Wayne F Dennison

Career

Wayne Dennison is co-chair of Brown Rudnick’s Brand & Reputation Management team and a practice group leader of Brown Rudnick’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution team. He has a prominent trial practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants in high-stakes litigation through jury trials and appeals. Wayne is recognized as a leading commercial litigator by Chambers USA, where clients have commented that he is “an exceptional lawyer” and “very skilled.”

Wayne regularly represents clients from Fortune 500 corporations, elected officials, A-list celebrities, rock stars and other high-net-worth individuals. He is perhaps best known as special trial counsel to Johnny Depp in his successful defamation litigation against former-wife Amber Heard, and for the cross-examinations he conducted.

In addition to his brand and reputation management practice, Wayne represents clients across a broad range of industries, including technology, life science, health care, sporting goods and real estate in a wide variety of litigation and related matters.

Wayne began his legal career at Reebok, where he was responsible for the comprehensive review of Reebok's endorsement deals with entertainers and sport stars ranging from Paula Abdul to Greg Norman, as well as talent auditions and performer contracts for a national television advertising campaign.

Wayne is regularly sought out as a commentator to discuss litigation issues in the media.

Professional Memberships

Law360, Massachusetts Editorial Advisory Board Member, 2026

Member, Boston Bar Association

Work Highlights

Brand and Reputation Management:

Binance, the crypto exchange, and founder Changpeng Zhao, on high-profile reputational and publicity issues.

A prominent sports agent in an agreement with the world’s leading sports agency involving commissions due on Hall of Fame quarterback endorsements.

Johnny Depp, as special trial counsel, in obtaining multimillion-dollar jury verdict against Mr. Depp’s former spouse in widely-followed defamation trial. Prepared Mr. Depp for cross-examination and conducted multiple expert examinations and cross-examinations at trial.

A major metropolitan newspaper in defamation and access matters, conducting prepublication review of news articles and opinion pieces.

Johnny Depp and rock guitar legend Jeff Beck in federal litigation involving their ownership of certain music rights.

Golf equipment, apparel and footwear manufacturers as well as country club developers, designers, architects and contractors related to intellectual property and contracts litigation and other dispute resolution.

Two major casino companies before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in successful class action litigation involving the conduct of their blackjack games.

Acting Governor of Massachusetts in the successful defense against a federal civil rights action brought by another public official.

General Commercial Litigation:

Clay Ventures, a third-generation family of automobile dealers, as trial counsel in securing a complete jury verdict against the local subsidiaries of DCD Automotive Holdings in a multimillion-dollar valuation fight over real assets sold to an acquiring auto group.

Wynn Resorts in a First Circuit victory upholding a lower court’s decision dismissing a proposed class action over the Massachusetts gaming giant’s ticket redemption practice for slot machines at its Encore Boston Harbor casino. A three-judge appellate panel unanimously held that the casino did not violate state gaming laws or otherwise engage in deceptive business practices.

MIB Group, a member-owned organization that provides data-driven solutions to the insurance industry, in securing a complete victory in an earn out dispute brought by Paperless Solutions Group (PSG), a company that Brown Rudnick helped MIB to acquire.

High-net-worth individuals and closely held corporations in partnership and corporate disputes.

Appointed as a special assistant attorney for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for purposes of its tobacco litigation, helping to secure the then-largest monetary settlement in Massachusetts history.

Multinational telecommunications carrier in litigation involving the roll out and sighting of wireless networks.

International Construction Arbitration:

Kuwaiti national construction company in successfully resolving $100 million dispute over early production oil facility.

International construction contractor in successfully resolving a $40 million dispute over MDF plant.

Energy Litigation:

Major electric utility in defense of against multimillion-dollar claims relative to shut down of two nuclear power reactors.

Fortune 100 construction operations entity against millions of dollars in claims relative to three New England electric generation facilities.

Real Estate Litigation:

Major life sciences REIT in securing a complete defense verdict after jury trials in a $60 million leasing dispute.

Wynn Resorts in defense of a dispute arising from an Encore Boston Harbor land acquisition.

Practice Areas

LITIGATION & DISPUTE RESOLUTION

BRAND & REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

LIFE SCIENCES

ENTERTAINMENT & MEDIA

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION

LITIGATION FUNDING

WIRELESS NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE

FDA

NAME, IMAGE & LIKENESS (NIL)

CLASS ACTIONS AND MULTI-DISTRICT LITIGATION

Education