South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Power List Business Defense 2023 by SC Biz News

BUSINESS DEFENSE p o we r L I S T T H E BUSINESS DEFENSE p o we r L I S T T H E p o we r L I S T T H E To see the full Power List profiles, visit www.sclawyersweekly.com.

30 APRIL 2023 | SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYERS WEEKLY PERSONAL INJURY n THE POWER LIST 1. DAVID BLACK 31 2. JAMES E. “WARD” BRADLEY 31 3. SARAH WETMORE BUTLER .............................................. 31 4. M. DAWES COOKE JR. ..................................................... 31 5. MARY AGNES “MOLLY” HOOD CRAIG ............................... 32 6. ELIZABETH VAN DOREN GRAY 32 7. TREY SUGGS 32 8.CARMEN HARPER THOMAS .............................................. 32 9. WILLIAM “TREY” W. WATKINS JR. .................................... 33 10. NICKISHA WOODWARD .................................................. 33 2023 2023 BUSINESS DEFENSE

DAVID BLACK

MEMBER, MAYNARD NEXSEN COLUMBIA

David Black’s parents always taught him that hard work would pay off. While in law school at the University of South Carolina, he learned an important lesson about a correlate to that vital attribute: preparation.

He had enrolled in a Federal Litigation Clinic taught by Patrick Flynn and was assigned with a classmate to work on a civil suit with the Southern Poverty Law Center, which included deposing a witness who was incarcerated in the Estill Federal Correctional Institute.

After clearing prison security, they realized Flynn was nowhere to be found.

“We waited about 30 minutes before we found out that Professor Flynn would not be joining us for the deposition as he was dressed the same as the inmates,” Black says.

As leader of the business and commercial litigation practice group at the newly merged firm of Maynard Nexsen, Black frequently represents those in the energy and electric utility industry, and also regularly represents clients before the Public Service Commission.

SARAH WETMORE BUTLER PARTNER,

As the immediate past president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association, Sarah Wetmore Butler takes pride not only in the exemplary service she provides her clients, but also in the contributions she has made to the profession at large.

In an interview last fall, she described the experience as “a true honor and a testament to her character, leadership abilities and years of hard work.”

A partner at Copeland Stair Valz & Lovell, Butler received both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from Wake Forest University. She defends general contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers, and assists insurance carriers with a variety of construction claims issues, and she has continued to expand her general liability and insurance defense background to include construction litigation.

Butler credits her clients and colleagues with inspiring her to go to work each day and professionalism is important to her.

“Everyone you come into contact with, from clients to staff to court personnel, deserves respect and kindness,” she says.

JAMES E. “WARD” BRADLEY

Ward Bradley became an attorney to help people. As a partner at Moore Bradley Myers, he does that every day through his civil litigation practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of lifestyles and professions. His clients also include banks and companies both large and small.

For Bradley, success comes from resilience.

“Just know things will go wrong sometimes,” he says. “When you knocked down, it’s important to get right back up and keep going.”

Bradley received his bachelor’s degree from Davidson College and his law degree from the University of South Carolina. He enjoys returning to the classroom at USC where he presents on trial techniques to both practicing attorneys and students.

Active in his community and profession, Bradley is a board member for the Salkehatchie Summer Service Project of the United Methodist Church and as a Sunday school teacher at Shandon Presbyterian Church. He has served as a member of the South Carolina Bar’s Board of Governors and Judicial Screening Committee. He is the past-president of the Richland County Bar Association.

PARTNER, MOORE BRADLEY MYERS WEST COLUMBIA M.

Dawes Cooke loves solving problems. And not the easy ones.

“Succeeding in business litigation requires solving problems on multiple levels and understanding how a particular piece of litigation fits in with the client’s overall business objectives,” he says. “This is what attracted me to the law in the first place.”

Cooke gravitated to business law for the opportunity to take on complex cases. To be an effective attorney, he believes it takes a combination of intellect, strong work ethic and character.

While character has many aspects, he adds, lawyers can’t succeed for long without it, no matter how smart they are or how hard they work.

A native of Beaufort, Cooke received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and his law degree from the University of South Carolina, where he was clerk of court for the Society of Wig and Robe and symposium editor of the USC Law Review. In 1993, he received an honorary doctor of laws degree from The Citadel. Cooke also is a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers.

SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYERS WEEKLY | APRIL 2023 31 BUSINESS DEFENSE

BARNWELL WHALEY PATTERSON & HELMS CHARLESTON

DAWES COOKE JR. MEMBER,

VALZ &

COPELAND STAIR

LOVELL CHARLESTON

MARY AGNES “MOLLY” HOOD CRAIG

PARTNER, HOOD LAW FIRM CHARLESTON

As a partner at Hood Law Firm in Charleston, Molly Craig concentrates on civil litigation and defending catastrophic product liability, professional liability, pharmaceutical and medical device, trusts and estates litigation, and employment litigation matters across the United States.

The past president of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel, Craig has supported the organization’s dedication to serving and benefiting the legal profession through skills development, professionalism and camaraderie.

She is also the past president of both the Charleston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association, and is a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. In addition, she sits on the board of directors of , a purpose-driven NIL Collective developing Clemson student athletes to positively impact others through community charities.

Craig earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of the South and her law degree from the University of South Carolina.

She is a frequent speaker and moderator on professional panels, forums and podcasts.

TREY SUGGS

With over 17 years of experience defending health care professionals, corporations and individuals in high stakes litigation, Trey Suggs has built a reputation as a passionate litigator doing what he calls his dream job.

“I have always been interested in being a balanced litigator, equipped to defend businesses and also seek justice on their behalf,” he says. “Business litigation lends itself to balance as it relates to defense and plaintiff’s work, which keep things very interesting and also helps to maintain my objectivity.”

A South Carolinian from birth and a partner at Roe Cassidy in his hometown of Greenville, Suggs graduated from Washington and Lee University and received his law degree from the USC School of Law. He defends companies in medical malpractice and professional malpractice matters and represents professionals before licensing boards, and in commercial and personal injury litigation cases.

A board member of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, Suggs is a past president of the South Carolina Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

ELIZABETH VAN DOREN GRAY

When Betsy Gray began her career 46 years ago in South Carolina, her litigation practice was not as concentrated as it is today. Over time, she has embraced and thrived in the specific challenges of complex business litigation in the 21st century.

“I started practicing insurance defense, probate disputes, bringing and defending collection actions and foreclosures, and other contract-type claims,” she says. “As my firm moved towards representing more corporations, my litigation practice did too.”

As she developed a concentration in federal criminal antitrust actions, she found that she enjoyed the intricacies of those matters and consequently gravitated toward complex business litigation.

Gray received both her bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of South Carolina. She is a founding member of Robinson Gray Stepp & Laffitte in Columbia.

Gray is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, and a member of the Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession.

CARMEN HARPER THOMAS

As a partner in Nelson Mullins’ Columbia office, Carmen Harper Thomas handles disputes and regulatory issues in the energy, manufacturing, financial services, and technology sectors.

She has a reputation as a tenacious litigator whose experience includes resolving disputes and regulatory issues for financial services companies, energy and telecommunications utilities, professionals and their firms, and companies with innovative technology or business models.

Thomas earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications, a master’s degree of Public Administration and her law degree from the University of South Carolina School.

She has served two terms on the USC Board of Visitors and chaired the board in 2020.

She is a leader in the American and South Carolina Bar Associations and is a Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and of the American Bar Foundation. She also serves as vice chair on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands.

32 APRIL 2023 | SOUTH CAROLINA LAWYERS WEEKLY BUSINESS DEFENSE

FOUNDING MEMBER, ROBINSON GRAY STEPP & LAFFITTE COLUMBIA PARTNER, NELSON MULLINS COLUMBIA PARTNER, ROE CASSIDY GREENVILLE

WILLIAM “TREY” W. WATKINS JR.

Trey Watkins attributes his career success to his love of complex issues and helping people solve their most challenging problems.

“Business litigation on the defense side was a natural fit,” he says.

Watkins earned both his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of South Carolina. As a shareholder at Wall Templeton in Charleston, he focuses on insurance defense including construction disputes, serious personal injury and complex litigation.

As an attorney, Watkins derives his personal and professional rewards from “the satisfaction of seeing the relief that comes from helping people navigate and resolve large complex issues,” he says, adding that he considers communication and preparation to be among the most important attributes of a successful attorney.

Watkins is past president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association’s Young Lawyers and currently serves on its board and as a prior chair of its Trial Academy. His goal is to lead the South Carolina Defense Trial Lawyers Association.

NICKISHA

WOODWARD

As a natural problem-solver, Nickisha Woodward believes her business litigation defense practice is a perfect fit for her skill set.

“I enjoy critical thinking and putting the pieces of the puzzle together,” she says. “I have always been one to communicate my thoughts and help people organize.”

Woodward, a shareholder at Turner Padget in Charleston, defends the interests of clients large and small, in personal injury, construction, premises and product liability matters.

A graduate of Clemson University and the Charleston School of Law, Woodward prides herself on being responsive and exceeding her clients’ expectations. She attributes her success to discipline and flexibility.

“The law is ever-changing and the ability to be malleable and pivot is critical to being able to achieve the best outcome for your client,” she says. “Attorneys who are known as some of the best in the country all possess discipline and an ability to stick with the issue even when it is the most difficult to do so.”

As a first-generation lawyer, Woodward aspires to make her family proud.

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Congress recently amended the statute as part of the First Step Act, to allow inmates to petition the federal courtsGriggs argued that his release was required due to his medical conditions—particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD)— and the spread of COVID-19 at theGriggs had failed to make a sufficient showing of extraordinary and compelling reasons under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines’ Policy Statement. But U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins Jr. ruled that the policy updated since the First Step Act was passed. Coggins relied on the discretion vested in district courts to apply the factors spelled out in federal law in granting Griggs’s motion.at FCI Butner Low,” Coggins wrote. “The Court is reluctant to modify Defendant’s sentence, as he has already been spared years of time in federal prison due to his medical conditions. His criminal conduct was egregious destroys elderly and seriously infirm inmates in BOP custody.” A‘perfect storm of preexisting conditions’-dinary and compelling reasons” warrant a sentencing reduction, Coggins said. Griggs argued that his extensive medical conditions established exfor sentence reduction. The court ac-including spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, narrow spinal canal, conjoined nerves at the lumbar of his back, sciatica nerve pain, high cholesterol, high blood pressure,his placement at FCI Butner Low, had been confirmed among inmates as May 21. “The Court further acknowledgeswith COVID-19,” Coggins wrote. “The Court particularly concerned with Defendant’s COPD.” District courts in other states have granted compassionate release mo“The common thread among these reduction is justified only when defendant is of relatively advanced age and suffers from serious preexistingcompassionate release and will only grant such requests in extraordinary and compelling cases.” Coggins emphasized that potential exposure to COVID-19 alone is not basis for reduced sentence, nor doesdefendant on case-by-case basis. climb Applying the statutory factors,Griggs was “brazen” about his criminal conduct, Coggins wrote, leaving numerous stolen goods in plain view at his house and purchasing firearm from law enforcement property crimes.es of Griggs’s offense and history, as well as the seriousness of the offense, weighed in favor of serving his full“The number of positive cases among inmates and staff continues at Butner,” he wrote. “This directly endangers Defendant’s health; however, it also stifles the opportunity adequate treatment for his medical Griggs’s sentence to time served, he imposed several conditions, modifying the three years of supervised release to home incarceration for the first 18 months (with GPS location monitoring), a 14-day self-quarantine work, church, or social events). Coggins also sent message to the BOP, reminding the agency that it in the best position to evaluate inmates’ health conditions, risk of in-give full consideration to all motions for compassionate release and be mindful of the lack resources available to many federal inmates,” the ruling reads. “Law must be apfairly to all inmates, not just those high-profile inmates who can afford bullpen of legal and medical experts.” More cases to come? represented Griggs. Michael R. Ray from Hartsville, non-attorney who assisted with Griggs’ defense, said that this was the first case in the District of South Carolina where an inmate received compassionate release for release under the First Step Act,defendant,” Ray said. “Judge Coggins didn’t think he deserved to be out, he served long enough, but he couldn’t turn blind eye to the dangers facing [Griggs] if he stayed in prison.” The order could be the first of many in the state, with lawsuit recently filed by the ACLU on behalf of incarcerated individuals at risk of serious harm or death from COVID-19 due to-ty Detention Center such as allowing free, unlimited access to soap, disinfecting cleaners, and personal protective equipment, as well as requiring social distancing six feet, with enforcement. guilty to charges of fraud and began serving 24-year prison sentence in 2008. Mount Pleasant attorney Cameron Jane Blazer handling Parish’s appeal and will point to the Griggs depossess the ability to protect the people who are there from this or other kinds of health issues arising out of institutionalized settings,” Blazer said. The Associated Press In a first, COVID-19 concerns lead to compassionate release for inmate 2020 Reprinted with permission of North Carolina Lawyers Weekly © 2020 Evan Meyer Slavitt Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary AVX Corporation Greenville Evan Meyer Slavitt believes lawyers must lead with an eye toward the values of the profession and the next generation of lawyers that will follow them. “Being a leader is more than just an operational job. It requires strong ethical and teaching component,” he says. Slavitt grew up on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and enjoyed participating in the Harwich Junior Theatre, an organization that relied on participating children to act, build the sets, run lighting and sound, work on costumes, and perform other chores. In that environment, the adults expected the kids to be responsible and professional. “I think this approach was essential to my later academic and professional success,” he says. “Further, got a chance to fly on stage as John in Peter Pan and to play Templeton the Rat in Charlotte’s Web,” he says. Slavitt earned Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in economics from Yale University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review. He is senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary at AVX Corporation, a global manufacturing facility in Greenville. He is also commercial, environmental, and appellate panel member for the American Arbitration Association. He points to Bob Sylvia as his most important mentor who taught him lessons about how to be an effective trial lawyer. “Bob was a partner in a law firm joined when went into private practice,” Slavitt says. “In addition to his technical coaching, he helped me understand how to find joy in the grind of litigation and how to manage the stress of private practice.” If Slavitt had not become a lawyer, he likely would have pursued a career in economics because “economics is both intellectually challenging and has real-world implications,” he says. His first job at a bakery, which required him to go to work at a.m. every day, taught him to find joy in his work. “The lead baker was always there when arrived, and had been for some time,” Slavitt says. “He never complained because he loved what he did and showed me the important of finding work that you love, because that diminishes all the ancillary problems.” While Slavitt cites managing work/ life balance as one of his biggest career challenges, he draws from advice his Latin teacher gave him to put things in perspective. “He said ‘don’t sweat the small stuff,’” he recalls. “Just because something is immediate, doesn’t mean it is important. When there were chores to do at home, they sometimes didn’t get done because taking my kids to the park was more important.” When Slavitt takes a vacation, he enjoys visiting islands in the Caribbean where his cell phone doesn’t work, and where he can simply sit on the beach with fruity beverage. Some people may not know that Slavitt likes to relax by doing needlepoint, and he has published a novel titled Death of Prosecutor.