Attorney Profile: Brian C. Phillips

Brian is licensed to practice law in South Carolina and North Carolina.

Brian grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He graduated Cum Laude from Furman University in 1997, where he was the recipient of the Gunin and Harvey Lambert scholarships, and received a joint law degree and Master of Human Resources from the University of South Carolina in 2002.

Prior to starting his own firm, Brian practiced with a firm in Charlotte, North Carolina, where his practice focused exclusively on commercial real estate transactions throughout North and South Carolina, and with firms in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where his practice focused on residential and commercial real estate closings, wills, trusts, durable powers of attorney, health care powers of attorney, living wills, probate matters, and small business setup and formation, including limited liability companies and nonprofit corporations.

His experience includes:

  • representing a major national pharmacy in the acquisition and development of retail sites located throughout North and South Carolina, with a typical transaction value of three to four million dollars;

  • representation of a developer in the acquisition of an outparcel located in a commercial shopping center in North Carolina with a transaction value of over twelve million dollars;

  • representation of a developer in the development of a large residential subdivision consisting of over 200 acres located in South Carolina;

  • representation of numerous large national tract builders in the acquisition and sale of residential lots;

  • representation of thousands of individual buyers and sellers in the closing of residential and commercial purchases, refinances, and equity lines of credit;

Brian has been a featured speaker at a Continuing Legal Education seminar for the South Carolina Bar on ethics in real estate transactions. He has authored an article on real estate law for the South Carolina Lawyer magazine, and is a past member of the South Carolina Bar’s Ethics Advisory Committee and has authored several opinions on ethics in real estate transactions for the Ethics Advisory Committee.

Brian is a licensed title insurance agent for First American Title Insurance Company and an approved attorney for Investors Title Insurance Company.

Brian believes in living a full and well-rounded life. (Unhappy attorneys make for unpleasant attorneys). He majored in music theory as an undergraduate, and spends much of his free time songwriting and playing in a band. He also enjoys fitness and yoga, and completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2019, earning his yoga teacher certificate. He has a minor obsession with travel and the National Parks and makes time every year to take a few trips.

Awards

Best Speaker Award

Rock Hill Toastmasters, May 2009

2009

Cali Award Recipient

(highest grade in class) Alternative Dispute Resolution in Employment Law – University of South Carolina School of Law, 2002

2002

Highest Grade in Class

Legal Writing – University of South Carolina School of Law, Fall 1999

1999

Student Editor

ABA Real Property, Probate, and Trust Journal – University of South Carolina School of Law

1999

Scholarship Recipient

Gunin, Harvey Lambert, and Strings Scholarships – Furman University, 1993-1997

1993 - 1997

Eagle Scout Award

Boy Scouts of America, 1990

1990

Publications

“Retiring the Title to Mobile Homes”

South Carolina Lawyer July, 2007 at 32.

2007

Professional Activities

Ethics Advisory Committee, Past Member

South Carolina Bar

Author of opinions 05-18 (“agency” closings), FAQ #7 (“Frequently Asked Question” regarding out-of-state attorneys filing deeds in South Carolina), and 06-11 (“mailaway” closings where attorney represents only seller);

2007

Featured Speaker

“Ethical Considerations in Real Estate Transactions,” by invitation of South Carolina Bar, Commercial Real Estate Update Continuing Legal Education Seminar, S.C. Bar, December 14, 2007.

2007