In a field known for intensity, long hours, and emotional strain, trial attorney Brian O’Connor has spent nearly four decades exploring a rare equilibrium—balancing high-stakes litigation with personal wellness, deep-rooted community ties, and a sense of purpose that reaches beyond the courtroom.
Since settling in Santa Barbara County in 1987, O’Connor has been one of the region’s most respected voices in personal injury and medical malpractice law. But ask him what defines his success, and he won’t mention his case wins. He’ll talk about the people—the families, the friendships, the mentors and mentees—that shape his days.
He had just completed a foundational stretch in the DA’s office in Palm Springs, and a new opportunity pulled him to the Central Coast, where the ocean air and close-knit community proved the perfect setting for the next chapter. “When I came here, I knew this was the only place I wanted to live,” O’Connor says. “It felt like home immediately.” He spent the early part of his career on the defense side, representing hospitals, physicians, and insurance companies in high-stakes medical malpractice cases. That foundation gave him a deep understanding of the legal and medical systems—an experience he would later carry into a new chapter.
O’Connor spent his early Santa Barbara years defending hospitals, doctors, and insurance carriers in complex malpractice cases. But by 1996, he made a pivotal shift, starting his own practice and advocating for individuals and families affected by personal injury or medical negligence. “It’s complex, it’s nuanced, and it really matters.” Today, three-quarters of his cases are medical-related—an area few local attorneys pursue due to its difficulty and risk.
The cases are often heartbreaking: missed diagnoses, emergency room errors, birth injuries that leave lifelong consequences. “These aren’t just legal matters. They’re human stories,” he says. “That’s what drives me.”
His background gives him a rare dual perspective. “Most attorneys don’t have both trial experience and deep knowledge of the medical-legal landscape,” he notes. “That combination sets my practice apart.” With over 50 trials under his belt and extensive work in both defense and plaintiff litigation, O’Connor is uniquely positioned to understand the motivations, strategies, and sensitivities of all parties involved.
But technical knowledge is only part of the equation. O’Connor is known for his tenacity and deep empathy—traits that shine in cases where families are seeking answers after devastating outcomes. “He recalls a case in which a patient was discharged from an ER visit and tragically passed away just hours later—a moment that underscored for him the importance of medical accountability.” Another case involved a birth injury that led to permanent disabilities for a child, one of many instances where families faced enormous challenges navigating an already painful journey.
“These cases are emotionally intense. But they deserve to be heard,” he says. “They demand it.”
But the emotional and intellectual demands of his work require more than sharp legal acumen—they require balance. For O’Connor, that comes through movement, routine, and relationships.
A lifelong athlete, he’s completed multiple Ironman triathlons, including Kona in 1994 and the Nice France Ironman in 2009 and now shifting focus to more open water swims, such as swimming Alcatrez 8 times. When he’s not on the clock, you can usually find him at Frankie’s gym in Los Olivos, cycling with longtime friends, or swimming laps as he finds solace in the rhythm of endurance training. “That group I trained with—they’re still some of my closest friends. We used to ride from San Francisco to Santa Barbara every year. It kept us grounded.”
Today, he also devotes increasing time to mediation—a space where his trial experience and calm presence create trust on both sides of the table. He facilitates several mediations each month, often volunteering through the court system, and sees that aspect of his practice expanding in the years to come. “Mediation is a way to resolve things with dignity. It’s where I think I can do a lot of good moving forward.”
O’Connor’s approach is guided by principle and rooted in connection. He doesn’t see his work as a fight against something, but rather a stand for something: dignity, healing, and the belief that every person deserves to be heard.
“It’s a privilege to do this work,” he reflects. “To step into someone’s story when they’re at their most vulnerable—and help them find a path forward.”
In a field that can often seem adversarial or isolating, O’Connor has carved out space for meaning, not just in the courtroom, but in the community he continues to serve with respect and resolve.
To learn more, please contact Brian at www.sbtriallawyer.com or call 805-730-7766.