Mia Lauren Maness

Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 35 years. In 2023, his law school alma mater renamed the school the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Corporate Legal Times reported that defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation's “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ law...

Clay M Grayson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) and Nonprofit / Charities Law. Clay M, who practices law in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Clay M is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

J. Blanton O'Neal IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Blanton, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Blanton is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jenny Quattlebaum is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Collaborative Law: Family Law and Family Law. Jenny, who practices law in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jenny is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Patrick Jennings has been an attorney at Joye Law Firm's Charleston office since January of 2007. He works in Joye Law Firm's workers’ compensation department, where he has represented hundreds of injured workers. The son of a teacher/coach and a nurse, he grew up seeing his parents helping others, and he brings that approach to his legal practice. He understands that the people coming through the door need his help and understanding.

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...

D. Alan Westerlund, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. D. Alan, who practices law in Charleston, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which D. Alan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Professional Experience Nathan Crystal is a scholar and a practicing attorney. He has advised individuals and entities, including major law firms, on matters of contract law and professional ethics and has lectured throughout the world on these subjects. He frequently serves as expert witness or consultant in multimillion dollar cases. Nathan Crystal is a Class of 1969 Professor Emeritus of Professional Responsibility and Contract Law, University of South Carolina. He taught for 34 years at t...

A. Hoyt Rowell III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs. A. Hoyt, who practices law in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A. Hoyt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

As a South Carolina trial lawyer I represent clients in a wide range of matters, from wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, and premises liability cases to sexual harassment. I represent innocent people who have been wronged, and my role is to hold responsible parties accountable. A premises liability case arises when a powerful entity has knowledge of a defect that could needlessly cause physical harm or death, for example, a trip hazard or a fire hazard, but the entity fails to miti...