Shaun Kent

Originally from Mullins, South Carolina, Mitch has practiced law for more than 38 years. Mitch began his practice as an attorney with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, where he was engaged in facets of rate, compliance, safety and operational regulation of regulated utilities, telecommunications companies, and transportation carriers. Since entering private practice in 1977, Mitch has assisted clients in matters involving litigation of business and contractual disputes; class a...

Jessica W. Laffitte is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Jessica W., 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 Jessica W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

J. Mark Jones is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. J. Mark, who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which J. Mark is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Stephen Suggs is an attorney with Stewart Law Offices in Columbia, South Carolina, where he represents individuals and families in complex civil litigation. For more than 20 years, Stephen has focused his legal career on advocating for people rather than corporations, with an emphasis on holding wrongdoers accountable through the civil justice system. Stephen began his career representing victims of medical malpractice, gaining valuable experience in cases involving serious injuries and wrong...

Dayne Phillips is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Dayne, 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 Dayne is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fred Manning is a partner in the firm's Columbia office. He has extensive experience litigating employment law matters involving civil rights, contracts, and wrongful termination claims. He regularly provides advice and assistance to employers regarding the drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, employment contracts and corrective action. Fred has assisted employers throughout the United States in union related matters. He also has extensive experience in representing private coll...

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,...

Steve Matthews is a shareholder in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office. Steve is experienced in transactional negotiation and documentation, as well as trial and appellate advocacy, involving intellectual property, constitutional law, utilities regulation, mergers and acquisitions, privacy and data security, governmental structures and powers, administrative procedures, corporate governance, securities regulation, trade regulation and advertising, corporate and government finance, healt...

Bill Boyd is an experienced corporate attorney and shareholder in Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Columbia office. Bill counsels clients on business strategies, manages complex transactions and has managed numerous mergers and acquisitions and large-scale industrial development projects.