Attorney Profiles

Brian E. Watkins

Founder & Principle Attorney

Brian E. Watkins is the founder and principle attorney at Brian E. Watkins & Associates. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, one of our nation's top universities, and earned his law degree from the highest ranked law school in San Diego, The University of San Diego. He is admitted to practice in all state and federal courts in California.

Watkins has been in practice since 1997 and has extensive trial experience in both criminal and civil matters. He forced change in the San Diego police department's use of force policies. He was instrumental in requiring police to use non-lethal weapons in dealing with unarmed persons. "I've been a fighter for people's rights in the civil and criminal arenas for almost two decades, we have the skills to level the playing field in a system that can place you at a disadvantage", he says.

Watkins has also fought for his clients all the way up to the California Appellate Court. He successfully argued in front of the California Court of Appeals, resulting in their decision to overturn the San Diego Superior Court ruling and the dropping all charges against Watkins' client. In another ground breaking criminal case, Watkins completely exonerated his client who was alleged to have been the major distributor in one of the biggest ecstasy drug cases. The case involved police departments from four different countries, Interpol police agency and alleged shipments of drugs in oil tankers from Haiti to the United States.

He also represents those who are hurt in personal-injury cases and has secured millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for his clients. Watkins successfully handled the highly publicized "Bush case" involving Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Player Reggie Bush and also secured a half-million-dollar jury verdict in litigation with rapper Snoop Dogg and Doggy Style Music. "High-end clients know they can trust me to provide top-notch service and represent them in front of the media, maintaining their reputations while respecting their privacy," Watkins says. 

Watkins' cases have been featured in local and national news including Good Morning America, CNN, HBO Real Sports, and ESPN.  He has also become a leading legal analyst explaining hot topics and breaking legal stories.  Watkins has been featured on KUSI News San Diego, CBS News, Fox 5 News, CW 6 News, OAN News Network, and NBC News.