Name Organization Speaking At
Amy Gaffney
Amy L. Gaffney is an attorney practicing with Strom Law Firm and she practices in the area of general litigation with an emphasis on employment and tort litigation and mediation. Ms. Gaffney is based in the firm's Charleston office.
Strom Law Firm, LLC
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C. Stricklin
C. Vance Stricklin, Jr., was elected to fill the unexpired term of the Honorable Dorothy Mobley Jones in February 2020 and sworn in on March 24, 2020. He is a former partner in the Moore Taylor Law Firm, P.A. and served two years as the managing partner. His practice focused primarily on family law, including domestic litigation. Prior to private practice, he was an Assistant Public Defender, primarily representing juveniles in Family Court. He has been practicing in the Family Courts for over 25 years.
A Dreher High School graduate, Judge Stricklin graduated from Winthrop College with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy/Religion, and in 1994, graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
He has served as the Past President of the Lexington County Bar, and Past Chair of the South Carolina Bar Family Law Section Counsel. He was a member of the South Carolina Bar Family Law Section Council, South Carolina Supreme Court Docket Task Force, and was the co-chair for the South Carolina Bar Family Law Section Council's Subcommittee on Alimony. Judge Stricklin also served for several years as a member of the Lexington County Public Defender Board, and was a long-time member of the South Carolina Association of Justice.
Over the years, he was named several times as one of the Midlands Legal Elite by the Columbia Business Monthly magazine and has been selected by his peers as one of the Super Lawyers by Super Lawyer magazine for multiple years. Judge Stricklin is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars on the topic of family law.
S.C. Judicial Branch
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Cyril Rush
Tripp Rush practices with his father, Cy Rush in Columbia, SC at The Rush Law Firm. A graduate of AC Flora high school, Tripp attended Presbyterian College and earned an undergraduate degree in history in 2009. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2013. Tripp and his wife, Sara Beth, live in Columbia, South Carolina and have two children. Since starting practice in 2013, Tripp has worked almost exclusively in the area of family law.
The Rush Law Firm, LLC
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D. Nichole Davis
D. Nichole Davis is a personal injury attorney at McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A. in Lexington, South Carolina. Prior to joining the firm, she served as Risk Management Director at the South Carolina Bar and as Director of the South Carolina Supreme Court’s Lawyer Mentoring Program. She litigated child abuse and neglect cases on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Social Services, and she clerked for the Honorable Clifton Newman.
She is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Professionalism, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, the planning committee for the ABA National Conference on Professional Responsibility, the South Carolina Black Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Bar Ethics Advisory Committee, the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, the South Carolina Bar Professional Responsibility Committee, the Society for Diversity, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society, the South Carolina Bar Judicial Qualifications Committee, and the University of South Carolina Alumni Association.
McWhirter Bellinger & Associates, PA
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David Kunes
David Kunes is a partner at the law firm of Evans, Carter, Kunes & Bennett in Charleston. He attended Davidson College where he graduated with a degree in Economics. David completed his law degree at the University of South Carolina in 2007 and obtained a Masters Degree in Tax Law at NYU in 2010. David has been active with the Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Section of the South Carolina Bar since 2015 and is currently the Chair-Elect. The Supreme Court of South Carolina has certified David as a Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. David has previously presented lectures on topics ranging from property taxation to grantor trusts.
Evans Carter Kunes & Bennett, PA
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Gwendlyne Jones
Judge Gwendlyne Young Jones was born in Greenville, South Carolina. She grew up in Duncan, South Carolina and graduated from James F. Byrnes High School. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from University of South Carolina and her Law Degree from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law in 1989.
Upon graduation from Law School, Judge Jones worked as an Assistant Public Defender at the Richland County Public Defender's office from 1989 until 1995. While there, she served as Interim Chief Public Defender and supervised the juvenile division of the office.
After her service as an Assistant Public Defender, Judge Jones opened a private practice. Her primary areas of practice were family and criminal law and she represented clients in a number of matters, including divorce, child custody, abuse and neglect, adoption and a broad range of criminal matters. Judge Jones received a Kellogg grant with the Department of Social Services pursuant to which she managed the representation of the Agency in the termination of parental rights for five counties. Judge Jones was elected to the Richland County Family Court on February 3, 2010.
Judge Jones is admitted to practice in State and Federal Court in South Carolina and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She has also been an active member of the community, having severed on the Boards of Directors of the South Carolina Community Bank, South Carolina Legal Services, and the South Carolina Afterschool Alliance. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar, Richland County Bar Association, South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, and South Carolina Black Lawyers Association.
An active member of Francis Burns United Methodist Church, she has served on the Trustee Board, Pastor Parish Relations Board, Lay Visitation Team and Choir. Judge Jones is a member of Jack and Jill of America and a life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She enjoys community service work and enriching the lives of youth.
In her spare time, Judge Jones enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking and shopping.
S.C. Family Court
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Harris Williams
Judge H. Bruce Williams was born in Columbia, South Carolina on March 13, 1956. His parents are the late Edna Richardson Harris and the late H. Lanier Williams.
He attended public schools in Columbia and received a bachelor's degree in English and Government in 1978 from Wofford College. While at Wofford, Judge Williams served as President of the Student Body and the student representative to the Board of Trustees. He was selected to the Blue Key Honor Society and the Senior Order of Gnomes. In 1982, he graduated from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law.
After graduation from law school, Judge Williams was in private practice until 1995. During that time, he served as a part-time Associate Town Judge in Irmo, South Carolina for four years (1991-1995). In addition, he served two terms on the Board of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association for the Family Law Section.
Judge Williams was elected to the Fifth Judicial District Family Court in 1995. During his tenure as a family court judge, Judge Williams served as president of the South Carolina Conference of Family Court Judges as well as secretary-treasurer. He has presided over the Richland County Juvenile Drug Court since its inception in January 1997. In 1998 at the Governor's Conference on Youth Crime, he was awarded the Program Achievement Award for Juvenile Drug Court.
Judge Williams also served as President of the Columbia Kiwanis Club. While a member of the Kiwanis Club, he volunteered as the advisor for the Columbia High School Key Club (1983 -1995). In November 2011, the Columbia Urban League presented Judge Williams with the distinguished Ethel M. Bolden Community Service Award.
He received the Richland County Bar Association Matthew J. Perry Civility Award in November 2012. Since 2012, Judge Williams has been an adjunct professor at the USC School of Law. In addition, he has served as faculty for numerous judicial and bar sponsored continuing legal education seminars and programs
Judge Williams was elected to the South Carolina Court of Appeals in May 2004. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar and is admitted to practice in all South Carolina courts as well as the U.S. District Court for South Carolina. He and his wife reside in Columbia and have two daughters. He enjoys golfing, cooking, and experiencing great barbeque from around the country.
S.C. Court of Appeals
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J. Benjamin Stevens
Ben Stevens is a Principal in the Spartanburg, SC office of Offit Kurman, an AmLaw 200 firm with 250 attorneys in 15 offices from New York to South Carolina. His practice is limited to handling complex divorce, child custody, and other family law matters. Ben is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and currently serves as a national Vice President. He is also a Fellow in the International Academy of Family Lawyers and a Board Certified Family Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy.
Ben has been designated as a Super Lawyer in Family Law in multiple years, listed in The Best Lawyers in America©, and held an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for many years. Ben is currently a member of the South Carolina Bar's Board of Governors, and he previously served as Chair of both the South Carolina Bar's Family Law Council and the Family Law Section of the South Carolina Association for Justice.
Ben co-authored Family Law Essentials: A Primer for the Private Practice Before the Family Court in South Carolina, which was published in 2018 by the South Carolina Bar. This comprehensive book not only explains the substantive law and procedure, it also provides tips and pointers for a more efficient and effective family law practice. He has given presentations on family law topics locally, nationally, and internationally.
Ben graduated with honors from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Financial Management with a minor in Accounting. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina. He and his wife, Jenny, who is also an attorney, are the proud parents of six children, one grandchild, and four cats. In his spare time, he enjoys painting as a hobby.
The Stevens Law Group, LLC
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James Thompson
James Fletcher Thompson (Jim) received a BA from Vanderbilt University in 1983 and JD from University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989. He served on the Board of Editors of the South Carolina Law Review. Jim has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, teaching a course entitled “Parents, Children and the Law” from 1996 - 2001. He is the author of a book published by the South Carolina Bar in 2010 entitled South Carolina Adoption Law and Practice, A Guide for Attorneys, Certified Investigators, and Families. He is an attorney of record in over 20 reported decisions of the South Carolina appellate courts.
In 1999, Jim was recognized for his adoption work by the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoption. He is a Fellow and past Board Member of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and chaired the Assisted Reproduction Ethics Code Review Committee from 2015-2016. He received an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. In February 2008, pursuant to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, Jim became one of three attorneys in the nation to achieve Hague approval from the Council on Accreditation as authorized by the United States Department of State. His Hague approval has been extended through 2022.
On September 1, 2020, Jim formed a new law firm with Attorney Dale Dove, Thompson Dove Law Group, LLC, with offices in Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Charleston.
Thompson Dove Law Group LLC
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Jane Downey
Jane H. Downey is an experienced bankruptcy attorney at Baker Donelson. Certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in bankruptcy and debtor/creditor law, Ms. Downey brings more than 30 years of experience in representing individual and business debtors and creditors in commercial and consumer bankruptcy matters. Ms. Downey is also certified as a specialist in business bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
Ms. Downey has represented clients both in and outside formal proceedings. She has extensive experience in corporate restructurings, representing debtors, secured lenders, unsecured creditors, and other parties in connection with bankruptcies, receiverships, out-of-court workouts, and other related bankruptcy litigation. She has led corporate clients, landlords, doctors, car dealerships, farmers, realtors, and developers, among others, through financial restructurings and reorganizations under Chapters 7, 9, 11, 12, and 13 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.
Ms. Downey is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a mediator and arbitrator and is currently on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina’s list of mediators. She is a frequent speaker and author on bankruptcy topics and very active in her community.
Education
Emory University School of Law, J.D., 1990
Furman University, B.A., 1987, cum laude
Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC
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Jeffrey Schreiber
Jeff Schreiber graduated from Auburn University in 2000 with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. After working as a News Reporter for a daily newspaper in Seneca and Clemson, SC, Jeff returned to the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA, where he continued in journalism - covering state and federal courts in Philadelphia as a News Reporter for Courthouse News Service for the better part of a decade, including while he attended Rutgers School of Law in tropical Camden, NJ.
In 2010, Jeff sold his snowblower and relocated to Summerville, SC within days of graduating from law school, finally returning south and bringing with him his wife, Joanna, and young daughter. A son was born soon thereafter. Following the move, Jeff worked as an associate attorney at the LaMantia Law Firm, LLC before opening up Lowcountry Divorce & Family Law, LLC in August 2012. Since becoming certified in late 2018, Jeff has built a fast-growing mediation practice as well, returning a stellar settlement percentage. (He'll tell you. He's humble.)
From 2013 to 2017, Jeff served as the Treasurer of the Dorchester County Bar Association, followed by terms in 2018 as Vice President and 2019 as President. For the past seven years, Jeff has also been a member of the Dorchester County Bar Association's Family Court Liaison Committee.
Jeff lives in Summerville with his wife and two children. In his spare time, Jeff is a terrible fisherman and enjoys spending time and playing tennis and basketball with his children.
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Jerry Vinson
Judge Jerry D. (Jay) Vinson, Jr. was born in Camden, South Carolina on October 12, 1960, the son of Jerry D. Vinson and Patricia Ann Mahan Vinson. Judge Vinson was raised in Florence, South Carolina where he attended public schools. He graduated from Francis Marion College, cum laude, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree in 1985 from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to practice law the same year.
Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable John H. Waller, Jr., Circuit Court Judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. After completing his clerkship, he joined the firm of Turner, Padget, Graham and Laney, P.A. and later practiced law with his wife, Flo Lester Vinson, in The Vinson Law Firm, P.A. Judge Vinson merged his practice with the law firm of McDougall & Self, L.L.P, where he practiced until his election to the bench in 2004. He is admitted to practice before the United States District Court, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Judge Vinson has been active with Francis Marion University, where he has been named both Outstanding Alumnus and Outstanding Biology Alumnus. He has served as FMU Alumni President and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Francis Marion University Foundation. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Florence Symphony Orchestra, the Master Works Choir and the Florence Kiwanis Club. Judge Vinson was also active in the South Carolina Bar serving as a member of the House of Delegates and as a member, and former chair, of the Family Law Section Council. He is a member, and past chair, of the South Carolina Bar Law Related Education Committee. He has been a frequent speaker at Family Law CLE programs.
Judge Vinson served as a member, and former Chair, of the Family Court Bench Bar Committee and served as chair of the Best Legal Practices sub-committee. Judge Vinson served on the Governor's Task Force for Children in Foster Care and Adoption Services. Judge Vinson is also a member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and served on the Council's Board of Trustees. He is past president of the South Carolina Conference of Family Court Judges and a former member of the Family Court Judges Advisory Committee.
Judge Vinson is married to Flo Lester Vinson, who serves as a Federal Administrative Law Judge.
EDUCATION
J.D., University of South Carolina, 1992
B.A., University of South Carolina, magna cum laude, 1988
BAR AND COURT ADMISSIONS
South Carolina, 1992
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1993
U.S. Supreme Court, 1996
S.C. Court of Appeals
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Kimberly Barr
Kimberly V. Barr is a native of Columbia, South Carolina, and graduated magna cum laude from Benedict College in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. Three years later, she earned her juris doctor degree from USC and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar. The next year, she was admitted to practice before the United States District Court. Attorney Barr has worked for Attorney Sabb for over fifteen years, and practices in the areas of personal injury (including workers compensation and automobile accidents), family court (including divorce, custody, child support, and name changes), and probate (including wills, contracts and land purchases). In addition, she serves as the assistant solicitor-in-charge in Williamsburg County, and as a member of Williamsburg Technical College Foundation Board of Directors.
Ms. Barr also served as general counsel for the City of Lake City Development Corporation and was a committee member of the South Carolina Supreme Court Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar, American Association for Justice, South Carolina Association for Justice, National Bar Association, and Williamsburg County Bar Association. She has participated as a judge in mock trial competitions sponsored by the SC Bar. Attorney Barr is a member of New Ebenezer Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina.
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Leigh Sellers
A native of Spartanburg, SC, Leigh B. Sellers graduated Vanderbilt University and the University of South Carolina School of Law. Leigh began her career as a staff attorney with the South Carolina Supreme Court following Law School and began a practice as a family law attorney in Columbia, SC in 1993. She moved to Charlotte in 1995 and after passing the North Carolina Bar, began a family law practice in North Carolina as well. She currently serves on the Family Law Council of both the North Carolina State Bar and the South Carolina State Bar. She is a member of the South and North Carolina Bar Associations, the Mecklenburg County and York County Bar Associations, the American Bar Association, and the International Association of Collaborative Law Professionals as well as the Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals. Leigh is also a trained family financial mediator. She lives in Charlotte with her long-suffering husband. Two newly engaged children and grand dogs round out the family. Leigh founded Touchstone Family Law in 2018 with a practice in South Carolina and North Carolina. Our offices are within walking distance of the necessities of practicing family law attorneys…. local breweries, wine bars and coffee shops. Feel free to contact her for dinner or entertainment suggestions or the occasional legal question.
Touchstone Family Law
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Margie Pizarro
Margie A. Pizarro, Esq., is a native of Walterboro, South Carolina. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University in 1991 and a Master of Education in Divergent Learning from Columbia College in 2002. Margie spent 12 years as an educator in the Greenville County School District before enrolling at the Charleston of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate as a member of the first graduating class in 2007.
In September 2008, Margie took a giant leap of faith and formed the Pizarro Law Firm, LLC, located in historic downtown Summerville. Margie believes that by starting her own practice, she could be more effective in helping clients deal with a wide variety of legal issues as the Pizarro Law Firm is a general litigation firm focusing on matters including Family Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Estate Law, and Medical Malpractice. Since opening its doors, Margie has represented clients in all state and federal courts, and she has helped them successfully navigate their legal issues. Margie's practice has also taken her to California where she has supported the litigation in celebrity and high-asset family court cases. Margie is truly realizing her passion for helping clients at all levels of litigation and also in ensuring and protecting their rights.
In October 2024, Margie was appointed as a Dorchester County Magistrate Court Judge.
Margie is a member of the American Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, and the Dorchester County Bar Association. She is licensed to practice in all South Carolina State and Federal Courts, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and before the Suprem e Court of the United States. She has numerous board memberships and accolades including:
Former Member, Board of Trustees, Columbia College (SC)
Former Member, Executive Committee, Charleston County Bar Association
Current Member, James L. Petigru Inn of Court
Former Member, Board of Directors, Dorchester County Habitat for Humanity
Former Member, Board of Directors, South Carolina Women Lawye rs Association (SCWLA)
Former Member, Board of Visitors, Columbia College (SC)
Former Planning Commissioner, Town of Summerville
Former Member, Board of Directors, Summerville Family YMCA
Former Member, Board of Directors, YESCarolina, youth entrepreneurship program
Former Member, Board of Director Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
Former Host, Lowcountry Spotlight, original local television show on WCLN-HD
Charleston Regional Business Journal, 40 Under 40 Winner 2007
Summerville Journal Scene, Women to Watch, Winner 2013
Recipient, Councilman Aaron Brown Award 2019
Margie is married to Laurentiis M. Gaines, S r. Their blended family of two daughters, five sons, and one granddaughter keeps them quite busy.
Dorchester County
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Melissa Buckhannon
Judge Melissa J. Buckhannon is a Family
Court Judge of South Carolina for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit having been
elected to the bench by the South Carolina General Assembly in February
2014.
Judge Buckhannon received her Bachelor
of Science degree from Francis Marion University in 1991. She received her
Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in
1994. Upon graduation from the law
school, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable James E. Lockemy. Thereafter, she moved to Horry County to
practice law. She practiced in Horry County
from 1995 until her election to the Family Court Bench.
Judge Buckhannon served on the Board of
Trustees for Francis Marion University from 1998 until 2013. She received the Francis Marion University
Alumni Association Professional Industry Achievement Award in 2017 for Public
Service and Law. She received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Francis Marion
University in December 2017.
Judge Buckhannon is a member of the
Chief Justice’s Commission on the Profession, and serves on the Family Court
Judges Advisory Committee. She is a founding member and President of the South
Carolina Family Law American Inn of Court.
Judge Buckhannon serves as the Chair for the Family Court New Judge’s
Training Team. Judge Buckhannon also
serves as a mentor to the Coastal Region’s Attorney General’s Sex Trafficking
Task Force.
Judge Buckhannon is a member of the
Horry County Bar Association as well as the South Carolina Bar
Association. She was a member of the
South Carolina Bar Association’s Family Law Council from 2003 until her
election to the bench, serving as Chair of the Council in 2010. She has served as a member of the South
Carolina Attorney Fee Dispute Board as well as the South Carolina Council for
Conflict Resolution. She served as a
member of the Horry County Family Court Executive Committee and well as the
Chair for the annual Horry County Family Court Seminar.
S.C. Family Court
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Melissa Frazier
Melissa Frazier is a sole practitioner in North Myrtle Beach. She has been practicing family law in Horry County for twenty-three years. She represents clients in divorce, custody and adoption cases. She is also a certified family court mediator and court appointed Guardian ad litem in custody and adoption cases. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of South Carolina School of Law. She was admitted to practice law in South Carolina in 1996 and in North Carolina in 1998. She is a member of the SC Bar Family Law Section Council and previously served as chair. She is actively involved with the Horry County Family Court Executive Committee and she is the current treasurer of the Coastal Inn of Court. She previously held various offices with the Horry County Bar Association, including president. She has also served as an attorney coach for the South Carolina Bar Middle School Mock Trial Competitions for over eight years.
S.C. Family Court
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Nina Cano
Nina was raised in Charleston, SC where she first became involved in the law with West Ashley High School's Mock Trial team, earning a regional title as a Junior in High School. Nina later earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Winthrop University in 2010 where she earned the prestigious Janice Houk Chastain award for undergraduate research, was the president with Pi Sigma Alpha honors fraternity, and Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority. Nina later attended Florida Coastal School of Law in 2013 where she obtained her Doctor of Jurisprudence and earned five national titles for appellate advocacy through the Moot Court program, then ranked 1st in the nation. After law school, Nina moved to the Texas-Mexico border to work with the American Bar Association's Commission on Immigration, providing pro bono representation to unaccompanied minor children from Central America during the UAC crisis of 2014. Nina is licensed in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina.
Using this experience, Nina has returned to her hometown of Charleston, SC where she opened Cano Law, LLC to continue working in the immigration field. Nina continues to volunteer pro bono services to help detained immigrants through the CARA Pro Bono project, the Southern Poverty Law Center's SIFI project, and with ProBAR in South Texas. Nina is a member of the Charleston Bar, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and is an Associate with the James L. Pettigrew Inn of Court.
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Olivia Jones
Olivia Stafford Jones is a native of Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated from the South Carolina Honors College in 2001 with a B.A. in Spanish. After graduation, Olivia lived in Chile for a year on a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Public Administration and became fluent in Spanish. Olivia graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 2007, having served as president of the Pro Bono Program.
Olivia has previously worked as a staff attorney at the S.C. Administrative Law Court, a staff attorney at S.C. Legal Services (where she was named a Nelson Mullins Fellow), and an associate at a non-profit immigration law firm. From 2015-2023, Olivia ran a solo practice, where she handled family law, family-based immigration, and probate work. In September 2023, Olivia began serving as the Executive Director of the SC Bar Foundation.
Olivia is a member of the Richland County Bar Association, the Greenville County Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, and the S.C. Women Lawyer’s Association. Olivia is a current member and past chair of the Richland County Bar’s Public Service Committee (and has served on that committee since 2008), a member of the S.C. Access to Justice Commission, a member of the USC School of Law Pro Bono Program Advisory Council, a board member for the Palmetto Center for Children’s Legal Access, and the 2022-2023 president of the Rotary Club of Five Points (having been a member since 2009). Olivia volunteers at the Homeless Legal Clinic (H.E.L.P.) and the Divorce Help Desk in Richland County. In 2020, Olivia was honored to be named the S.C. Bar’s Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.
SC Bar Foundation
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Osbelkis Perez
Osbelkis Perez is originally from the Bronx, New York. Ms. Perez
graduated from State University of New York at Albany in 2012 with a Bachelors
in Criminal Justice and Women’s Studies and then in 2013 with a Master’s in
Criminal Justice. In 2018, Ms. Perez earned her Juris Doctorate from the
University of South Carolina School of Law.
Ms. Perez is currently with the Fifth Circuit
Solicitor’s office in Columbia, SC, as an Assistant Solicitor and has been with
this office for over 7 years. Currently, she heads the Family Court division
and specializes in juvenile delinquency. Ms. Perez has presented at CLEs
covering a variety of topics including juvenile justice and diversity, equity,
and inclusion issues. Ms. Perez is also currently serving as Co-Chair for Young
Lawyers Division Voices Against Violence Committee.
Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office
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Reid Sherard
Reid Sherard leads Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Family Law practice group. He concentrates his time in complex divorce-related litigation, particularly involving significant assets, income, valuation, or other challenging financial issues as well as contested custody matters, interstate and international jurisdiction disputes, and premarital and postnuptial agreements. He enjoys helping individuals find solutions to difficult personal problems, whether through negotiated settlement or in trial. Reid is sensitive to the private nature of the matters he handles and recognizes the importance of each case.
Reid is based in Greenville, his hometown, but practices across
the state. He is frequently requested to speak on family law issues at
statewide seminars.
Reid is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® and South Carolina
Super Lawyers (top 25 in the state for 2017, 2018, and 2020, and 2021,
regardless of practice area), and enjoys the AV Preeminent® Rating by
Martindale-Hubbell. Reid’s peers have
recognized him as the top attorney vote getter for Greenville Business Magazine
Legal Elite for six consecutive years.
Reid is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is
a certified family court mediator. Reid
received both the Distinguished Honors Alumni Award from the USC Honors College
and the USC School of Law’s Compleat Lawyer Award (Silver).
Reid also maintains a litigation and appellate practice. He has tried cases in the family court, federal district and magistrate court, and various state and local courts. He has argued ten appeals, including in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Before joining Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Reid practiced for 15
years at an AmLaw 100 firm. He is a
graduate of the nationally recognized Family Law Trial Institute in Houston,
Texas. Reid commenced his career as a law clerk to the late Hon. G. Ross
Anderson, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
Reid currently serves as President-Elect of the Greenville County
Bar Association, as the Chair of the 2022 American Heart Association Upstate
Heart Walk, and Member of both the SC Bar Family Law Section Council and House
of Delegates. He previously served as
President of the Board of Directors of A Child’s Haven.
Education:
University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (2004)
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, MLitt, with distinction (2001)
University of South Carolina, Honors College, BA, magna cum laude
(2000)
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA
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Sheila Robinson
Sheila McNair Robinson is a partner at the Moore Taylor Law Firm, P.A. She practices family law, including domestic litigation, mediation, and arbitration. She has been practicing in the Family Courts for 27 years. Over the years, Mrs. Robinson was named several times as one of the “Midlands Legal Elite” by the Columbia Business Monthly magazine.
Mrs. Robinson holds degrees from Furman University and the University of South Carolina School of Law and is licensed to practice in all state and federal courts in South Carolina.
She is a past president of the Lexington County Bar as well as a member of the Family Section of the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Bar Association. Mrs. Robinson also has been an adjunct instructor in paralegal studies.
MOORE TAYLOR LAW FIRM, P.A.
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Taylor Long
Taylor was born and raised in Greenwood, South Carolina. She graduated from the University of South Carolina, in 2006, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with a dual focus on Marketing and Management.
She moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where she attended the Charleston School of Law. While in law school, Taylor was an active member of the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, the Real Estate Society, Children's Rights and Family Law Society, and Women in Law Society. Taylor was honored by receiving the CALI Excellence for the Future award in the study of Criminal Trial Practice. After graduating from law school in 2009, Taylor worked as an associate for the Law Office of Paul E. Tinkler. Taylor opened her own practice in March of 2015 focusing on Family Law, Military Divorce, Estate Planning, and QDROs.
Taylor is a member of the South Carolina Bar and Charleston County Bar and is licensed to practice in the Federal District Court of South Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a member of the National Trial Lawyers Association and was awarded the "Top 40 Under 40," in 2012. Taylor is also a member of the South Carolina Association for Justice, National Women Trial Lawyers, American Bar Association, and Charleston Cooperative Family Law Association.
Since being admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 2010, Taylor has practiced almost exclusively in the Family Courts of South Carolina. She established QDRO Professionals, LLC in 2013, which offers an all-inclusive service assisting attorneys and clients with the intricacies of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders. In addition to her active litigation practice, Taylor is also a certified Family Court Mediator and acts as a Guardian ad Litem in private custody matters.
Taylor resides in James Island with her husband, Kyle, her daughter, Henley, and her two dogs. In her free time, she enjoys serving as a chair member for the Cinderella Project of Charleston and spending time with her family on the beach or the boat.
Law Office of Taylor E. Long
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Thomas Pendarvis
Thomas A. Pendarvis graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1992 after receiving a degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia in 1984. The focus of his civil trial practice since 1992 has been representing who were injured by negligent lawyers, accountants, real estate appraisers, and other professionals. Thomas also has experience providing advice to lawyers on ethics and professional responsibility matters, lawyer moves between law firms, and law firm dissolutions. He also handles business and commercial disputes, wrongful death claims, personal injury claims, and other complex litigation matters.
Mr. Pendarvis currently sits on the Professional Responsibility Committee for the South Carolina Bar.
Pendarvis Law Offices, PC
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Vicki Snelgrove
Judge Vicki Johnson Snelgrove assumed her duties as Family Court Judge for the Second Judicial Circuit in July of 2010. She is a native South Carolinian who was born in Aiken to B. Henderson Johnson, Jr., and Doris Johnson. She grew up in Aiken, graduated from Aiken High School and received her Bachelors degree in Humanities (English) from the University of South Carolina in 1979. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1982. While at the USC School of Law, she participated on the Moot Court Team and received an award at the national level.
Upon graduation from law school, Judge Snelgrove entered private practice in Aiken with her father (B. Henderson Johnson, Jr.), her brother Barry, Ronald A. Maxwell and James E. Whittle, Jr. She remained with that firm until her election to this seat in 2010.
During her 27 years of private practice, she was very active with the South Carolina Bar serving on Family Law Section Council and as its Chair 2007 - 2008, has sat as a member of the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates, served on the South Carolina Bar Board of Governors, served as a member of the Family Law Task Force for the South Carolina Bar and has spoken at numerous CLE's.
Judge Snelgrove was a member of the South Carolina Association of Justice, Family Law Section Council and served as its Chair in the late 1990's. She was included in The Best Lawyers in America for 2006 - 2010. She assisted in writing the Family Law Tool Kit (2003 and 2010 editions). While serving on the Family Law Section Council, Judge Snelgrove assisted in developing the current Financial Declaration.
As a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, she served as Vice-Chair of the congregation, participated in a mission trip to Haiti and currently serves on the Social Concerns Committee.
Judge Snelgrove is married to Von Pope Snelgrove of Lexington County. They have two daughters; Beverly and Leigh.
S.C. Family Court
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