John T. Lay, Jr.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2008 Awarded Practice Areas
Insurance Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Columbia, SC.
Awarded Practice Areas
Insurance Law Bet-the-Company Litigation Commercial Litigation Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Columbia, SC.
Biography
Locations
Education
- The University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., graduated 1991
- Davidson College, BA, graduated 1987
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
- Unites States Supreme Court
- United States District Court of South Carolina
- United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Affiliations
- American Bar Association - Member
- American Board of Trial Advocates - Past President
- Association of Defense Trial Attorneys - Member
- Defense Research Institute - Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Committees
- International Association of Defense Counsel - Past President
- Richland County Bar - Member
- South Carolina Bar - Member
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association - Past President
Client Testimonials
Awards & Focus
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
- Insurance Law, Columbia, SC (2026)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Columbia, SC (2025)
- Bet-the-Company Litigation, Columbia, SC (2024)
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, Columbia, SC (2022)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Columbia, SC (2020)
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Columbia, SC (2019)
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Columbia, SC (2018)
- Insurance Law, Columbia, SC (2017)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
- Bet-the-Company Litigation
- Commercial Litigation
- Insurance Law
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants
- Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants
- Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
Additional Areas of Practice:
- Banking and Finance Law
- Product Liability Litigation
- Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants
Awards:
- Greater Columbia Business Monthly's Legal Elite, 2010 & 2011
- 2010 Leadership in Law Award - South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
- 2010 Fred H. Sievert Award - Defense Research Institute (National Award)
- 2009 Exceptional Performance Citation - Defense Research Institute
- Best Lawyers in America, 2008 to Present (Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Product Liability)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers, 2008 to Present
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