The National Rifle Association has again dropped the legal gloves targeting a former associate. This time they’re going after the Association’s former lead outside counsel. The NRA is seeking to recover $200 million in past fees and and damages from William Brewer III and his law firm, Brewer Attorneys and Counselors.
In a seven-page filing seeking arbitration (as specified in its representation agreements with the attorney), the Association says Brewer and his firm “inflicted catastrophic financial and reputational harm on the organization they were retained to protect” from their “negligent, conflicted, and self-interested professional representation” over a period of six years.
Of the multiple allegations, the NRA says that Brewer placed the Association in “regulatory peril” by concealing “executive misconduct” and working to shield “NRA’s former leader Wayne LaPierre…in order to further protect the Firm’s and Brewer’s own interests.”
The NRA is seeking arbitration through JAMS, formerly known as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services. Unlike in a lawsuit, it’s unlikely that many details about the conflict will surface as the process moves forward due to the non-public nature of the arbitration process.
Officials for the National Rifle Association weren’t available for comment regarding the filling, however a representative gave Shooting News Weekly the following statement provided that it be published unedited:
The NRA has commenced arbitration before JAMS in Dallas, Texas against Brewer Attorneys & Counselors and William A. Brewer III, asserting causes of action for legal malpractice (professional negligence), breach of fiduciary duty, knowing participation in breach of fiduciary duty, and negligent misrepresentation. The NRA seeks compensatory and consequential damages, the forfeiture and disgorgement of fees paid to the Brewer Firm together with the imposition of a constructive trust, exemplary damages, interest, costs, and attorney’s fees. In the aggregate, the NRA seeks damages in excess of $200 million. Additional information is in an Application in Support of Arbitration which was filed in the District Court, Dallas County, Texas.
Two of the more serious of the five specific claims the NRA makes in its claim involve the January, 2021 failed bankruptcy filing under the NRA’s former regime and Brewer’s refusal to recommend the removal of Wayne LaPierre in an effort to mitigate the damage to the Association as a result of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit which sought to dissolve the Association.
“Across these and other matters, most of which were directly tied and/or related to the New York Attorney General’s enforcement action, and despite these catastrophic results, the Brewer Firm charged the NRA nearly $200 million in legal fees, costs, and related charges,” the filing states.
The action against Brewer and his firm comes towards the end of a year that’s been wrought with conflict and litigation for the Association. In January, the NRA sued the NRA Foundation, its separate 501(c)(3) sister organization, in federal court. The suit accused the NRA Foundation, since rebranded as the 1791 Foundation, of trademark dilution, cybersquatting, failure to distribute and misuse of funds, and competing with the NRA itself. Those claims have been disputed by 1791 officials.
1791 Foundation later countersued claiming the NRA was trying to commandeer its assets and seize its donor lists. Various rulings and orders have resulted in other matters since and the conflict will likely drag on for years before final resolution.
The filing for arbitration with Brewer was made on Oct. 30, 2026 in Dallas County, Texas District Court. This is a developing story.