Litigation: General Commercial: South Carolina

THE FIRM This leading regional firm fields a first-class litigation group with a very strong reputation nationally for product liability. It plays a key role in the pharmaceutical and automotive industries, representing clients such as Procter & Gamble Manufacturing, Ford and Volvo Trucks North America. Highlights include successfully obtaining a defense verdict for Pfizer in the highly publicized Prempro litigation.

Sources say: "Nelson Mullins is definitely a top-flight firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS The team has flourished under the leadership of David Dukes, a leading product liability attorney and, until recently, the firm's managing partner. His clients include major pharmaceutical and medical devices companies.

The vastly experienced Stephen Morrison is a top litigator with an outstanding reputation for regional and national work. He specializes in business liability, securities and product liability litigation, particularly in the technology and automotive spheres, and counts the likes of GM and Honda North America among his clients.

Mark Phillips is another excellent product liability litigator, best known for his expertise in asbestos personal injury defense cases. He has obtained favorable verdicts in numerous states, including Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Marvin Quattlebaum has established a strong business and product liability litigation practice, and is currently handling a number of national trials outside of South Carolina.

THE FIRM This 52-attorney group retains a strong foothold in the market and is praised by peers and clients for its broad range of expertise across the areas of antitrust, business torts, construction, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, insurance and healthcare, product liability and class actions. Highlights include defending Aiken Electric Cooperative and 17 distribution electric cooperatives in a major class action brought by a class of former members.

Sources say: "They have a very good understanding of our business and a very good knowledge base of the industry."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Stephenson is one of the most sought-after mediators in the region, particularly for matters related to labor and employment.

The distinguished William Wilkins heads the firm's white-collar crime and appellate practices. He has been defending a major power provider in a class action suit brought by a property owner in Darlington County. 

Marc Manos played a key role in the class action against Aiken Electric Cooperatives and continues to earn the respect of clients and peers for his complex civil litigation and lender liability defense work. He also frequently acts for nursing homes and assisted living facilities in claims brought by patients or residents.

Susan McWilliams "does very high-profile and excellent work," according to sources. The trial specialist has defended individuals and corporate clients in high-profile cases involving product liability, professional liability, employment and commercial disputes.

"Fine lawyer" Marvin Infinger is an esteemed business litigator who handles municipal corporation, IP and probate actions, as well as admiralty and construction claims. He is currently representing a Southeastern grocery chain in a case brought by franchised stores claiming tens of millions of dollars in alleged unauthorized charges. 

THE FIRM This 20-strong litigation team is praised by sources for the quality of its attorneys and its extensive experience in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in class actions, antitrust and general commercial litigation. Notable work includes representing LG Display in an antitrust suit brought by the South Carolina Attorney General involving allegations of price-fixing. The team also acts for The Bank of New York Mellon in a case brought by the South Carolina State Treasurer alleging breach of contract with regards to investments of funds belonging to the state.

Sources say: "They are just very knowledgeable and did an excellent job of staying ahead strategically and coordinating with all the other counsels."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Wallace Lightsey chairs the firm's executive committee and maintains an outstanding reputation in the market for his broad trial and appellate practice, which covers IP, trade secrets and securities disputes.

Lightsey led the LG Display case alongside Henry Parr, who is noted for his experience in class actions and praised by commentators as "very knowledgeable and very well prepared for his cases."

Troy Tessier co-heads the firm's litigation practice and offers expertise in matters including product liability, insurance coverage, copyright and personal injury. He has been defending Deere & Company against product liability claims.

THE FIRM Leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies regularly seek this team's counsel in relation to regional and national product liability and mass tort cases. The 39-lawyer team is well equipped to handle major cases, such as representing Bayer and Bayer Healthcare in a putative class action alleging that the company made false statements in advertisements for two multivitamin products for men. 

Sources say: "Great – an excellent firm."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Highly esteemed litigator Daniel White is a go-to attorney for a number of leading pharmaceutical and medical device companies, for which he handles national mass torts and product liability cases. In addition to leading the Bayer defense, he has been representing the Primo Bedding Company in litigation stemming from a fire at a large furniture store in Charleston, in which nine firefighters died.

Howard Boyd is able to draw on more than three decades of experience in complex litigation, including high-profile class action cases. He continues to lead the team in representing Norfolk Southern Corp. and Norfolk Southern Railway Company in a mass tort case related to the Graniteville derailment.

THE FIRM This firm has a broad litigation practice with an emphasis on business and real estate-related matters. Its strong corporate and banking practices support the team's fortes in bankruptcy and securities litigation. Other areas of expertise include healthcare, construction and labor and employment litigation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Columbia-based Celeste Jones is an esteemed litigator with a broad practice that encompasses healthcare and medical-related product liability, class action and mass torts claims. She has also handled commercial lending litigation and white-collar criminal defense cases.

THE FIRM This litigation boutique is experienced in a range of cases before state and federal trial and appellate courts. It has recently been busy handling professional liability defense work and representing banks in workout-related litigation involving foreclosures and the defense of counterclaims. Notably, the team is acting as counsel to the South Carolina House of Representatives in redistricting plans to be approved by the local government and US DOJ.

Sources say: "It's been an outstanding experience – the way they prepare for cases has been tremendous but so is the advocacy in court."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Founding partner Robert Stepp has an excellent reputation for professional liability defense work. "He's the type of lawyer you'd aspire to be – his most impressive attribute is his advocacy in trial and appellate courts," say commentators.

The first-class Elizabeth Van Doren Gray handles an array of complex commercial disputes and probate and estate litigation.

Thornwell Sowell focuses on healthcare, construction, professional liability and business litigation. He is also noted for his skills in mediation.

Calhoun Watson frequently litigates cases involving general business disputes and professional liability claims. He also handles some arbitration and mediation.

THE FIRM This firm's recent mergers have not only boosted its depth and breadth of expertise, but also its geographical coverage: the North Carolina-headquartered firm now has offices in Charleston, Greenville and Columbia. It has a wide-ranging practice and has recently been busy in product liability, bankruptcy, breach of contract and general business litigation, including class actions. Engagements of note include representing a large international tire manufacturer in product liability lawsuits involving catastrophic personal injuries.

Sources say: "They've just always done a good job for me at a fair price, and I trust the people I work with there."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Samuel Outten earns significant praise for his excellent product liability, commercial litigation and professional negligence defense work. Recent highlights include successfully defending an international petrochemical company in a personal injury suit, and acting for an attorney in a legal malpractice case brought by a former client.

William Cleveland is best known in the market for his business litigation practice, which covers securities, business break-up, IP and bankruptcy-related matters. Clients laud his "his creative abilities to think outside the box."

The highly esteemed Henry Smythe brings more than 30 years of trial experience to the table, particularly in the areas of product liability and mass tort defense. Sources comment that "he knows the law extremely well, has got a great demeanor, is very calm and does a great job for us."

Clients appreciate that David Cox "knows the files and facts of the cases and is very detail-oriented." He offers a broad practice that covers product liability, insurance coverage and IP, among other things. 

Charles Summerall is well regarded for commercial bankruptcy litigation and debtor-creditor rights law. "He is one of the most fantastic attorneys I have ever had," said one client, adding that he is "incredibly ethical, knowledgeable and very thorough."

Allen Gibson is singled out as "one of the foremost construction lawyers" in the state and the region. Sources "would certainly recommend him highly."

THE FIRM This team of litigators handles, among other things, personal injury defense, product liability defense, particularly in the automotive industry, and shareholder, business and financial services litigation. It recently acted for a national bank on a federal action relating to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, in which the plaintiffs alleged a willful violation of the act; the case was settled following a court-ordered mediation.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Donald Sellers heads the business litigation and professional liability practice and is the key contact at this firm.

THE FIRM This firm joins the rankings this year following some strong market endorsement. The team has recently been busy in aviation, product liability, medical malpractice, admiralty and IP litigation, and is currently representing AstraZeneca in a patent dispute with Palmetto Pharmaceuticals relating to the product Crestor. Other highlights include acting as counsel to Charles Schwab & Co in a securities class action relating to a South Carolina Ponzi scheme.

Sources say: "First-class results. They know how to try cases and communicate well – there's not one aspect that I wouldn't rate highly."

KEY INDIVIDUALS "Excellent trial lawyer" Robert Hood is admired for his work in the courtroom, with more than one source citing him as "one of the best trial lawyers in the state." He specializes in pharmaceutical and medical device product liability, professional and medical malpractice, and commercial litigation.

James Hood is a rising star in the market who draws excellent feedback from market sources. He is "very knowledgeable and very well respected," say sources. He focuses on admiralty and maritime claims, medical negligence, insurance coverage and product liability.

THE FIRM This litigation boutique represents plaintiffs and defendants in an array of areas, including healthcare, medical and professional malpractice, general business, land use and insurance litigation.

Sources say: "It's been very good for litigation matters." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Trenholm Walker is praised by clients as being "very smart and very prompt, with a very good manner and presence in the courtroom." He focuses on high-end and complex business liability, insurance, tax evaluation and land use litigation.

THE FIRM This sizable regional firm has a broad offering that includes business litigation, insurance coverage, class actions, professional and product liability, construction and appellate work. The team has represented clients such as O'Dell Oil, Hogan Construction Group, American Trucking Group and MassMutual.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Steven Farrar is experienced in defending complex cases involving professional liability, product liability, and business and insurance coverage claims. He leads the litigation team in Greenville.

Michael Giese is the kind of lawyer who "always gets it right," according to sources, one of whom added: "When I'm in trouble, I want him by my side." Giese is a key member of the business litigation team.

THE FIRM This regional firm has a deep and broad bench, with more than 80 attorneys dedicated to various areas of litigation. The team is currently representing Nucor in a class action alleging Title VII race discrimination; a petition to decertify the class is currently pending. Other key clients include Ford, Liberty Mutual and American Insurance Association.

Sources say: "They have provided excellent service and have the expertise to take a stand on a case."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Sources describe John Wilkerson as "a very effective communicator with great written and verbal presentation skills." He has a lead role in the Nucor case and is also very well regarded in the insurance industry.

THE FIRM This firm continues to attract a steady flow of important work, despite the departure of influential litigator Rutledge Young. Recently, it successfully defended a builder against a claim for negligent construction of a railing system. It also successfully defended a local builder in a $2 million damage claim brought by the homeowner's insurance company against the builder and its subcontractor.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stephen Brown chairs the firm's commercial litigation and appellate group and is the key contact at the firm.