Brendan D. O'Toole

Brendan O’Toole focuses on complex federal and state commercial litigation, with an emphasis on financial services, residential development and construction, and mortgage disputes, along with the defense of business tort and class action claims.

He also regularly defends clients in shareholder disputes and against claims brought under various consumer protection statutes (Fair Credit Reporting Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act). Brendan handles all aspects of litigation, including taking and defending depositions, arguing motions and examining witnesses during trials in state and federal court.

Brendan has also drafted appellate briefs in the Supreme Court of Virginia (petition and merits stages) and the United States Supreme Court (petition stage), and he has argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He also has experience defending against claims under the Virginia Fraud Against Taxpayers Act. Brendan’s knowledge of the Eastern District of Virginia is a tremendous asset for clients involved in federal litigation.

Brendan returned to the firm in the fall of 2013 after serving as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. in the Eastern District of Virginia.  Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Brendan served as a law clerk to the Hon. Dennis W. Dohnal, also of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Brendan has been listed in Virginia Super Lawyers magazine for business litigation.  In addition, Brendan has been named among Virginia's "Legal Elite" by Virginia Business (2015-present); listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2017-present); and listed in Virginia Super Lawyers (2013-present). He has also been named to Benchmark Litigation's 40 & Under Hot List (2018-present). He is the author of various articles pertaining to financial services litigation, white collar crime and administrative law. 

Brendan is also involved in the community and serves as a board member of Communities in Schools of Chesterfield (CIS), an organization that utilizes both public and private partnerships to provide prevention and intervention services to at-risk youth and their families in Chesterfield County. Brendan, a cancer survivor, also participates with the Association for the Support of Children with Cancer (ASK), Young Adult Survivor’s Advisory Group.

Brendan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest University, with honors, and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law, where he was elected by the faculty to the National Order of the Barrister. While in law school, Brendan was a senior associate with the Richmond Journal of Global Law and Business, the 2004 Intrascholastic Trial Advocacy Competition champion, a semi-finalist in the Client Counseling and Negotiation Competition and a member of the Honor Council Student Advocate Corps.