Martin H. Brinkley Partner
University of North Carolina, J.D., 1992
University of Cologne, Institute for Ancient Studies (Rotary Foundation Scholar), 1988-89
Harvard University, A.B. summa cum laude, Classics, 1987; Phi Beta Kappa
Phillips Exeter Academy, 1984
Professional Summary
Martin Brinkley has broad experience in the areas of corporate law, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, antitrust and trade regulation, public finance, charitable foundations and nonprofit organizations, and appellate litigation. He regularly represents clients in the distribution, life science, energy, manufacturing, technology, franchising, health care and banking industries. Mr. Brinkley chairs Smith Anderson's Legal Opinions Committee.
Mr. Brinkley is currently President-Elect of the 16,000-member North Carolina Bar Association, one of the country’s leading voluntary bar associations. He will serve as the 117th President of the Bar Association during the 2011-12 term and is Smith Anderson’s fourth partner to hold the office.
Representative Accomplishments and Honors
Law Clerk to Chief Judge Sam J. Ervin, III, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Executive Articles Editor and Staff Member, North Carolina Law Review
Listed, Woodward/White, Inc. The Best Lawyers in America (Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions)
Listed, Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite (Business Law, Corporate Law)
Listed, North Carolina Super Lawyers (Business/Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions)
Martindale-Hubbell AV® rating
American Law Institute
Permanent Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
Adjunct Associate Professor of Law, University of North Carolina
North Carolina Bar Association, Citizen Lawyer Award
Triangle Business Leader Media's Pro Bono Impact and Impact Law Leader Awards
Professional and Community Activities
North Carolina Bar Association: President-Elect, 2011-12 (Board of Governors, 2000-03; Co-Chair, “4ALL” Task Force, 2007-08; Chair, Strategic Planning and Emerging Trends Committee, 2004-06; Chair, Young Lawyers Division, 1998-99; Business Law Section Uniform Commercial Code Committee)
American Bar Association (Antitrust and Business Law and Litigation Sections; Business Law Section Committees on Legal Opinions and Uniform Commercial Code)
Editor, Legal Opinions Newsletter, Committee on Legal Opinions, American Bar Association Section of Business Law
American Judicature Society
Christ Church, Raleigh (Senior Warden, Clerk and Vestry member)
Vice Chancellor, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina
The North Caroliniana Society (Treasurer and Director)
Center for Law and the Humanities (Treasurer and Director)
Board of Commissioners, Wake County (North Carolina) Public Library System
Bar Admissions and Memberships
North Carolina State Bar
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina