Welcome to our firm
Brownlie Legal is the culmination of a long journey that began in 1987 when following in my Grandfather’s footsteps, I began my articles of clerkship at the oldest law firm in the Southern Hemisphere: Fairbridge, Arderne & Lawton (founded in Cape Town in 1812). Through the mentorship and support of the firm’s partners, I was encouraged to pursue a career in business law.
I was made a partner at Fairbridges and practiced there until 1992. I had the privilege and opportunity to work with a wide array of clients, both domestic and foreign, including multinationals De Beers Marine, Engen (Mobil Oil), and PepsiCola.
In 1992, my American wife Becky, and I decided to embark on a new adventure to the United States. I left Fairbridges and after a brief lectureship in the Graduate Law Department of the University of Cape Town moved to Bellingham, Washington.
Shortly after settling in Bellingham, I was invited by a former De Beers client to help set up and run a Vancouver B.C.-based listed junior mining company as its President. My work was fascinating and involved extensive international travel and negations with foreign governmental bodies. It also provided a perfect introduction to the North American legal system. During that time, I became qualified as an attorney in the State of Washington.
After finding worldwide travel incompatible with wanting to be present for my three young sons, I decided in 1999 to take a risk and set up my own practice in my home town of Bellingham. It was shortly afterward that Murphy Evans joined the practice followed by Heather Wolf and Mark Lee, eventually giving rise to the firm Brownlie, Wolf & Lee. I am extremely proud of my time at that firm and of what I was able to deliver to my clients whilst practicing there.
Today, I feel that I have come full circle in starting my new firm Brownlie Legal where I will be mentoring my son Paul while he trains through the Washington State Law Clerk Program and working with young attorney Erin Jajtner. I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to support and mentor the next generation of lawyers since it aligns with my wish to give back the wisdom and guidance that I graciously received as a new attorney over thirty years ago.