About Brian E
Brian E Lutness built his path to law in a steady, conventional way. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware in 1992 and finished his legal training at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University with a J.D. in 1996. Those credentials set the stage for an early immersion in Delaware’s courts.
Soon after law school he took a clerkship with the Honorable Fred Silverman at the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. The experience placed him inside courtroom procedure and judicial decisionmaking during the formative months of his career. Later in 1997 he moved into private practice as an associate at Melli & Wright, where he handled the day-to-day tasks of firm life and began representing clients directly.
Two years after joining private practice he became a partner at Silverman, Mcdonald & Friedman in 1999. He has been with that firm since, working alongside colleagues in the Wilmington and Sussex County offices. Over time his role expanded beyond casework to include supervising teams and managing workflows that keep matters moving through Delaware’s courts and administrative processes.
Lutness is admitted to practice in Delaware and has spent his career practicing inside the state. He has experience on both the bench side, from his clerkship, and the client side, from years at a regional firm. That combination gives him familiarity with courtroom routine, filing practices, and the contours of state-level litigation.
Colleagues describe him as steady and practical in his approach to legal problems. He tends to favor clear, workmanlike preparation over flourish. That preference shows up in how cases are organized and presented in court. He has worked on matters originating in Wilmington and in Sussex County, maintaining a presence in both locales.
Outside the courtroom his time is shaped by the demands of firm practice. He participates in the internal work necessary to keep a multi-office firm functioning. He also mentors junior lawyers and oversees case strategy as matters advance through discovery and toward resolution.
Lutness’s career spans more than two decades of practice in Delaware and reflects a professional arc from clerkship to firm leadership. He continues to practice at Silverman, Mcdonald & Friedman, handling matters out of the firm’s Wilmington and Sussex County offices and representing clients across the state.
