, a restaurant, and municipal agencies involved in the maintaining the intersection. The case resolved for $1.435 million.
• Clinical Supplies Management Trial (Business Litigation): Successfully tried a complex commercial litigation case on behalf of a client who was sued for its role during a clinical trial involving an over-the-counter pharmaceutical product. After two weeks of trial in federal court the jury returned a “not guilty” verdict on behalf of Brian’s client.
• Insurance Coverage Trial (Business Litigation): Prevailed on all counts at trial in a complex insurance coverage dispute on behalf of a national developer and property manager. The trial result was subsequently affirmed on appeal.
• Cargo Carrier Trial (Business Litigation): Prevailed in a one-week jury trial on behalf of an international cargo carrier sued for breach of a commercial contract. Jury returned verdict after less than 10 minutes of deliberations. The trial result was subsequently affirmed on appeal.
• Brian Beals Certificate of Innocence (Civil Rights): Prevailed at evidentiary hearing where the firm’s client, Brian Beals, was awarded a Certificate of Innocence after being wrongfully incarcerated for 35 years for a crime he did not commit.
• Herman Williams Certificate of Innocence (Civil Rights): Prevailed at evidentiary hearing where the firm’s client, Brian Beals, was awarded a Certificate of Innocence after being wrongfully incarcerated for more than 27 years for a crime he did not commit.