KatieCatherine H. "Katie" McElveen

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...

Jay S. Claypoole IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law and Timber Law. Jay S., who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jay S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elizabeth Wieters is a Partner in our Charleston, South Carolina office. She focuses her practice on insurance coverage and construction litigation. Elizabeth represents insurance carriers as their coverage counsel under various lines of insurance. She handles complex matters that implicate coverage defenses. She also represents insurer clients in declaratory judgment actions in state and federal court and defends insurance carriers in coverage litigation. Elizabeth represents general contrac...

Newman Jackson Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law, Government Relations Practice, Litigation - Environmental and Water Law. Newman Jackson, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 1993. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Newman Jackson is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elizabeth Middleton Burke uses the law and science to help people injured by pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices and other medical errors. Burke proudly advocates on behalf of consumers who rely on the pharmaceutical industry for safe and effective treatments. As a member of RPWB’s pharmaceutical and medical device team, she enjoys the challenge of investigating, organizing and litigating science-based cases for the benefit of clients who were not warned about the serious side effects...

As a member of Butler Snow’s commercial litigation group, Robert focuses his practice on complex civil litigation for a range of business clients including large corporations, small businesses, manufacturers, real estate owners and developers and trustees. He handles jury and non-jury cases throughout the country and has appeared before the North Carolina and South Carolina Courts of Appeals and Supreme Courts, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Chris Adams is an experienced and aggressive South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney. Chris concentrates in criminal defense in federal and state courts. Chris concentrates on defending clients accused of white collar crimes, street crimes, sex offenses, and capital murder in the South and around the country. Since launching his private practice in 2007, Chris has represented clients in serious matters from Las Vegas to New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, the bulk of his practic...

R. Bryant McCulley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. R. Bryant, who practices law in North Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which R. Bryant is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lesley Firestone advises clients on a wide range of environmental matters, including permitting, regulatory compliance, and transactional support for the acquisition and development of contaminated properties. She also provides strategic counsel on environmental liability considerations in business transactions. Lesley regularly represents clients before the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services in matters involving Brownfield Agreements, underground storage tanks, solid waste r...

David T. Pearlman is the managing partner at Steinberg Law Firm and has been with Steinberg since 1976. He became partner in 1980 and handles workers' compensation and personal injury cases. David received his law degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1976 and has been an active member of the South Carolina Bar Association for over 40 years. He is a past recipient of the Gedney M. Howe Jr. Award for Outstanding Public Service and a 2011 and 2017 honorable recipient of the...