Katon E. Dawson Jr.

Jordan Crapps is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Securities. Jordan, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jordan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Weston Adams III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Energy Regulatory Law, Litigation - Environmental and Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy). Weston, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Weston is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

John E. Cuttino Cuttino is a Partner in GWB’s Columbia, South Carolina, office. He has 32 years of experience as a trial attorney in the state and federal courts of South Carolina. John has handled cases in 40 of South Carolina’s 46 counties, in all Divisions of U.S. District Court in South Carolina, and has tried more than 75 cases to verdict. His practice is focused on the litigation of a variety of matters including class actions, design and construction defects, toxic and mass...

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...

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...

Kelley Shull Cannon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Kelley Shull, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kelley Shull is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A deeply experienced trial attorney who has long fought for clients in court and beyond, Ashley Pennington is committed to protecting the rights of others and determined to see systemic reform. A long-time criminal defense attorney, his practice now focuses on civil rights law, such as federal Section 1983 Civil Rights lawsuits and South Carolina Tort Claims that allow victims of government wrongdoing to recover damages. These actions include personal injury lawsuits and cases involving exces...

Foster Girard leads Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Corporate Practice Group out of the Columbia office, and concentrates his practice on corporate finance and commercial transactions. Foster represents buyers, sellers and developers in real estate matters, and serves as lender's counsel. He also advises on a number of financing documents and commercial contracts involving goods, services and commercial real estate.

A founding partner of Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, Kathleen McDaniel helps businesses large and small get the permits they need through her practice of environmental and government law. In many of these cases, clients benefit from her unusual combination of legal skills, a scientific background and government experience. Kathleen holds a bachelor's degree in aquaculture, fisheries, and wildlife and a master's in forestry with a focus on stream ecology. She's also a past member of the Richla...