Lana H. Sims, Jr.

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...

Curtis L. Ott

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 ...

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...

Chris Hart , a dedicated attorney located in Columbia, South Carolina, brings his perseverance and commitment to Hart Law . Growing up in South Carolina, Chris learned the value of hard work early on. With his mother managing multiple jobs to support the family and his father working as a bus driver for Greyhound Bus Lines, Chris was instilled with values that guided him to serve his community. In his senior year of high school, Chris joined the military, and just six months after graduation,...

Biff is an experienced litigator in both trial and appellate venues and has argued approximately twenty cases in the United States Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. An honoree for the 2016 South Carolina Leadership in Law Awards, Biff has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. He is a certified Circuit Court Mediator and in the last 30 years has mediated approximate...

Gibbs Leaphart is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Gibbs, 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 Gibbs is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Cara Crotty is a partner who has defended employers in cases involving every aspect of the employment relationship, including claims such as sexual, racial, age, and disability harassment; discrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, disability, and national origin; retaliation; and various other federal and state law claims. Cara Crotty also represents federal contractors covered by Executive Order 11246 in their affirmative action compliance obligations by assisting with Plan preparation ...

A partner at Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, Jack focuses on employment law, civil rights, appeals, and administrative law. A highly experienced litigator, he's successfully challenged agencies and policies, winning in trial and appellate courts as well as before state and federal government agencies. Jack battles tirelessly to remove barriers for clients. This includes seeking criminal record expungement and pardons, working to correct errors in criminal records, reinstating driver’s li...

Hank received his primary education from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and graduated from Washington and Lee University, after receiving a four year Army ROTC Scholarship. He completed his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and thereafter served active duty in the United States Army, working initially the Attorney Honors Program in the Office of Chief Counsel, United States Army Corps of Engineers in Washington, D.C. Hank was subsequently ass...