George M. Hearn, Jr.

Merritt G. Abney is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Merritt G., who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Merritt G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A Charleston native, Jim returned to his beloved hometown after practicing at two firms ranked in American Lawyer’s top 50 list. Jim leads the firm’s business law practice. He works regularly with corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships on shareholder buy-outs, private securities offerings , and business purchase and sale agreements , including business succession issues. His practice areas include: Securities and Private Equity Corporate Transactions Business ...

Ryan attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration. He received his law degree from the Charleston School of Law, where he co-founded the Charleston School of Law Business Society. He was also a member of the Charleston School of Law’s Honor Council and its Moot Court Team. Ryan has been listed as a Rising Star Super Lawyer from 2016 to the present. He has enjoyed a 10.0 Avvo Rating since 2017 and was honored with the Avvo Cl...

Mr. Templeton’s practice focuses upon complex litigation matters involving products liability, insurance coverage, bad faith, construction, and serious injuries. He has tried more than 50 cases to verdict. He has argued appeals in the Fourth Circuit, South Carolina Supreme Court, and South Carolina Court of Appeals. Mr. Templeton has more than 20 reported decisions from trial courts and appellate courts in state and federal court. Mr. Templeton has served as a faculty member of the Sout...

R. Bryant McCulley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. R. Bryant, who practices law in North Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Bryant is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael E. Elsner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Aviation Law, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Michael E., who practices law in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geograp...

David Swanson handles large and small commercial and residential property matters at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, representing owners, developers and financial institutions as well as many sellers and buyers of plantation properties in coastal South Carolina. David represents financial institutions and other lenders in all aspects of commercial loan transactions, including the drafting of loan documents and due diligence review of all information relevant to the borrower and guarantors.

As a strong advocate for the most defenseless members of society, Kimberly Barone Baden seeks accountability and compensation for victims of corporate misconduct, medical negligence and harmful medical drugs. She manages mass tort pharmaceutical litigation through complex personal injury and economic damages cases. Kimberly represents veterans, their families and civilians who were exposed to contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune and were subsequently diagnosed with cancers and...

A member of the Management Committee and co-head of the Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring group, Cynthia Lowery brings more than 30 years’ experience to her practice. She is a frequent speaker on creditor’s rights, and she brings her wide-ranging clients sophisticated counsel in collections and creditor’s rights, including bankruptcy, restructures, foreclosures, and execution of judgments. A South Carolina Supreme Court certified specialist in bankruptcy and debtor/cr...

Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 35 years. In 2023, his law school alma mater renamed the school the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Corporate Legal Times reported that defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation's “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ law...