Tina Cundari

Tina is a member of the firm and practices in the areas of commercial litigation, professional liability and ethics, securities and FINRA, and appellate advocacy. She has tried cases in state and federal court and in alternative dispute resolution forums, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Tina has written numerous appellate briefs on a wide range of issues and has argued before state and federal appellate courts.

Tina represents individuals and entities in disputes involving allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, shareholder oppression, and business torts. She represents lawyers and law firms in cases involving allegations of legal malpractice. She represents government entities and individuals in cases involving constitutional issues. Tina’s experience also includes representing lawyers before the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, and financial advisors and brokers before FINRA’s enforcement department.

Tina maintains an active pro bono practice, representing indigent clients in consumer, landlord-tenant, family, and criminal law cases.

Prior to joining the firm, Tina clerked for the Honorable Jean Hoefer Toal, Chief Justice of South Carolina Supreme Court, and taught legal writing to first-year law students at the University of South Carolina School of Law.

EDUCATION

• College of Charleston, B.A. in English, Honors College Graduate, 1996
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, J.D., 2003

ASSOCIATIONS

• South Carolina Bar
• John Belton O'Neall American Inn of Court
• Richland County Bar Association
• South Carolina Women Lawyers Association

JUDICIAL CLERKSHIPS

• The Honorable Jean Hoefer Toal, Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court (2003-2005)
• The Honorable Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (April-July 2010)

OFFICES

• Chair, South Carolina Bar, Section on Trial and Appellate Advocacy
• Past President and Member, John Belton O’Neall American Inn of Court
• Member, South Carolina Supreme Court's Docket Management Task Force
• Former Co-Chair, South Carolina Bar Cinderella Project

AWARDS

• South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year (2016)
• Columbia Regional Business Report "Women to Watch" Honoree (2016)
• Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, 2017), Appellate Practice (2016-2019), Commercial Litigation (2018-2019)
• South Carolina "Super Lawyer" Business Litigation (2016-2018)
• South Carolina “Super Lawyer” Rising Star, Business Litigation (2012- 2014)
• Leadership in Law, South Carolina Lawyers Weekly (2015)
• 20 Under 40, The State Newspaper (2012)

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

• Panelist, "Technology: New Frontier in Legal Malpractice?" Current Issues in Legal Malpractice, South Carolina Bar CLE, Columbia, South Carolina (Dec 2017)
• Co-Presenter, "Professional Liability in the Age of Social Media," Meritas U.S./Canada Litigation and Labor & Employment Group Joint Fall Meeting (Oct 2017)
• Panelist, "Appellate Practice in South Carolina," South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, Columbia, South Carolina (Sept 2017)
• Course Planner and Moderator, "The Art (and Science) of Advocacy," South Carolina Bar Convention, Greenville, South Carolina (Jan 2017)
• Author, "Arbitrating a Case in the FINRA Forum," SC Lawyer (Nov 2016)
• Panelist, “Brief Writing and Record Compiling from a Practitioner’s Perspective,” The South Carolina Lawyer’s Guide to Appellate Practice, South Carolina Bar CLE, Columbia, South Carolina (Feb. 2016)
• Contributing Author, Madam Chief Justice (USC Press 2015)
• Panelist, “So You Want to Be a Partner?”, South Carolina Women Lawyer’s Association, Columbia, South Carolina (Mar. 2014)
• Presenter, “Ten Tips for Persuasive Legal Writing,” South Carolina Bar Convention, Kiawah (Jan. 2014)
• Panelist, “Discovery in the World of Social Media,” Hide and Seek: A Practitioner’s Guide to Ethical and Effective Discovery Practices, Sowell Gray CLE Series, Columbia, South Carolina (Jan. 2014)
• Presenter, “Transitioning into the Private Practice of Law,” presented to the law clerks and staff attorneys of the South Carolina Supreme Court and the South Carolina Court of Appeals, Columbia, South Carolina (Dec. 2013)
• Panelist, “Pro Bono Administrators,” South Carolina Pro Bono Summit, Columbia, South Carolina (Oct. 2013)
• Panelist and Moderator, Keep Calm and Appeal On: Appellate Practice in South Carolina, Sowell Gray CLE Series, Columbia, South Carolina (Jan. 2013)
• Panelist, “In the Trenches,” South Carolina Pro Bono Summit, Columbia, South Carolina (Oct. 2012)
• Presenter, “How to Succeed in a Mid-Size Firm,” Bridge the Gap, South Carolina Bar (Aug. 2012)
• Presenter, “Writing Matters: Simple Ways to Make Your Written Work Better,” South Carolina Bar Convention, Columbia, South Carolina (Jan. 2012)
• Moderator, “Avoiding Legal Malpractice Claims,” Legal Ethics and Professional Liability: New Tactics for Small Firms and Solo Practitioners, Sowell Gray CLE Series, Columbia, South Carolina (Jan. 2011)
• Co-Author, “Who Can Stay and Who Must Go: The Tension Between Witness Sequestration and the Right of Crime Victims to Be Present,” 21 S.C. Law. 38 (Mar. 2010)
• Presenter, “Freedom of Information Act,” Government Law Section, South Carolina Bar, Columbia, South Carolina (June 2008)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• 20 Years Strong Service Project: Helping Sistercare
• Member, College of Charleston Foundation Board
• Member, Advisory Board for the Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough Center on Professionalism
• Former Chair and Member, Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Columbia
• Former President and Member, Shandon Neighborhood Council
• Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce
• South Carolina Chamber of Commerce