Wilburn Brewer - In Memoriam

Wilburn Brewer, one of South Carolina's most respected litigators and a committed advocate of integrity and professionalism in the legal field, died Thursday, October 16, 2003. Mr. Brewer a beloved husband, father and friend, was 64.

Known for his exceptional honesty, thorough case preparation, and innovative strategies, Mr. Brewer was often referred to as "the lawyer's lawyer." While that description was in large part due to his legal skills, it also had a more direct connotation: He was the attorney of choice for colleagues in trouble and was a committed mentor to younger lawyers.

Until his illness, Mr. Brewer was chair of the litigation section of Nexsen Pruet, which he joined almost 40 years ago after graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Within four years he had become a full partner, setting the stage for a career that earned him the admiration and high regard of lawyers in and out of South Carolina.

"The profession has lost one its true lions and many of us have lost a dear friend," said Al Pollard, managing partner of Nexsen Pruet. "Wilburn was a man whose abilities, passion for the law, and sheer intelligence were exceeded only by his character."

"He was a role model for young and experienced lawyers alike and was devoted to renewing and restoring pride, professionalism, and integrity in the practice of law. His passing leaves a void in the legal community that will be difficult if not impossible to fill."

Although he was never one to trumpet his own accomplishments - friends said he spoke only to improve the silence or silence the foolishness - Mr. Brewer's peers had no such reluctance. In 2003, the USC School of Law honored him with its prestigious Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award, given in recognition of the "competence, ethics, and integrity" he displayed throughout his career.

Also this year, the legal publishers Chambers & Partners cited him as a "leading individual" in litigation. Chambers, which bases its recognition on interviews with attorneys and clients, wrote that Mr. Brewer was really one of the "best litigators in the state - strong across-the-board and analytically sound."

Additionally, he has been included in two categories in all four editions of The Best Lawyers in America.

Mr. Brewer's deep respect for the law was reflected in his involvement with professional organizations. He was past president of both the Richland County and South Carolina Bar Associations and of the State Bar's Trial and Appellate Advocacy Section. As president of the S.C. Bar, he helped develop a Declaration of Promises to Clients that established high standards for ethical and responsible behavior by attorneys.

He was also a member of the Trial Evidence Committee of the American Bar Association and is active in the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, the International Association of Insurance Counsel, and the American College of Trial Lawyers.

His commitment to service went beyond the legal arena, however. At age 48, Mr. Brewer was diagnosed with leukemia. After recovering from the illness, he became a local trustee in the Leukemia Society and served as a national trustee for two years.

We miss Mr. Brewer greatly.