Karl A. Folkens

Nick is a litigator focusing his practice in workers’ compensation defense. He has experience representing businesses, insurance companies, captives, third-party administrators and self-insured employers before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Nick serves on the planning committee for the Annual Medical Conference of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, and places a...

Biff Sowell is a Columbia, South Carolina, attorney with Sowell & DuRant LLC . His practice includes trial and appellate litigation, complex commercial disputes, trust and estate litigation, and mediation. He has argued approximately 20 cases before the United States Courts of Appeals and has represented clients in state and federal courts. Biff is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. He is a South Carolina Circuit Court Media...

Michael focuses his litigation practice in areas involving premises liability, automobile and trucking torts, insurance coverage, and products liability. He also has experience in handling construction matters, defending medical malpractice claims, and litigation involving administrative agencies. Michael enjoys mentoring first-year law students at the University of South Carolina School of Law and also oversees the firm’s law clerk program. He is a member of the executive committee for...

Phillips McWilliams is a litigator who makes sure he understands his client’s business objectives. He provides a tailored approach to each issue or case a client brings to him with the goal of ensuring the client can reach those objectives, thus ensuring a satisfactory result. Ultimately, he understands that each company he represents is a business that serves the community and the company can only continue its business if he works to find creative, long-term solutions to their problems...

Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Bernard F. practices law in Columbia, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr. since 2001. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Bernard F. Hawkins, Jr. is held by other lawyers.

Roopal Ruparelia, a shareholder and insurance defense attorney in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office, heads a robust general civil litigation practice, with greater emphasis on the defense of both personal injury and construction defect claims in a variety of contexts.

Michael assists clients with commercial bankruptcy, insolvency, restructuring, and creditors' rights issues, and has significant experience in complex Chapter 11 cases. Michael represents financially distressed companies as well as lenders, landlords, trade creditors, trustees and creditors' committees in bankruptcy, insolvency and loan workout matters. Michael has assisted and advised clients in connection with general reorganization matters, workouts, use of cash collateral, efforts to conv...

Christopher Lee Boguski is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Construction. Christopher Lee practices law in Columbia, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Christopher Lee Boguski since 2025. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Christopher Lee Boguski is held by other lawyers.

Luther J. Battiste, III is a founding shareholder of Johnson, Toal & Battiste, P.A., and the past National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates 2020. He received his B.A. from the University of South Carolina (1971) and JD from Emory University School of Law (1974). In 1983, Luther entered the political arena and made history by becoming one of the first two African-Americans elected to Columbia City Council since Reconstruction. He served fifteen years as a member of the Co...

Jarrett Coco is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Electronic Discovery and Information Management Law. Jarrett practices law in Columbia, South Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Jarrett Coco since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jarrett Coco is held by other lawyers.