Joseph D. "Joe" Walker

A native of Turbeville, South Carolina, Joey attended The Citadel, where he received a B.S. degree in Civil Engineering in 1997. After graduation, Joey moved to Augusta, Georgia, to work as a Consulting Engineer with the engineering firm of Cranston Robertson & Whitehurst. In this position, Joey had the opportunity to observe and participate in designing various public and private construction projects while also earning his Engineer in Training Certification. After gaining invaluable exp...

Robert S. Wood is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Robert S., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Eric A. Paine is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Eric A., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Eric A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hagood Tighe is a partner in the firm's Columbia office. He practices exclusively in the area of labor and employment law, representing management in traditional labor matters and employment litigation. Hagood is a member of the firm's class and collective action group. In recent years, Hagood has handled approximately 25-30 class and collective actions throughout the country. The vast majority of his class and collective experience is in the wage and hour area.While he maintains an active li...

Charles T. ("Ted") Speth II is the Managing Shareholder of the firm's Columbia, South Carolina, office. He has concentrated his practice in employment-related litigation matters during his entire legal career. Ted has successfully defended employers in state and federal litigation throughout the United States. He has devoted a significant amount of time over the last decade to the representation of clients in class action litigation. Ted also provides training and preventive advice to employe...

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...

Ariail B. Kirk is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Health Care Law and Litigation - Health Care. Ariail B., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ariail B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen is proud to represent people in his practice. For 20 years, he has worked for people instead of corporations. First, as a young lawyer he worked for victims of medical malpractice. He took some time away from for profit practice to work with a civil rights non-profit bringing litigation to end discriminatory practices, to prevent utilities from constantly raising prices for electric service and to make sure the unemployed had access to necessary benefits. After ten years, he found a p...

Stephen Mitchell is managing partner of the firm's Columbia office. His practice emphasizes traditional labor law and employment litigation. Steve started his career as a prosecutor, gaining valuable trial experience. He has handled administrative charges and lawsuits in state and federal courts involving wrongful discharge, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), Family and Medical Leave A...

Bill practices primarily in the areas of corporate and commercial workouts, bankruptcy and real estate transactions. He is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Law by the SC Supreme Court and primarily represents creditors and other parties in real estate development, asset-based financing and other commercial workout and bankruptcy matters. Because of his transactional, commercial finance and real estate background, he has extensive experience representing purchasers of a...