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Brian C. Wille

Brian C. Wille

Senior Counsel

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New York City
T: 212.808.8100
F: 212.808.8108
bwille@kostelanetz.com

Brian C. Wille represents businesses and individuals in complex litigations involving a wide range of corporate, commercial, tax and securities matters. Brian's clients include individual investors, venture capitalists, major insurers, and prominent figures in entertainment and the arts.

In addition to litigation matters, Brian regularly represents clients in regulatory proceedings and investigations before the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). He also represents clients in white collar criminal matters relating to securities issues, and has acted as lead trial counsel in several tax whistleblower cases that have established important precedents in this emerging area of the law.

Brian is formerly a partner of the firm, during which time he acted as the head of the firm’s civil litigation practice.  He currently splits his time between New York and Florida.

Tulane University, B.A. (1982), Summa Cum Laude in Political Science and Economics

New York University School of Law, J.D. (1985)

State Courts:

New York State, 1987

State of Florida, 2011

Federal Courts:

U.S.D.C., Southern District of New York, 1989

U.S.D.C., Eastern District of New York, 1989

Third Circuit Court of Appeals, 1989

Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 2007

United States Tax Court, 2008

U.S.D.C., Southern District of Florida, 2021

D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, 2022

  • Secured multi-million-dollar concessions from the Internal Revenue Service in litigation over allegedly abusive tax shelter
  • Secured, on appeal, reinstatement of fraud, breach of fiduciary and related claims in action involving oil industry joint venture, later resulting in seven-figure recovery on behalf of plaintiffs
  • Secured dismissal of fraud claims against senior officers of insurance company
  • Persuaded Securities and Exchange Commission to abandon securities fraud claims against ex-Chairman of major telecommunications company
  • Participated as part of a team that recovered more than $275 million in judgments and settlements on behalf of investors in action entitled In Re Safety-Kleen Bondholders Litigation
  • Secured, on behalf of world-renowned artist and entertainer, multi-million-dollar recovery in securities fraud action against his financial advisor
  • Secured, on behalf of entrepreneur and venture capitalist, multi-million-dollar recovery against his broker for fraud, churning, and related misconduct
  • Persuaded Securities and Exchange Commission to abandon insider trading claims against family insider accused of trading on the basis of nonpublic information about impending merger
  • Persuaded federal prosecutors not to pursue front-running claims against securities specialist
  • Secured settlement, on favorable terms, of market-timing claims against securities broker
  • Secured dismissal of fraud claims against former partner in leading law firm
  • Secured successful results in numerous estate and probate proceedings, including successful challenge of Will on grounds of fraud and undue influence, and successful defense of co-executors and co-trustees on claims of theft and self-dealing.

Member, Board of Trustees Prep for Prep (2012-Present)

Member, Finance Committee of Prep for Prep (2013-Present)

Brian C. Wille Quoted In Reuters Article Entitled “New York Exec To Pay In Tax Shelter Accord”
June 28, 2010

Brian C. Wille Quoted In Washington Post Article Entitled “Biden’s Son, Brother Named In Two Suits”
August 24, 2008

Brian C. Wille Quoted In Bloomberg.com Article Entitled “Lobbyist Hunter Biden Is Sued On Paradigm Purchase”
January 31, 2008

Brian C. Wille Quoted In New York Newsday Article Entitled “Dispute Ensnarls Insurance Player”
February 26, 2006

Brian C. Wille Quoted In Knight-Ridder News Service Article Entitled “Mantle Auction Will Have Several Items Missing”
November 21, 1997

Brian C. Wille Quoted In New York Post Article Entitled “Mick’s Widow Sues To Stop Auction”
November 21, 1997

Brian C. Wille Participates In An Event Titled “Tips on the Examination of an Accounting Expert” For PLI

April 1, 2000