Russell A. Blanchard IV

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...

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...

Gray T. Culbreath Gray Culbreath represents corporations, individuals and insurers in trials and appeals. For almost 30 years he has handled complex trials and appeals in federal and state courts across South Carolina. His career has taken Gray from Army courtrooms to every federal and state courthouse in South Carolina. His principal areas of practice include all types of complex commercial and class action litigation, including antitrust, product liability and mass tort as well as claims of...

A skilled attorney with more than a decade's experience, Janet represents clients in employment law cases in South Carolina and federal courts. She has litigated issues involving the the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act. She’s represented clients facing age discrimination, equal pay issues, wrongful termination, wage disputes and contract disputes, and . She has extensive experience drafting employment agreements, severance ...

A special counsel at Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, civil rights attorney Stuart Andrews brings determination and intensity to every case. He’s devoted decades to bringing about systemic reform and giving lower-income South Carolinians greater access to the courts, both through the clients he's represented and the policies he's helped put in place. Through his former practice at a large regional law firm, Stuart established the firm's first structured pro bono program. The effort earned...

Charles T. ("Ted") Speth II is the Managing Shareholder of the firm's Columbia, South Carolina, office. He has concentrated his practice in employment-related litigation matters during his entire legal career. Ted has successfully defended employers in state and federal litigation throughout the United States. He has devoted a significant amount of time over the last decade to the representation of clients in class action litigation. Ted also provides training and preventive advice to employe...

A skilled and experienced litigator, Joe’s practice at Lewis Babcock includes eminent domain, business disputes and fiduciary negligence. He also represents clients in appeals. He’s an affiliate member of the Owners’ Counsel of America, an invitation-only national group of eminent domain attorneys who represent landowners.Joe came to Lewis Babcock after serving as a prosecutor in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. He prosecuted a range of cases, including f...

James K. Lehman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Mergers and Acquisitions and Litigation - Securities. James K., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2009. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

George Reeves is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Labor Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. George, 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 George is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Elizabeth Franklin-Best is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Elizabeth, 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 Elizabeth is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.