Since being licensed to practice law in both New York and Texas in 1996, Brian’s practice has been focused almost entirely on commercial and business litigation.  He is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell and has handled all aspects of various commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts, as well as various arbitration forums.  His litigation experience covers a wide array of matters—from complex multi-state class actions to two-party commercial paper disputes.  Brian’s clients operate in diverse industries, including oil & gas, energy transportation, tobacco, consumer credit reporting, air security, and food-service.  Brian practiced at Bickel & Brewer, Jones Day, and Elrod Trial Attorneys (merged into Gruber Elrod Johansen Hail Shank).  A successful litigator with more than 20 years of litigation experience, Brian has combined his commercial litigation practice with twenty-seven years of service in the U.S. Army.

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Although born in upstate New York, Brian grew up on the island of St. Croix in the United States Virgin Islands.  Sailing and competitive swimming were his passions.  The latter, however, offered him the opportunity to travel throughout South and Central America and the Caribbean to compete internationally.  Ultimately, Brian represented the United States Virgin Islands in the 1980 Moscow Olympics (boycotted), the 1982 World Swimming Championships held in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

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Building on the discipline developed through years of competitive training and a strong desire to serve his country, Brian accepted an appointment to attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.  Upon graduation from West Point in 1987, Brian was commissioned as an Armor officer.  His initial assignment was to a tank battalion on the famed Fulda Gap.  However, West Point was not all military training and academics—as Brian found the time to get re-acquainted with Jennifer Tilley, a nursery school classmate from upstate New York.  Jennifer attended Colgate University and Brian was in love after her first visit to West Point.  Jennifer and Brian were married three days after his graduation from West Point (a week after Jennifer’s graduation from Colgate).  They headed off to central Germany by way of Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

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Neither of them could have anticipated the changes they were going to experience.  Before Brian’s initial tour was complete, the Soviet Union collapsed, the Warsaw Pact was dissolving and Brian’s entire armored division (3d Armored Division) packed their tanks and equipment and deployed to Southwest Asia to participate in both Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  With Brian deployed, Jennifer headed back to New York to earn her master’s degree in education from Syracuse University.

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After returning from Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Brian resigned his active duty commission and headed off to Albany Law School.  He graduated from Albany Law School cum laude in 1995.  Within a few months of graduation, Brian and Jennifer moved to the Dallas area.  Brian passed the bar exams in both New York and Texas.

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Of course, Brian’s military service did not end with his transfer into the U.S. Army Reserves in 1991.  In April 2003, Brian was offered a battery command with a basic training battalion headquartered in Wichita Falls, Texas.  Brian accepted the offer and was transferred to 2/355th FA, 1st Brigade, 95th Division (IT).  Due in part to a critical shortage of officers, Brian ultimately commanded two batteries and served as the battalion supply officer.  In 2007, Brian was mobilized and deployed to Afghanistan where he served as the executive officer of a small team of combat advisors to an Afghan infantry battalion.  After 400 days of active duty, Brian returned from Afghanistan and resumed his litigation practice.  In 2010, Brian sought an appointment into the Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps.  In 2012, he resigned his commission as an armor officer and was appointed to the JAG Corps.  After completion of the seven-week JAG Officer Basic Course, he was assigned as the assistant team chief for a JAG detachment in Grand Prairie, Texas.  In 2016, Brian reached his Mandatory Removal Date and was honorably discharged after more than twenty-seven years of active and reserve military service.

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Brian’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Achievement Medal w/1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Achievement Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal w/3 Campaign Stars, National Defense Service Ribbon w/ Bronze Star, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/M device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon w/”2” device, NATO Medal, Defense of Saudi Arabia Medal, and Liberation of Kuwait Medal.

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Brian’s extensive military service has provided him a uniquely diverse experience that he brings to the practice of commercial litigation.  Composure, focus, determination, dedication and a mission-first approach are all skills that Brian has honed over his twenty-seven-year military career.

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Brian remains married to his nursery school classmate and they continue to raise two beautiful daughters. Francesca Amador Farlow graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in May 2020. She was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard and was assigned to Sector Houston as a USCG Prevention Officer. Lillia Parker Farlow graduated from Bishop Lynch High School in May of 2020 and accepted her appointment to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as a member of the class of 2024. Lillia looks to continue her softball career at the USCGA and Francesca has volunteered to coach the catchers on a 10u team near Houston.  Brian and Jennifer have much to learn about the U.S. Coast Guard but are very proud that both girls have decided to serve their country. USCG orange and blue are now favorite colors.

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A long-time veterans advocate, Brian currently serves as a national director for Heroes on the Water—a not-for-profit that helps veterans heal through kayak fishing.  Brian also remains active with the Dallas Bar Association’s Peer Assistance Committee—having served as chair of the committee in 2014-2015.