Brian J. McMillan

Brian grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.  He graduated as a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma society and two-time winner of the University’s Outstanding Marketing Student award.  He worked in management in the furniture industry for eleven years between college and law school, spending much of that time managing the U. S. operations of companies based in Italy, Denmark and Thailand.  Brian has traveled extensively and lived overseas for a number of years.

Following graduation from the UCLA School of Law, Brian relocated to North Carolina and joined Brooks Pierce.  His practice has developed to include a range of corporate and litigation matters.  Aided by his real-world business experience, Brian acts as general counsel to a number of small and medium-size companies, providing and coordinating legal services to meet their needs.  He has represented individuals and businesses in all manner of business and commercial disputes.  He also represents property owners with respect to zoning, subdivision and land use matters, handles property tax appeals and other matters in which the valuation of real estate is an important element, and has represented dozens of property owners whose land has been taken through the exercise of the power of eminent domain by the State of North Carolina, a local municipality, or a public utility.  In that context, Brian has negotiated multiple settlements of claims in the seven figures and taken several eminent domain matters to jury verdict. 

Brian also represents one of the country’s largest providers of anesthesia services to hospitals and other health care facilities, has represented a number of businesses in connection with inspections and investigations by state authorities under North Carolina’s Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and has represented several employers in wrongful death (“Woodson claim”) lawsuits arising out of workplace fatalities.

Professional & Community Activities

• Member, North Carolina Bar Association
• Member, American Bar Association
• Coach, Grimsley High School Moot Court Team