J. Howard Yates, Jr.

Jim Sullivan always knew he wanted to become an attorney, but didn’t take the direct route to get there. Instead, Jim taught English at James Island Charter High School for five years before attending law school. Upon graduation in 2008, Jim joined Howser, Newman, & Besley in their Charleston office. Jim’s practice primarily involves cases involving construction defect litigation, personal injury defense, and complex insurance coverage issues such as bad faith claims. Addition...

As a South Carolina trial lawyer I represent clients in a wide range of matters, from wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, and premises liability cases to sexual harassment. I represent innocent people who have been wronged, and my role is to hold responsible parties accountable. A premises liability case arises when a powerful entity has knowledge of a defect that could needlessly cause physical harm or death, for example, a trip hazard or a fire hazard, but the entity fails to miti...

Gregg S. Levin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. Gregg S., 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 Gregg S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Badge Humphries is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Badge, who practices law in Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Badge is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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.

Lionel S. Lofton was born and raised in McClellanville, South Carolina, where he still resides. In 1963, he graduated from McClellanville High School, where his mother taught school. During his senior year, he was named to the Post and Courier's All-Star Basketball Team, which he still talks about to this day. Following graduation, Mr. Lofton enrolled a the University of Georgia to study forestry. Following a year at UGA, he transferred to Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina, w...

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...

A CNN Analyst and former U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General, Mary Schiavo seeks accountability and industry change from corporations, institutions and the government so that they may meet their obligation to protect the safety and security of the traveling public. With years of experience in transportation litigation, Mary represents victims and their families suffering from negligence of airline, automotive, commercial trucking, motorcoach and rail companies. A leader of the...

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...