The History of Our Law Firm

In 1901, A. Freeborn Brown, Jr., a member of the seventh generation of his family to live in Harford County, was "attested" as certified to practice law in that county, thus effectively setting the date for the founding of the firm that still bears his name.

After moving his practice from Havre de Grace to Bel Air in 1929, he practiced law with great distinction until his death in 1945.

Beginning in 1946 and until his death in 1998, A. Freeborn Brown, III ("Freeborn"), son of A. Freeborn Brown, Jr., led the firm; Freeborn's brother T. (Thomas) Carroll Brown joined the firm in 1954.

Freeborn Brown was one of the most respected lawyers in the State of Maryland. He established many criminal trial precedents still in use to protect the rights of the accused, and in civil litigation he established the doctrine (now recognized in Maryland law) that an insurance company is obligated to resolve a claim within a policy's limits or be liable for any balance over those limits.

T. Carroll Brown, who retired in 2004, was an active supporter of his alma mater, the University of Maryland School of Law, and was made a member of the University of Maryland School of Law President's Club for his outstanding contributions to the ongoing programs of the university.

T. Carroll Brown served as a member of the Character Committee of the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners for many years, screening applicants for admission to the Bar based on their moral character and fitness. A beloved and respected figure in the Harford County legal community and in the county as a whole, the long-time Bel Air resident served on the Board of Directors of First Virginia Bank Central Maryland (formerly The Commercial Bank and now part of Branch Banking & Trust), as well as holding the positions as Secretary, Treasurer and two-term President of the Harford County Bar Association. T. Carroll Brown died in March of 2010.

Today, Brown, Brown & Young, P.A., is led by Augustus F. Brown (Freeborn Brown's son) and Albert J. A. Young. The firm is ranked by the Martindale-Hubbell National Law Directory as "AV" — its highest rating: the "A" signifies the highest level of legal ability, and the "V" denotes very high adherence to professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.

Brown, Brown & Young is also included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, which lists only those distinguished practices which "have been designated as outstanding in their field."

For a brief article on the ten generations of the Brown family to live and work in Harford County, Maryland, please select this link.

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In the News

• Gus Brown Awarded Rare DIPLOMATE Status



• Augustus Brown Named "Super Lawyer" for 2023 (consecutive years since 2006)



• Gus Brown Leads "Damages College"



• Strong Defense by Curry Results in Lower Sentence for Burning Speed Camera



• Jay Young Announces Largest-Ever Gift to UM-Upper Chesapeake