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Linked Reviews
Dispute Resolution
When the stakes rise, Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila brings a deep bench of seasoned trial lawyers to the table. The firm is defined by lawyers who are prepared to take difficult disputes through trial, appeal and resolution. With a strong Chicago base and offices in New York, Los Angeles/Irvine and San Francisco, the firm fields a national disputes practice spanning commercial litigation, white-collar defense, class actions, product liability, environmental matters and employment law.
Ronald Safer is a central figure in the firm’s public record. In United States v. Filer, Safer led the defense through almost six years of litigation and a three-week trial, ultimately securing a not-guilty verdict. His work in Blackmon v. Jones likewise demonstrates the firm’s versatility: after helping overturn Eric Blackmon’s wrongful conviction, Safer’s team pursued civil relief and obtained an $8 million settlement.
Managing partner Patricia Brown Holmes led RSHC’s representation of DoorDash in the City of Chicago’s service-fee litigation, assisted by Lucas Rael. The team obtained a favorable ruling that narrowed the city’s claims before the four-year dispute concluded with an $18 million settlement.
The firm also demonstrates considerable strength in technically complex litigation. Brian O’Connor Watson led the defense in Gray v. Modine Manufacturing Co., obtaining a complete verdict after a three-week environmental-tort trial and eliminating potential damages of approximately $30 million. Joseph Cancila led Wisconsin Gas LLC v. American Natural Resources Company, securing summary judgment on liability in a CERCLA contribution dispute before the matter was resolved.
RSHC’s appellate capability is evident in Mary Ann Arnold v. United Airlines, where Alan King represented United in securing affirmance of summary judgment from the Seventh Circuit. The decision attracted attention for its application of the Supreme Court’s Muldrow standard to alleged adverse employment actions.
Taken together, these public matters portray RSHC as a trial-ready firm whose principal strength lies in translating complex facts into clear courtroom strategies. Safer, Holmes, Watson, Cancila and King anchor a practice distinguished by acquittals, defense verdicts, dispositive rulings and strategically managed settlements across a broad range of disputes.
Updated October 2026
Ronald Safer is a central figure in the firm’s public record. In United States v. Filer, Safer led the defense through almost six years of litigation and a three-week trial, ultimately securing a not-guilty verdict. His work in Blackmon v. Jones likewise demonstrates the firm’s versatility: after helping overturn Eric Blackmon’s wrongful conviction, Safer’s team pursued civil relief and obtained an $8 million settlement.
Managing partner Patricia Brown Holmes led RSHC’s representation of DoorDash in the City of Chicago’s service-fee litigation, assisted by Lucas Rael. The team obtained a favorable ruling that narrowed the city’s claims before the four-year dispute concluded with an $18 million settlement.
The firm also demonstrates considerable strength in technically complex litigation. Brian O’Connor Watson led the defense in Gray v. Modine Manufacturing Co., obtaining a complete verdict after a three-week environmental-tort trial and eliminating potential damages of approximately $30 million. Joseph Cancila led Wisconsin Gas LLC v. American Natural Resources Company, securing summary judgment on liability in a CERCLA contribution dispute before the matter was resolved.
RSHC’s appellate capability is evident in Mary Ann Arnold v. United Airlines, where Alan King represented United in securing affirmance of summary judgment from the Seventh Circuit. The decision attracted attention for its application of the Supreme Court’s Muldrow standard to alleged adverse employment actions.
Taken together, these public matters portray RSHC as a trial-ready firm whose principal strength lies in translating complex facts into clear courtroom strategies. Safer, Holmes, Watson, Cancila and King anchor a practice distinguished by acquittals, defense verdicts, dispositive rulings and strategically managed settlements across a broad range of disputes.
Updated October 2026