Derek Shoemake

A founding partner of Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, Kathleen McDaniel helps businesses large and small get the permits they need through her practice of environmental and government law. In many of these cases, clients benefit from her unusual combination of legal skills, a scientific background and government experience. Kathleen holds a bachelor's degree in aquaculture, fisheries, and wildlife and a master's in forestry with a focus on stream ecology. She's also a past member of the Richla...

Benjamin Gooding is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law - Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants and Utilities Law. Benjamin, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice ...

Former Commissioner Derrick L. Williams is one of the youngest-ever to be appointed to the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. He was appointed in March 2007, and he served until January 31, 2013, when he decided to return to private practice. He is responsible for spear-heading the effort to make mediation of workers’ compensation available for complex injury by accident cases in South Carolina. Prior to joining the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissi...

CIVIC/PROFESSIONAL ORDER OF THE PALMETTO (State of South Carolina's Highest Civilian Award) Life Fellow: South Carolina Bar Foundation Past Co-Chair: Class Gift and Reunion Committee, USC Law School Past Chair: SSF Section of the South Carolina Bar Association Past Member, House of Delegates: South Carolina Bar Association Leadership Columbia: Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce Leadership South Carolina: USC and Office of the Governor Past Member, Loan Administration Committee, Mortgage Ban...

Andrew L. Johnson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Andrew L., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Andrew L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cory E. Manning is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities. Cory E., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Cory E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John T. Lay is a partner at Gallivan White & Boyd at the firm's Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, offices. He has over 30 years of experience managing complex, high-stakes litigation for clients, and has tried more than 100 cases to verdict. John T. has been recognized since 2008. John T. has handled appeals at the South Carolina Court of Appeals, the South Carolina Supreme Court, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His practice includes class acti...

A certified specialist in employment and labor law since 1993, M. Malissa Burnette has an extensive history of working toward workplace and social justice. She also has a wealth of experience in family law, personal injury, sexual harassment and discrimination law as well. She practices in state and federal courts, primarily representing individuals in complex employment cases involving discrimination, civil and constitutional rights, breach of contract, covenants to not compete, employment-r...

D. Larry Kristinik III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities. D. Larry, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. Larry is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Grady focuses his practice on workers’ compensation, workers’ compensation mediation and appellate advocacy. He is a co-author of The Law of Workers’ Compensation Insurance in South Carolina, Sixth Edition, a comprehensive book analyzing this complex area of law. Grady is a Fellow in The College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers and is a member of the National Workers’ Compensation Defense Network. He serves on the Board of the South Carolina Workers' Compensation...