Firm History

Brinkley Walser office

The legal team of Brinkley Walser proudly practices law in the State of North Carolina with its principal office in Lexington, North Carolina. Situated conveniently to Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point, the firm is, at its core, a general practice firm. However, the attorneys and staff of Brinkley Walser pride themselves on an ability to deliver “big city law” with varied concentrations in niche practice areas at reasonable costs and with the values and traditions of a small town practice. The firm has a strong community commitment to the people of Davidson County. The firm is an AV rated firm by Martindale-Hubbell which is the highest rating a firm can receive, and is based on the confidential evaluations of other lawyers.

The firm had its beginning on October 4, 1886, when Zeb Vance Walser of Davidson County was admitted to the Bar of North Carolina and began to practice law in Lexington. Since that time, this practice has been continued by him, his partners and successors without interruption.

NC Attorney General, Zeb V. Walser, with Presidential candidate, Theodore Roosevelt

Zeb Walser was an active member and leader of the North Carolina House of Representatives beginning in 1888, and continuing in the State Senate in 1891. By 1895, Zeb returned to the House of Representatives, serving as Speaker of that body. By 1896, Zeb was elected Attorney General of North Carolina, and further served as the official Reporter for the Supreme Court of North Carolina in 1900, which position involved the digesting and publishing of all opinions of the State Supreme Court. Zeb continued both his local law practice and political involvement, and served as Theodore Roosevelt’s state campaign manager in 1912. Had “Teddy” Roosevelt won when he ran on the Bull Moose ticket, it was speculated that Zeb would have been appointed Attorney General of the United States. A photograph of Zeb with Teddy Roosevelt appears on our website. Zeb was a charter member of the North Carolina Bar Association, founded in 1899, and served as its vice-president. He was also North Carolina’s delegate to the first meeting of the American Bar Association at its founding at Saratoga Springs, New York.

Walter F. Brinkley

In 1919, Zeb’s son, Don A. Walser, joined the firm upon passing the North Carolina Bar examination at age 19. Don was joined in 1953 by Walter F. Brinkley. Following his father’s footsteps, Gaither S. Walser joined the firm in 1957. Charles McGirt became the fourth partner in 1961. The firm has been known as Brinkley Walser since 1994. Surviving members of the original partners are Walt Brinkley who retired from active practice in 2009 after 60 years, Charles McGirt who still actively practices law as the firm's senior partner, and Thompson Miller.

The Attorneys of Brinkley Walser

The present partnership consists of Charles H. McGirt, G. Thompson Miller, David E. Inabinett, Stephen D. Barnhill, and Bradley H. Hunt. On April 1, 2008, the firm merged with Smith Law Firm of Lexington, NC and added RB Smith, Jr. as "of counsel" and Ryan V. McNeill as an associate.

Over the last 100+ years, many of the firm’s members have been active in the organized Bar, with Don having served as president of the North Carolina Bar in 1952, with Walt having served as president of the North Carolina Bar Association in 1974, and a prior partner, Clark Smith, serving as president of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys in 2002-2003 and President of the North Carolina Bar Association in 2005-2006. Others have continued the firm’s tradition of active involvement in the organized Bar, serving on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Board of Governors, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the North Carolina Board of Law Examiners, the American College of Trial Lawyers, and the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. The firm also boasts a distinguished member of the North Carolina General Practice Hall of Fame, to which Walter Brinkley was named in 1995. Mr. Brinkley is listed in listed in Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in America. Walter Brinkley is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

A part of the firm's mission is to be of service to the citizens of Davidson County through active participation in community organizations. Each attorney is encouraged to actively participate in some type of service or community project.

The firm's diverse practice offers everything from banking law to business issues, elder law and Medicaid/Public benefits planning, family law, criminal practice and representation within the community schools, municipal and airport authority representation. Through continued legal education and the provision of seminars to the public on various legal issues, the attorneys are committed to maintaining an up-to-date ability to handle complex legal issues as they arise. There is a combined legal experience within the firm of over 175 years.

Though Brinkley Walser, PLLC, enjoys a colorful and distinguished past, the firm prides itself in remaining current both in the law and the resources available to research and determine the best course of representation for its many clients. As Brinkley Walser enjoys the third century in which it has served the legal needs of North Carolinians, it looks forward to serving an even broader, more diverse range of individual and corporate clientele.

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