Arthur Bryant is the former Chairman and Executive Director of Public Justice, a national public interest law firm supported by and working with over 2,700 of the country’s top plaintiffs’ lawyers on cutting-edge, impact litigation. He has spent over four decades winning major victories and establishing precedents in civil rights, constitutional law, consumer protection, toxic torts, workers’ rights, class actions, mass torts, and access to justice for all.
The National Law Journal has twice named Arthur one of the “100 Most Influential Attorneys in America.” In November 2021, it honored him as a “Sports Law Trailblazer” for his success enforcing Title IX, advancing gender equity, and fighting sex discrimination in intercollegiate athletic programs nationwide. As part of that work, Arthur has successfully represented more women (and men) in Title IX litigation than any lawyer in the country.
Arthur uses litigation to right wrongs. After two years as a lawyer, he brought and tried the precedent-setting class action that forced the admission of women to Philadelphia's previously all-male Central High School. Four years later, he was the lead trial counsel in the country’s first Title IX class action against a school for discriminating against its female athletes, Haffer v. Temple University.
In 1984, Arthur left private practice, took a 50% pay cut, and joined Public Justice (then Trial Lawyers for Public Justice) as its sole staff attorney. He became Executive Director in 1987 and was named Chairman in 2014, his 30th anniversary with the organization. In 2019, his 35th anniversary, he became Chairman Emeritus and returned to private practice.
When Arthur became Executive Director, the organization had two staff (Arthur and the receptionist), a small office in Washington DC, fewer than 25 annual members, a $275,000 budget, and very few cases on its docket. When he became Chairman Emeritus, it had 43 staff (including 23 attorneys), offices on both coasts, over 2,700 members, an $8 million annual budget, and a broader range of high-impact, precedent-setting cases than any public interest organization in the country.
Under Arthur’s direction, Public Justice used litigation and public education to make new law and win justice for millions. Its Access to Justice Campaign made Public Justice the national leader in the courts against corporate and governmental efforts to expand mandatory arbitration, federal preemption, class action bans and abuses, unjustified secrecy, and other barriers to Americans’ constitutional right to a jury trial and a day in court.
After returning to private practice, Arthur continued to fight for the public interest, at both Bailey Glasser, LLP, and the Clarkson Law Firm. In a case with huge national implications, he successfully represented 93 plaintiffs’ law firms and 167 trial lawyers as amici curiae to help challenge and stop a proposed class action settlement of future Roundup claims – including claims by people who have no injury or cancer now and may not have any for decades. He also helped defeat Meta’s attempt to use Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act to avoid liability for its role in creating and running scam investment ads in Australia that are cheating people out of their life’s savings.
Fighting sex discrimination, Arthur and his co-counsel won Title IX settlements preserving women’s intercollegiate athletic opportunities and advancing gender equity at Brown University, the College of William & Mary, Dartmouth College, Dickinson College, East Carolina University, Florida State University, Fresno State University, La Salle University, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and the University of St. Thomas. In April 2021, he and his co-counsel made legal history when Clemson University became the first school to face sex discrimination lawsuits from both its male and female student-athletes for violations of Title IX. The settlement with Clemson was the nation’s first Title IX victory for men – and helped ensure equal athletic financial aid and treatment for women at the university, too.
Arthur and his co-counsel are now prosecuting the first Title IX cases in the country seeking damages against schools for depriving women athletes of equal athletic financial aid and equal treatment, including in regard to NIL: name, image, and likeness. And, as co-counsel with MoloLamken LLP, he is challenging the proposed class action antitrust settlement in House v. NCAA, which would pay over $2.5 billion to college athletes, with less than 10% going to women, and eliminate roster spots for tens of thousands of college athletes nationwide.
Arthur is recognized in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law, and Who’s Who in the World. He has been elected to the American Law Institute and honored by, among others, the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, Harvard Law School, Mass Torts Made Perfect, the Consumer Attorneys Associations of Los Angeles and San Diego, the Iowa Association for Justice, the New Jersey Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association, and the Western Trial Lawyers Association. His portrait hangs in the Trial Lawyer National Portrait Gallery.
The Oregon Trial Lawyers Association has named its public service award the Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award.
Now, Arthur had brought his expertise, strategic vision, and dedication to justice to Arthur Bryant Law, P.C. He remains committed to taking on cases that will make a difference.
Legacy Award for work and success building Public Justice into a powerful national public interest law firm over 35 years, Public Justice, July 2022
War Horse Award for “extraordinary contributions to the cause of justice,” being “a leader in the trial bar,” and “considered one of the true characters of his or her time,” Southern Trial Lawyers Association, February 2022
Named Sports Law Trailblazer by The National Law Journal, November 2021
Elected to the American Law Institute, July 2020
Special Recognition Award from the Iowa Association for Justice for “more than 30 years of advocacy in federal and state courts across this great land, for the good of all,” November 2019
Portrait painted and added to the Trial Lawyer National Portrait Gallery, July 2018
Consumer Advocate of the Year Award for “Tireless Efforts and Endless Dedication to Protect California Consumers,” Consumer Attorneys Association of San Diego, February 2017
Dale Haralson Fallout Award for “Extraordinary Dedication, Diligence and Commitment to the Pursuit of Justice,” Western Trial Lawyers Association, June 2016
Clarence Darrow Award, Mass Torts Made Perfect, April 2016
President’s Award for “Lifelong Devotion to Public Service” and “Bringing Justice to those Least Able to Fight for Themselves,” Pennsylvania Association for Justice, June 2015
Gold Medal for Distinguished Service (organization’s highest honor), New Jersey Association for Justice, April 2015
Joe Tonahill Award for “Outstanding Service to Consumers and the Trial Bar,” American Association for Justice, New Lawyers Division, July 2013
“Sport At Its Best Award” for Success Advancing Equal Opportunity in Sports, League of Fans, May 2012
Presidential Award in recognition of “Boundless Energy to Help and Protect Consumers,” New Jersey Association for Justice, May 2011
Named One of the 3000 Leading Plaintiffs’ Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, January 2007
Named One of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America, “Profiles in Power,” The National Law Journal, June 2006 and June 2000
Named One of the 500 Leading Lawyers in America, Lawdragon, November 2006
Justice Michael A. Musmanno Award from the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, October 2005
Leonard Weinglass Award for Excellence In Defense Of Civil Liberties from the Association of Trial Lawyers of America’s Civil Rights Section, July 2005
Oregon Trial Lawyers’ Public Service Award Renamed the “Arthur H. Bryant Public Justice Award,” Oregon Trial Lawyers Association, July 2003
George Moscone Memorial Award for Outstanding Public Service from Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, October 2002
Finalist for Billie Jean King Contribution Award for “Significant Contribution to the Overall Development of Girls’ and Women’s Sports,” Women’s Sports Foundation, 1997-99
Awarded Honorary Degree by Ripon College for Playing a “Significant Role in the Rise of Women’s Athletics in the United States,” May 1998
Honored as One of Forty-Five Young Lawyers “Whose Vision and Commitment are Changing Lives,” The American Lawyer, January/February 1997
Wasserstein Public Interest Fellowship for “Outstanding Contributions and Dedication to Public Interest Law,” Harvard Law School, September 1996
Named One of 50 Most Influential People in College Sports Because of Title IX Litigation, College Sports magazine, June 1994
Honored by the American Bar Association as One of Twenty Young Lawyers Making a Difference in the World, Barrister magazine, Summer 1991
Enhanced Opportunity Award for Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics, Council of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators, April 1989
Listed in Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World
Super Lawyers, California, Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff, Class Action/Mass Torts: Plaintiff, Consumer Law, Civil Rights, Appellate, and Constitutional Law (2007 - 2022)
J.D., Harvard Law School, 1979, Captain and Oral Advocate, Ames Moot Court Championship Team
A.B., Swarthmore College, 1976, with honors
