Atty. Brian McMillan

Atty. Brian McMillan

Brian McMillan brings experience and insight from more than 10 years in manufacturing, distribution and sales and more than 26 years practicing law at Brooks Pierce to bear on his counsel to individuals and businesses. His practice focuses on a variety of litigation and transactional matters.

Call (336) 373-8850 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Brian McMillan at a glance

Brian McMillan is a zoning attorney based in Greensboro, North Carolina, practicing at Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP. Admitted to practice in California, California and North Carolina, North Carolina. Educated at University of California Los Angeles (J.D., 1996) and University of Denver (B.S., 1982). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Land Use and Zoning (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice: (2026). Serands clients in Greensboro, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Brian McMillan brings experience and insight from more than 10 years in manufacturing, distribution and sales and more than 26 years practicing law at Brooks Pierce to bear on his counsel to individuals and businesses
  • His practice focuses on a variety of litigation and transactional matters
  • Brian’s business and practical background gives him a deep understanding of clients’ goals, operations and legal challenges
  • His business and corporate practice includes negotiating and drafting distribution agreements, franchise agreements, lease agreements (on behalf of both lessors and lessees), employment agreements, and purchase/sales contracts
  • He also has extensive experience negotiating and drafting all manner of business contracts and agreements
  • He advocates for clients in a variety of business disputes, both before litigation commences and during litigation, including breach of contract, breach of warranty, and property tax disputes
  • He also has experience litigating will caveats and disputes among owners of closely-held entities
  • With more than ten years of experience in business management and operations, Brian understands the Firm's clients and their industries and regularly provides advice on day-to-day business matters and their legal implications, in effect serving as general counsel to those clients
  • Brian represents land owners whose land has been taken or is threatened with taking by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and/or local municipalities through the exercise of their power of eminent domain (condemnation)
  • The focus of Brian’s condemnation practice is securing fair and adequate compensation for clients for the land that the government wants to take or has taken
  • In that regard, in the last 18 years he has negotiated numerous settlements, including six- and seven-figure dollar amounts, and has taken several condemnation cases to trial
  • Recently, he and his Brooks Pierce partners won a jury award of $6.3 million for a client from whom the NCDOT had taken a portion of the client’s property for a highway
  • The NCDOT’s evidence at trial in that case had been that the property owner was entitled to damages of less than $1.5 million
  • Brian also negotiates with condemning authorities prior to condemnation regarding the impact of public projects on land owned by clients
  • In some cases, those negotiations include advocating on the client’s behalf for road designs or routes that bypass their land

Practice Areas Explained

Brian McMillan's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Brian McMillan handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Land Use & Zoning

Brian McMillan is one of 40,226 zoning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse zoning attorneys in North Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in North Carolina

Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Greensboro are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Greensboro or all attorneys in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Brian McMillan

Where is Brian McMillan's law office located?
Brian McMillan's law practice is located in Greensboro, North Carolina. The firm is Brooks, Pierce, McLendon, Humphrey & Leonard LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Brian McMillan handle?
Brian McMillan focuses on zoning. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in North Carolina.
Where did Brian McMillan go to law school?
Brian McMillan earned their education at (J.D., 1996); (B.S., 1982).
How can I contact Brian McMillan for a consultation?
You can contact Brian McMillan directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Brian McMillan received?
Brian McMillan's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Land Use and Zoning; Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law.

Education

J.D.
University of California Los Angeles
- 1996
B.S.
University of Denver
- 1982

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Land Use and Zoning
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Additional Areas of Practice:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Corporate Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Awards:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Business North Carolina
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — ’s "Legal Elite" in Employment Law (2025)
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Selected by his peers for inclusion in
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — The Best Lawyers in America©
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — in Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law (2021-2025) and Litigation - Land Use and Zoning (2025)
- 2026

Bar Admissions

California, California
North Carolina, North Carolina

Reviews

These reviews belong to platform users; they do not constitute advertisement or promotion for the attorney. Opinions are published for informational purposes only.

No reviews yet.