Brian D. Schneider

Partner and Nonprofits & Associations Industry Group Co-Leader

Brian is a trusted business advisor and litigator for trade associations, cooperatives, and tech firms.

Brian Schneider Portrait

Brian uses his experience as a management consultant to craft legal strategies that pursue clients’ business objectives, partnering with clients to creatively navigate corporate strategy, resolve disputes, negotiate key contracts, and implement compliance course corrections.

Clients look to Brian to manage day-to-day and emergent challenges, whether dealing with litigation, addressing good-governance practices for boards, or navigating a leadership change.

For emerging and established trade associations, foundations, multiple listing services (MLSs), and technology firms, Brian works as outside general counsel alongside clients’ leadership, boards, and staff to advise on strategic objectives and manage legal tasks in line with their business plans. He advises on governance, antitrust, contracting, intellectual property, litigation, and operational matters, leveraging ArentFox Schiff’s team to deliver a full range of legal expertise. Brian delivers custom solutions for clients in diverse industries, including auto parts, higher education, finance, food, health care, real estate, retail, and SaaS.

Clients and their in-house counsel trust Brian to manage litigation and other disputes in the court room and at the negotiating table, with an emphasis on balancing dispute resolution with business objectives. Brian has extensive experience coordinating clients’ strategies in response to litigation, subpoenas, and investigations stemming from antitrust allegations, contracts, and nonprofit laws. Brian litigates antitrust, fiduciary breach, and contract actions. He has navigated litigation involving claims by antitrust plaintiffs and association members, high-stakes contract disputes, complex federal and state regulatory schemes, reimbursement from commercial payers, class actions, and international arbitrations. 

Client Matters

Trade Associations, MLSs, and Technology Firms

  • Co-chairs the firm’s Associations and Nonprofits group.
  • Serves as outside general counsel to trade associations, foundations, multiple listing services (MLSs), and technology firms, counseling them on antitrust compliance, governance, membership, contracts, trademark strategy, employment matters, and risk management.
  • Advises on vendor and partnership relationships by crafting and negotiating contracts that protect business interests.
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Antitrust Counseling

  • Advises clients across industries on collaborative conduct and pricing strategy.
  • Serves as antitrust counsel at industry meetings, to facilitate discussion and engagement.
  • Crafts resale price and related marketing strategies.
  • Pursues and defends against antitrust and false advertising claims.

Litigation

  • Aggressively litigates antitrust, breach of contract, class actions, and other commercial disputes in court and in domestic and international arbitrations, regularly appearing before judges, arbitrators, and mediators.
  • Pursues millions in health care provider reimbursements from commercial benefit plans, pursuing ERISA-based remedies as well as state-law contract and common law claims, in addition to defending against overpayment and recoupment claims. 
  • Obtained a unanimous decision from the Indiana Supreme Court on preemption issues governing health care network contracts, arguing the case before each level of appellate court.
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Publications, Presentations & Recognitions

Brian is a frequent writer and speaker on compliance and litigation matters. 

  • Named on the 2025 Swanepoel Power 200 List
  • Named a DC Rising Star by Super Lawyers Magazine
  • Named to the Legal 500 of top DC lawyers
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In the News

Brian has been quoted or interviewed in the following articles:

  • “Advice For Real Estate Professionals As $418 Million Settlement Rules Take Effect,” The Mortgage Note, August 12, 2024

  • “What to Keep in Mind as NAR’s ‘Remarkable Deal’ Becomes Reality,” Stephanie Reid-Simons, Real Estate News, July 21, 2024

Previous Work

Brian has proudly spent his entire legal career at ArentFox Schiff, starting as a summer associate during law school.

Prior to law school, Brian was a management consultant, providing clients with a range of strategic guidance involving pricing, marketing initiatives, acquisition analysis, and research and development planning.

During law school, Brian interned with the Honorable Thomas A. Wiseman of the US District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee and with the Commercial Litigation Branch of the US Department of Justice.

Life Beyond the Law

Brian spends his free time with his wife laughing with their two daughters as they grow up in the District. 

Insights