Brian J. Manikowski is a Partner in the Raleigh office of Hall Booth Smith from which he covers all Central and Eastern portions of North Carolina. His practice focuses on the defense of high-exposure transportation, construction defect, law enforcement liability, and premises liability matters.
Brian has significant experience in all stages of litigation and has defended cases in both state and federal courts. He is also well versed in the different avenues of alternative dispute resolution and will zealously advocate to achieve a favorable result for his clients.
Prior to joining Hall Booth Smith, Brian practiced for five years in Boston, Massachusetts, where he successfully defended clients across all levels of state and federal courts.
Brian obtained his Juris Doctor from Boston College and earned a Bachelor of Arts, with distinction, in Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During his undergraduate studies, he served as the President of Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity and was a member of the UNC Marching Band.
Brian resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with his wife Alison, his daughter Madison, and the family dog, Macaroni.
Experience
Construction
Brian J. Manikowski has extensive experience representing a wide range of clients in construction-related litigation, including general contractors, subcontractors, and design and engineering firms. His practice spans complex construction defect lawsuits involving projects from single-family homes to large-scale developments of up to 300-unit multi-family residential buildings. Brian has defended claims related to negligent workmanship resulting in both structural and cosmetic defects, as well as represented sellers of manufactured homes facing allegations of construction deficiencies. He also has significant experience handling catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases involving scaffold collapses, including both traditional frame and mast-climber systems. Additionally, Brian has represented home and termite inspectors in matters involving alleged negligent inspection services that led to substantial property damage in both single-family and multi-family residences.
Presentations
•Independent Contractor or Employee: How to Decide and Why It Matters
North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys Annual Meeting; June 15, 2024
Recognition
•Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Transportation Law; Best Lawyers; 2024-2026
In the Press
Eighth Circuit Rejects NLRB’s “Automatic Violation” Rule in Decertification Disputes
April 1, 2026
In a significant victory for employer rights and employee free choice, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently issued its decision in Midwest Division-RMC, LLC v. NLRB, Nos. 24-1680, 24-1863, 24-1829 (8th Cir. Mar. 18, 2026), where it squarely rejected the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) long-standing position that an employer automatically violates the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) by withdrawing recognition from a union after a decertification vote but before formal Board certification. This is a significant development for employers with stagnating unions.
