Blaine M. Brown, a distinguished litigation attorney and proud alumnus of Western State College of Law, has carved a remarkable path from his days as a student to starting his own successful firm, OC Trial Group, APC. Within the first full year of operating, the firm collected over $5 million in settlements for their clients, including an award from Top Verdict for the #1 settlement in 2022 for Financial Elder Abuse, Constructive Fraud, and Embezzlement.
As an undergraduate student, Blaine studied business administration with a focus on finance and accounting. This decision helped grow his business acumen, which was helpful when co-founding OC Trial Group, APC. He and his business partner, Ryan W. Young, started the firm about a year and a half ago.
Growing up, Blaine was introduced to law at an early age by his father who is also a litigation attorney. “I’ve always wanted to be an attorney since I was five years old,” he said, adding that he was five when he attended his first jury trial. The early exposure to trials and legal proceedings, combined with a love of competition, laid the foundation for his future career. “I never wanted to sit behind a desk,” Blaine said. “I want competition and the win or lose aspect of law.”
Blaine soon enrolled at Western State, drawn by its affordable tuition, practical approach to a legal education, and the opportunity to immerse himself in a vibrant, well-known legal community. As a student, he appreciated the accessibility of the faculty. “I was close with all my professors,” Blaine said. “Western State didn’t have professors who just knew the theory of law. Most had a practical background.” Blaine remains in contact with several of his professors from Western State.
Blaine’s legal education was marked by hands-on experiences and dedicated study so that he felt prepared upon graduating. “The realistic application of law was one thing I enjoyed about the program,” he said. In addition to relationships with his professors, Blaine enjoyed connecting with his peers. “I talk to the people I went to law school with weekly,” he said. “You make a lot of friends who go on to practice different areas of law than you.”
After graduating, Blaine quickly put his Western State education into practice. His firm, OC Trial Group, has since experienced a successful first year. Last December, an elderly lady, the beneficiary of a large trust consisting of an orchard, sought legal aid from Blaine. “The trustee had misappropriated a lot of money, exceeding 7 figures, and had hired a large firm with over 100 attorneys to defend her,” Blaine said. “Five days into trial, I ended up putting one of their partners on the stand and impeached her. We settled the next morning before trial for above what we asked for initially.”
This high-profile case turned out to be the #1 settlement in 2022 for Financial Elder Abuse, Constructive Fraud, and Embezzlement in California according to Top Verdict. Blaine said the experience felt good and the success came from tireless preparation in investigating every aspect of the case, and developing a specific game plan to succeed. “We had just started the firm and went to trial six weeks later,” he said. “I’m still friends with the client. She was really grateful.”
Blaine’s dedication to his profession extends beyond building his firm, from volunteering as a Moot Court judge at Western State and joining organizations like the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. Last November, Blaine also assumed a position on the board of directors for the Veterans Legal Institute, which helps veterans battling all types of legal issues. “It’s an all-encompassing non-profit solely focused on assisting veterans,” Blaine said. “Although I’m not a veteran, my brothers are, and I thought it was a good cause.”
In recognition of his contributions to the legal field, Blaine has been named to Best Lawyers’ annual list of “Ones to Watch”, and has also received an Avvo rating of “Superb 10/10” and a rating by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star”. Looking ahead, he aspires to grow his firm, while maintaining a client-centric approach. His journey from a determined law student to a successful attorney exemplifies the transformative power of passion, perseverance, and a solid legal education, epitomizing the values espoused by Western State College of Law. He encourages students to persevere through law school. “If your end goal is to be an attorney, all your work is going to come to fruition if you continue working hard.”
