Brian C. Johnston

Brian C. Johnston

4.9
Rating: 8.8

Licensed for 24 years

Family Lawyer at Chapel Hill, NC
Practice Areas: Family, Divorce & Separation, Alimony ... +2 more

107 Conner Drive, Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC

About Brian

Biography

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Family 35%

25 years

35%
Alimony 10%

25 years

10%
Child Custody 10%

25 years

10%
Child Support 10%

25 years

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Hourly Rates

$ 225-250 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in North Carolina for 20 years

State: North Carolina

Acquired: 2005

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in District of Columbia for 23 years

State: District of Columbia

Acquired: 2002

Administratively Suspended - Non-Payment of Dues

No misconduct found

Licensed in Maryland for 24 years

State: Maryland

Acquired: 2001

Inactive - Retired

No misconduct found

Location

Chapel Hill Family Law

107 Conner Drive, Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Brian C. Johnston's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

24 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (24) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 8 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Dave | January 17, 2024 | Hired Attorney

Personable, knowledgeable, accommodating

Brian was able to me accommodate in a very timely manner! He gave excellent advice and cleared up ambiguities. It was quite evident that he knows North Carolina law thoroughly!

Posted by anonymous | November 06, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Family

I highly recommend Attorney Brian Johnston!!

Attorney Brian Johnston and his team at Chapel Hill Family Law are top-notch! They have been incredibly professional, prompt in their communication and compassionate throughout my separation process. Brian walked me through each step of the separation/divorce process and was always available to answ...er my questions. His extensive knowledge and experience were invaluable in providing the guidance and recommendations I needed for my personal situation. I highly recommend Attorney Brian Johnston and Chapel Hill Family Law for any of your family law needs.

Posted by Zachary | October 12, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Exceptional Legal Support by Brian Johnston at Chapel Hill Family Law

I recently found myself facing the unexpected challenge of a divorce and had the privilege of working with Brian Johnston at Chapel Hill Family Law. This was uncharted territory for me, and I needed expert guidance to make sound decisions during this trying time. From the very start, Brian demonstra...ted an extraordinary level of dedication and professionalism in handling my case. Given the unexpected nature of my divorce, I was seeking an attorney who could provide expert advice and navigate these unfamiliar waters. The customer service provided by Brian and his team was exceptional. They were always accessible, promptly addressing my inquiries and concerns. Their clear communication and guidance helped me navigate the legal intricacies of my situation. Brian's legal expertise was impressive. He displayed a deep understanding of family law and guided me through the process, ensuring I comprehended each step along the way. His professionalism and ethical conduct were evident throughout our interactions, instilling confidence, and trust. I am extremely satisfied with the resolution and grateful for the hard work and dedication demonstrated by him and the entire team at Chapel Hill Family Law.

Posted by Hannah | February 09, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Domestic Violence

Best lawyer in town

Attorney/Mr. Johnston’s vast legal knowledge and expertise helped me tremendously when I first consulted him to get a restraining order. A year later he helped me get a divorce and full child custody of my daughter. I can’t imagine how difficult it would have been without his help to file all the nec...essary paperwork and then appear in court and testify before a judge. He made the frightening process smooth and relatively easy. If you hire him then he will address all your concerns and help with any complicated legal process while maintaining professionalism at all times.

Posted by anonymous | December 20, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Settlement Agreement and Divorce

Brian and Rebecca are knowledgeable, professional, and supportive. My divorce was not complicated, but I did need guidance and help obtaining documents. Going into the process, my priorities were to negotiate an efficient and non-confrontational settlement, stay out of the courts, and keep costs down.... After scouting a few lawyers, I chose Brian because he respected these concerns, helped strategize how to move forward, and explained the outcomes of different scenarios. I was impressed with his experience and authority. He is also personable, which not only made it easy to work with him (and Rebecca), but also because, had this been a lengthier process, his representation would have helped with negotiations. In all, I wanted the process to be easy, with little delay or dispute, and thanks to the efforts of Brian and Rebecca, this was accomplished. I strongly recommend Chapel Hill Family Law.

See All Client Reviews

Brian C. Johnston's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Brian
Angel Simpson Gillis headshot
Angel Simpson Gillis

Family lawyer | Jul 14

Relationship: Co-worker

"I endorse this lawyer without hesitation. Brian is a zealous advocate for his clients and is very knowledgeable in all areas of family law. He practices with the upmost integrity and always keeps clients' best interests at the forefront."

Jill E. Burton headshot
Jill Burton

Family lawyer | Apr 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. My firm has had the opportunity to work with Brian Johnston for a number of years on a number of different cases. He has always been very professional and open to resolving cases amicably if at all possible while still zealously representing his client and his/her interests. I look forward working with him for years to come."

Charles A. Bentley Jr. headshot
Charles Bentley

Family lawyer | Apr 06

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Brian very well for many years and we have collarborated on many matters. I have always found Brian to be exceptionally bright, well-prepared, and a pleasure to work with. I would entrust a family to member to Brian for representation as I have confidence in his ability and ethical standards."

Julianna C. Woodmansee headshot
Julianna Woodmansee

Family lawyer | Mar 31

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have worked with Brian on a number of cases. He is a strong advocate for his client and works hard to get a good result. He always conducts himself in a professional manner and is trustworthy and ethical."

Autumn Danielle Osbourne headshot
Autumn Osbourne

Family lawyer | Mar 28

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Brian is always a pleasure to work with and I very much respect the way he conducts business in family court matters."

Scott E. Allen headshot
Scott Allen

Family lawyer | Mar 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"i have had the pleasure of working with Brian over many years on cases. Brian is professional and diligent in his work. He is an asset to the legal community."

Barbara M. Szombatfalvy headshot
Barbara Szombatfalvy

Family lawyer | Mar 25

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Brian is a highly skilled family law attorney. He is reasonable and easy to work with, without compromising the care and advocacy that he has for his clients. He is a great addition to our legal community."

Jeremy Heuts Atlas headshot
Jeremy Atlas

Family lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Brian is a professional and skilled family law attorney both inside and outside of the courtroom. He cares about his clients. He is knowledgeable about the law and uses that expertise to explore solutions for his clients without the expense of unnecessary litigation."

Christina G. Hinkle headshot
Christina Hinkle

Family lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Co-worker

"Brian is thoughtful, patient, practical, compassionate and intelligent- everything you would want in a family law attorney. I recommend him highly."

Rishi Pratap Oza headshot
Rishi Oza

Family lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Johnston is an excellent resource regarding all areas of family law. I have entrusted him with working on matters for my own clientele and will continue to refer work to him as it arises. Highly recommended."

Jillian Mack Moore headshot
Jillian Moore

Family lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Brian and I have had cases together. He is thorough and zealously advocates for his side while maintaining a professional atmosphere and respectful tone in communication. Brian is on the list of attorneys my office sends cases to if we are conflicted out of a matter. it is always an adversarial pleasure when he is on the other side of a case."

Barri H Payne headshot
Barri Payne

Family lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have known Brian for many years and worked with him as my opposing counsel in several family law matters. I find Brian to be intelligent, professional, and thorough in his representation of his clients and his interaction with opposing counsel. He cares about his clients and is respected by other attorneys and the Court."

Lisa Anne Wagner headshot
Lisa Wagner

Family lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have worked with Brian Johnston since he joined our community, both as opposing counsel and by serving as parenting coordinator with his clients. He has a solid understanding of family law and district court practice. He is willing to explore mutually beneficial resolutions, and is an aggressive advocate on behalf of his clients, when necessary. He cares about his clients and is an asset to our legal community."

D. Melissa Averett headshot
D. Averett

Family lawyer | Nov 24

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I have worked with Brian C. Johnston as opposing counsel as well as a member of the legal community. He is an excellent advocate for his clients, well informed on the law, zealous without running up the costs unnecessarily, and willing to consider practical solutions as well as legal ones. If you hire him, you have made a good choice that you will not regret."

View All Endorsements
Brian K Pearlstein headshot
Brian Pearlstein

Family lawyer

Jill E. Burton headshot
Jill Burton

Family lawyer

Charles A. Bentley Jr. headshot
Charles Bentley

Personal injury lawyer

Autumn Danielle Osbourne headshot
Autumn Osbourne

Family lawyer

Scott E. Allen headshot
Scott Allen

Family lawyer

Christina G. Hinkle headshot
Christina Hinkle

Estate planning lawyer

Rishi Pratap Oza headshot
Rishi Oza

Immigration lawyer

Jeremy Heuts Atlas headshot
Jeremy Atlas

Family lawyer

Jillian Mack Moore headshot
Jillian Moore

Divorce and separation lawyer

Christopher Michael Willett headshot
Christopher Willett

Real estate lawyer

Barri H Payne headshot
Barri Payne

Family lawyer

Lisa Anne Wagner headshot
Lisa Wagner

Family lawyer

D. Melissa Averett headshot
D. Averett

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.8 (Excellent)

Honors

2019

Attorney of the Year Nominee, American Lawyer

1998

Cum Laude, Bucknell University

Work Experience

2015 - Present

Member, Chapel Hill Family Law

2006 - 2015

Associate Attorney, Lewis & Anderson PLLC

2004 - 2006

Associate Attorney, Brodsky, Greenblatt & Renehan, Chtd

2001 - 2004

Associate Attorney, Greenberg & Bederman, LLC

Associations

2005 - Present

North Carolina State Bar

Member

2005 - Present

North Carolina Bar Association

Member

2005 - Present

North Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section

Member

2005 - Present

Orange County Bar Association

Member

2005 - Present

North Carolina 15B Judicial District Bar

Member

2005 - Present

North Carolina 15B Judicial District Bar Association

Member

2002 - 2006

District of Columbia Bar

Member

2001 - 2006

Maryland State Bar Association

Member

2001 - 2004

American Trial Lawyers Association

Member

2001 - 2004

Maryland Trial Lawyers Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Madar v. Madar, 853 S.E.2d 916 (2020)

Lockett v. Sister-2-Sister Solutions, Inc., 209 N.C.App. 60, 704 S.E.2d 299

Estroff v. Chatterjee, 190 N.C.App. 61, 660 S.E.2d 73

Rios v. Montgomery County, Maryland, 386 MD 104, 872 A.2d 1

See More Legal Cases

Education

2001

George Washington University

JD - Juris Doctor

1998

Bucknell University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

2017

UNC School of Law

Guest Family Law Lecturer

Languages

English

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution