Jonathan Brayman

About Jonathan Brayman

Jonathan M. Brayman is a partner at Breen & Pugh. His practice focuses on criminal defense, Section 1983 civil rights actions, civil asset forfeiture defense, class actions, and civil litigation. Since joining Breen & Pugh, Brayman has helped win numerous acquittals including clients charged with murder, home invasion, armed robbery, criminal sexual assault, kidnapping, bribery, DUI, and various narcotics and weapons offenses. Brayman has also distinguished himself as an appellate lawyer, helping to create favorable precedent, as well as winning outright reversals and new trials for clients leading to their release from prison. Brayman currently serves on the Board of Directors for the NACDL and the IACDL. He also serves on the Justice Council for Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions. He is a proud member of the Chicago Inn of Court. Before joining Breen & Pugh, Brayman worked with the Law Offices of Thomas Peters, where he litigated Section 1983 civil rights cases. He served as class counsel to tens of thousands of class members in class actions successfully challenging the unconstitutional policies and practices of the City of Chicago and winning settlements that included wide-ranging injunctive and monetary relief (more than $7M). Jonathan’s experience prior to graduating from law school included helping to win a new trial for a man sentenced to death by a federal jury in Louisiana (2010), working for federal judges in Chicago (Hon. Matthew F. Kennelly) and New Orleans (Hon. Ivan L.R. Lemelle)(2009), working as a clerk at the Federal Defender Program in Chicago (2008), and working on the defense team for Joey Lombardo in the historic Chicago Outfit “Family Secrets” trial (2007). Brayman graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 2010 with the Willard L. Boyd Public Service Award (Highest Honors) and was named the 20••••10 Ramza-Fester \"Rainbow Rights\" Scholar.

Experience

1. Partner

   Breen & Pugh

   Oct 2010 — Present · Chicago, IL, US

   Won defendants’ acquittals on murder, home invasion, bribery, felony disorderly conduct (false bomb threat), aggravated battery, and criminal disposal of hazardous waste charges. Drafted sentencing memoranda and presented sentencing arguments for defendants in state and federal criminal cases. Successfully litigated motions to quash search warrants and arrests, motions to suppress evidence and statements, and motions to dismiss. Helped litigate and settle civil rights cases, including class actions with wide-ranging injunctive and monetary relief.

Education

• Tulane University Law School

  Law

  2008 — 2008

• University of Iowa College of Law

  Juris Doctor, Law

  2007 — 2010

• New Trier High School

  HS Diploma

  1998 — 2002

• University of Colorado Boulder

  Bachelor of Arts, Sociology

  2002 — 2006

Skills

• Legal Writing
• Breach of Contract
• Family Law
• Criminal Defense
• Trial Practice
• Westlaw
• Defense
• Appeals
• White Collar Criminal Defense
• Criminal Law
• Civil Rights Law
• Legal Assistance
• Class Actions
• Trials
• Civil Rights Litigation
• Mediation
• Commercial Litigation
• Civil Litigation
• Courts