Christopher J. O'Brien

Top rated Personal Injury attorney in Buffalo, New York

O'Brien & Ford, P.C.
Christopher J. O'Brien
O'Brien & Ford, P.C.

Practice areas: Personal Injury

Licensed in New York since: 1989

Education: Washington and Lee University School of Law

Selected to Super Lawyers: 2008 - 2025

O'Brien & Ford, P.C.

4549 Main St
Suite 201
Buffalo, NY 14226 Phone: 716-222-2222 Email: Christopher J. O'Brien Visit website
Details

Christopher J. O'Brien is a partner at O'Brien and Ford, P.C. in Buffalo, New York. Mr. O'Brien exclusively handles personal injury plaintiff cases. He has obtained more than thirty multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for many injured people in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Lockport and throughout Western New York, most recently successfully co-counseling a sex abuse case in Rochester, NY where the jury awarded $12,500,000.00 and settling a construction case in Buffalo for $6,750,000.00.

His other  landmark cases include winning a $5,000,000 settlement for a motorcyclist who was severely injured  and a $4,240,000 verdict for a man who was injured in a car crash and suffered three herniated disks and four broken ribs.  

Chris O'Brien became the second lawyer in New York State to achieve the status of Diplomate in the National College of Advocacy in 2004. He has repeatedly been sought out to teach at the Ultimate Trial College for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at Harvard Law School and in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. O'Brien also taught at the Deposition College in Cleveland, Ohio, the Advanced Deposition College in New Orleans, Louisiana and has lectured at more than 30 seminars internationally on topics of trial strategy and trial skills. He served as the Co-Director of Trial Advocacy at SUNY Buffalo Law School and taught trial technique there for twenty years before serving as the Co-Chair of the National College of Advocacy. Chris is regularly sought out by colleagues to assist in jury trials and jury selection.

Chris has obtained million or multi-million dollar settlements in cases involving car crashes, sexual abuse, motorcycle injuries, construction injuries, trucking crashes and brain injuries.

First Admitted: 1989, New York

Professional Webpage: https://obrienandford.com/chris-obrien

Bar / Professional Activity

  • Co-Director, Trial Advocacy Program, University of Buffalo Law School, 2008-2018, 2018
  • Co-Chair, National College of Advocacy, 2018
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum
  • Bar Association of Erie County
  • Buffalo Spree Magazine, Top Lawyers
  • American Association for Justice
  • Past President, Western Region Affiliate of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Best Lawyers in America
  • Trustee, National College of Advocacy
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association

Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)

  • $2,400,000.00 settlement for a woman who was injured in a car crash when another car turned into her car at an intersection., 2024
  • $1,300,000.00 settlement for sex abuse victim abused by a teacher., 2023
  • $2,500,000.00 settlement for sexual abuse case against a school district in Rochester, NY., 2024
  • $6,000,000.00 verdict for two young women who had been sexually abused by their father when they were infants., 2023
  • $1,200,000.00 settlement for a van-car crash which resulted in the need for lower back surgery., 2008
  • $17,500,000.00 settlement on behalf of 35 men who were sexually abused by a Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda school teacher in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s., 2022
  • $2,000,000.00 settlement in a tractor trailer collision case for a man who suffered a variety of injuries. Chris was able to obtain damaging testimony from the truck driver which resulted in the substantial settlement., 2025
  • $6,750,000.00 settlement for a man who lost the most of his ability to speak as a result of a brain injury suffered on a construction site. Chris carefully prepared his client for depositions which resulted in compelling testimony., 2025
  • $12,500,00.00 sexual abuse verdict in Rochester, NY. Chris was lead counsel with co-counsel Kevin Keane from his firm. This verdict was cited by other courts in New York for the purposes of determining appropriate damages in a sexual abuse case. Chris' innovative use of actors to read transcripts of unavailable witnesses make the testimony come alive for the jury., 2025
  • $4,270,000.00 verdict after a three week trial. Injuries involved fractured ribs and two non-surgical disc herniations.
  • $2,000,000.00 verdict for a young man with facial scarring following car crash involving a drunk driver.
  • $1,200,000.00 settlement for young man with back injury resulting from a rear-end crash.
  • $5,000,000.00 settlement for young man seriously injured and rendered a paraplegic from a motorcycle crash., 2011
  • $1,800,000.00 verdict follwoing a two week trial. Injuries involved herniated discs from twqo successive car crashes. Case settled follwoing verdict.
  • Food poisoning. Confidential settlement for young girl with permanent kidney problems.
  • $1,500,000.00 settlement for a head-on crash resulting in severe orthopedic injuries to a woman from Ithaca, New York.
  • Confidential settlement. Sexual abuse by a school teacher.  The case settled after the cross-examination of the school principal.
  • $1,550,000.00 settlement. Car crash involving back surgery.
  • $2,025,000.00 settlement for head-on car crash in Niagara County. Injuries included a brain injury and orthopedic injuries.
  • $1,850,000.00 settlement for car crash in Niagara County involving subsequent back surgery.

Pro bono / Community Service

  • Board of Directors, Canisius High School Alumni
  • Board of Directors, Erie County Medical Center, 2025
  • President, Seymour Terrace Homeowners Association, 2024
  • President, Irish Classical Theatre Company, 2025
  • David's Dinner for Famine Relief
  • Member, UB Council
  • Parish Council, St. Christopher’s Roman Catholic Church
  • Food Shuttle of Western New York, Inc.
  • Buffalo Na Fianna Gaelic Football Club

Honors

  • Became the Second Lawyer in New York State to achieve the status of Diplomate in the National College of Advocacy, Diplomate, American Association for Justice, 2005
  • Million Dollar Advocates Forum, 1999

Educational Background

  • College of the Holy Cross, 1981-1985
  • Canisius High School, 1977-1981

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

  • Lectured and critiqued on advanced deposition techniques., Faculty, New Orleans Advanced Deposition College, American Association for Justice, Plaintiffs Trial Lawyers, 2023
  • Lectured on advanced trial topics and critiqued experienced lawyers on their trial skills., Faculty, The Ultimate Trial College, American Association for Justice, Plaintiffs Trial Lawyers, 2024
  • Lectured and critiqued lawyers on deposition skills., Faculty, Denver Deposition Skills College, American Association for Justice, Plaintiffs Trial Lawyers, 2025
  • New Orleans, Louisiana--Lectured and critiqued on advanced deposition techniques., Faculty, Advanced Deposition College, American Association for Justice, Plaintiffs Trial Lawyers, 2025
  • Case Workshop, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Trial College, Reno, Nevada, 2000, 2004
  • Trial College Birmingham, Alabama
  • Weekend with the Stars, New York, New York, 2008
  • Faculty, Presented on Opening Statements, Ultimate Trial Advocacy College, Harvard University, 2014
  • Depositions College, Cleveland, Ohio, 2006
  • "Cross-Examination: Homicide or Suicide?", Annual Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 2007
  • Served as Faculty, presented lectures and critiqued participants., Faculty, The Ultimate Trial College, AAJ, 2003
  • Washinton, DC.  Led a group of highly talented faculty presenting on deposition skills and tactics., Course Advisor, Deposition College, AAJ, 2012
  • Served on the faculty of the Ultimate Trial Advocacy College at Harvard Law School, Lecturer, Opening Statements, American Association For Justice, 2009
  • Served as Course Advisor and Faculty for the Advanced Deposition College in Denver, Colorado, Course Advisor, Advanced Depositions College, American Association For Justice, 2010
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law
  • Presented for AAJ at its Mid-Winter Convention
  • Basic Skills Trial College for the American Association for Justice, Birmingham, Alabama (March 2006)
  • Taught at the Deposition College in Cleveland, Ohio, and in New Orleans, Louisiana

Office location for Christopher J. O'Brien

4549 Main St
Suite 201
Buffalo, NY 14226

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