Joseph D. "Joe" Walker

Benton Williamson is a shareholder and real estate attorney in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office where he focuses his practice on structuring complex legal deals efficiently and effectively to meet his clients' goals. He also advises multinational companies and investors on environmental, leasing and acquisition issues in numerous states and foreign countries.

A skilled attorney with more than a decade's experience, Janet represents clients in employment law cases in South Carolina and federal courts. She has litigated issues involving the the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She’s represented clients facing age discrimination, equal pay issues, wrongful termination, wage disputes and contract disputes, and . She has extensive experience drafting employment agreements, severance ...

A certified specialist in labor and employment law, Nekki Shutt has been involved in the employment / human resources field for more than 20 years, beginning with her work in the personnel department of a publicly-traded property and casualty insurance company. While working for the company before and during her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina, Nekki eventually became the company's corporate recruiter, responsible for hiring approximately 225 employees on an annual b...

Fred Manning is a partner in the firm's Columbia office. He has extensive experience litigating employment law matters involving civil rights, contracts, and wrongful termination claims. He regularly provides advice and assistance to employers regarding the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, employment contracts and corrective action. Fred has assisted employers throughout the United States in union related matters. He also has extensive experience in representing private coll...

Jon Pearson is a partner in the firm's Columbia office. His practice emphasizes employment litigation of all types before state and federal courts, as well as traditional labor law. He has handled lawsuits and administrative charges involving wrongful discharge, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as well as many other types of employment-based claims. Jon has al...

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.

Bess DuRant is a litigator engaged in complex business disputes on both the trial and appellate level. Her practice includes corporate governance issues, bet-the-company litigation, shareholder disputes, derivative actions, along with other business torts and contractual disputes. Bess' practice also includes trust and estate litigation. Additionally, Bess focuses on Constitutional issues, Freedom of Information Act matters, and election disputes. Bess’ practice includes appellate work ...

Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Bernard F., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bernard F. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mary Caskey is a Certified Bankruptcy and Debtor-Creditor Law Specialist and leads Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Recovery practice group. Mary represents national and regional banks, loan servicers and other financial service providers in a variety of issues including foreclosures, collections, adversary proceedings, workouts and loss mitigation, judgment collection and alleged violations of state and federal consumer law.

Frank's practice is focused on utility-related regulation and litigation, with an emphasis on matters involving the electricity and telecommunications industries. He also has significant experience in a range of environmental law issues. His work in the utilities industry has included issues involving electricity, telephone, gas and water regulation before the South Carolina Public Service Commission, where he has appeared for 30 years. In the environmental field his experience includes resol...