Overview
Brian is Senior Counsel who advises companies and organizations of all sizes on employment law and related administrative and court proceedings, providing practical guidance and strong advocacy to help clients meet their business goals while staying compliant.
He works extensively with South Carolina employers, as well as companies nationwide, delivering tailored advice on both everyday HR challenges and complex disputes. He also works with a variety of non-profit organizations and educational institutions.
He assists clients on employment litigation involving federal and state claims, administrative charges, and compliance issues ranging from employee handbooks to separation planning. Brian handles both internal issues as well as actual legal proceedings related to all forms of discrimination, retaliation, defamation, contract disputes, FMLA disputes, and similar employment-based matters.
Brian is known for helping clients navigate issues from simple questions to high-stakes disputes, providing clear, practical, and sometimes creative solutions. With more than 30 years of experience and a collaborative approach, he works closely with clients to ensure they understand both their legal requirements and their business objectives, supporting them in building strong, compliant employment practices.
Honors & Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Employment Law – Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment (2024-2026)
- Chambers USA Guide® (2011-2012, 2015-2016)
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Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent®
About Me
Brian is married to Paula, also an attorney and a Master Social Worker. They share one son Alex and a very spoiled Alaskan malamute named Cosmo. Brian and Paula love traveling around the world, cheering for Duke Basketball and USC football, and supporting Alex on his swim team.
Professionally, Brian once handled a sexual harassment case in which the plaintiff’s personal diary, obtained during litigation, revealed she had avidly pursued the vice president she accused of harassment, leading to a swift, minimal settlement. Fun fact: Brian and his wife share the same birthday, which is how they first met at a dinner organized by mutual friends.
In January 2013, my wife and I took our son and nephew to the Turks and Caicos Islands for several days of warm weather, swimming, shelling, and snorkeling. The islands were breathtaking, and we even watched the Super Bowl at a huge beach party. As the kids get older, I hope that they will always remember that trip as fondly as I do.
An interesting case I handled
In a nasty sexual harassment case a few years ago, a former marketing employee alleged that a traveling vice president seduced her in front of her fireplace on a cold, rainy night in Charleston. During the litigation, we were able to get her handwritten diary, which her lawyer clearly had not read before sending it to us. The diary told a very different story–this employee had been chasing the vice president for months and apparently lured him back to her apartment that night. Once we pointed out the “real story,” the case quickly settled for virtually nothing.
Something you might be surprised to learn about me
My wife and I have the same birthday, and that is how we met – at a birthday dinner given by some mutual friends of ours.
Credentials
Education
Washington and Lee University School of Law
- J.D., 1993
University of South Carolina
- B.A., cum laude, Political Science, 1990
- Phi Beta Kappa
- Omicron Delta Kappa
Media
Events
Legal Analysis
Professional & Civic Associations
Civic
- Leadership Columbia, Graduate (2003)
- Finlay House Board of Directors (2017-present)
- Washington and Lee Alumni Association, Palmetto Chapter
Professional
- National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA), Graduate (1997)
- Richland County Bar Association
Services
Admissions
- South Carolina, 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
U.S. District Court - SC
“Quick responses to problems help stop them from becoming crises. That is one of the things my clients value most.”
Brian Magargle, Employee Benefits Lawyer
