Our Story
Brazil & Burke, P.A. has a proud history of service to our clients, the community, and the legal profession. The firm began when founding partner, Bill Brazil, and his distinguished colleagues and friends – Max Cogburn, Sr., Steve Cogburn, Max Cogburn, Jr., and Greg Goosmann – opened the offices of Cogburn, Cogburn, Goosmann, & Brazil in 1995. From its inception, the firm’s practice areas included civil litigation, criminal defense, and real estate.
When then-partner Max Cogburn, Jr. became a federal magistrate judge in 1998, the firm was renamed Cogburn, Goosmann, Brazil & Rose, adding Asheville real estate lawyer John Rose to the practice. Steve and Max Jr.’s father, Max Cogburn, Sr., also served of-counsel to the firm. Early in the 2000’s, now-sitting Buncombe County District Court Judge Patricia Young joined the firm, practicing criminal defense for four years. The firm evolved into Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., in 2005 as a boutique litigation firm, and Max Cogburn, Jr. rejoined the firm after eight years of service as a magistrate judge in the federal courts. In 2011, Steve Cogburn took office in the Buncombe County Clerk of Court. Shortly thereafter, Max Cogburn, Jr. was nominated as an Article III judge to the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina bench by President Obama, and he was confirmed by the Senate in 2011. That same year, Meghann Burke joined the firm. The firm was renamed Brazil & Burke, P.A. in 2013. In 2015, Corey Atkins joined Brazil & Burke, P.A. and now serves as general counsel to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Margaret Teich joined the firm in 2018 and will serve our Spanish-speaking clients in the areas of criminal defense and family law.
Brazil & Burke is proud of its history and while staying true to our roots as a small, dynamic firm that evolves to meet the changing needs of our clients and community.
When then-partner Max Cogburn, Jr. became a federal magistrate judge in 1998, the firm was renamed Cogburn, Goosmann, Brazil & Rose, adding Asheville real estate lawyer John Rose to the practice. Steve and Max Jr.’s father, Max Cogburn, Sr., also served of-counsel to the firm. Early in the 2000’s, now-sitting Buncombe County District Court Judge Patricia Young joined the firm, practicing criminal defense for four years. The firm evolved into Cogburn & Brazil, P.A., in 2005 as a boutique litigation firm, and Max Cogburn, Jr. rejoined the firm after eight years of service as a magistrate judge in the federal courts. In 2011, Steve Cogburn took office in the Buncombe County Clerk of Court. Shortly thereafter, Max Cogburn, Jr. was nominated as an Article III judge to the U.S. District Court of Western North Carolina bench by President Obama, and he was confirmed by the Senate in 2011. That same year, Meghann Burke joined the firm. The firm was renamed Brazil & Burke, P.A. in 2013. In 2015, Corey Atkins joined Brazil & Burke, P.A. and now serves as general counsel to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce. Margaret Teich joined the firm in 2018 and will serve our Spanish-speaking clients in the areas of criminal defense and family law.
Brazil & Burke is proud of its history and while staying true to our roots as a small, dynamic firm that evolves to meet the changing needs of our clients and community.
