Born in 1965 in Huntington, West Virginia, Brian grew up in Spruce Pine, North Carolina and now lives in Burnsville.  He has a son, Jay, and a daughter, AnnieJo.

Brian graduated with a B.A. in English from Appalachian State University in 1987 and received his J.D. from the Wake Forest University School of Law.  He was admitted to practice in North Carolina in 1990.  He is admitted to practice before the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Court for the Middle District and Western District of North Carolina.

A member of the North Carolina Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and North Carolina Advocates for Justice, Brian focuses his practice on motor vehicle accidents, personal injury, wrongful death and fire and burn injury.

Brian’s mother was a nurse and his father was a doctor in Spruce Pine who ran a clinic, worked in the hospital  emergency room, and made house calls to people in need.   Brian often accompanied his parents when the house calls were after hours. Growing up in a home where taking care of others was so important continues to inspire Brian in his work representing injured people. 

In the mid- 1990’s, before he began representing injured people, Brian worked for an insurance defense firm in Greensboro where he amassed considerable experience in injury litigation and wrongful death.  During that time he presented cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and the State Appellate Court.  His civil litigation experience also includes real estate, construction, and business disputes, auto accidents, negligence, product liability, medical malpractice, and social security disability.

Buchanan’s ongoing legal and volunteer work includes being an attorney advocate for the Mitchell County Guardian Ad Litem program since 1998.  Since 1995 he has been a volunteer attorney for Mitchell County Animal Rescue and Habitat for Humanity in Mitchell and Yancey Counties.  He has coached youth soccer in Avery County and served on numerous boards including the YMCA, United Way, Spruce Pine Montessori School, and the Spruce Pine Community Hospital Ethics Committee.  He has been the town attorney for Bakersville, North Carolina, since 1995.