Name Organization Speaking At
Chris Paton
Chris began his legal career serving as law clerk to Circuit Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and District Judge Raymond J. Dearie of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He also worked as an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP, and Rosen Law Firm, LLC, before starting Paton Law Firm. Chris is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a former Chair of the Family Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar. Chris devotes his practice primarily to family law with a focus on appeals. He lives in Charleston with his wife Laura Paton, also an attorney, and their two daughters.
Chris Paton LLC
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Emily Johnston
Emily G.
Johnston practices family law in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina and the
surrounding Charleston low country area.
Emily attended MBA/JD school at UNC-Chapel Hill after graduating from
UNC-Chapel Hill with a major in French. She spent her junior year in
Montpellier, France. During law school and MBA school, she frequently saw
famous basketball players on the Tar Heel team because the gym was in between
the law and business schools.
After
graduating with her prized degree, Emily relocated to the Charleston area to be
close to her parents who had retired on Kiawah Island. Kiawah remains one of
her favorite places, but her favorite activity is hiking in the mountains near
Caesars Head, South Carolina. She is the proud mother of a son and twin
daughters. Emily loves practicing law and meeting and helping new people.
Emily
has focused on Family Court litigation throughout her 35-year career. She is a certified mediator. She actively promotes friendship amongst her
peers and believes that we can all improve our working environment in family
court.
Law Office of Emily G. Johnston
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James McLaren
Mr. James T. McLaren
maintains a statewide family law practice emphasizing complex marital
litigation in Columbia, South Carolina.
He is a partner in the law firm of McLaren & Lee. He has served the American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers in various capacities since becoming a Fellow, including
National President in 2015. He received
the AAML Fellow of the Year from the Academy in 2007 and the AAML
Professionalism Award in 2020. He serves
on various Academy Committees. He has
served on the Board of the AAML Foundation, where he currently serves on the
Advisory Board. For the South Carolina
Chapter of the Academy, he has served as President and National Delegate. He is a Diplomate of the American College of
Family Trial Lawyers and currently serves on the Executive Committee. He is a Fellow of the International Academy
of Family Lawyers. He is currently the South Carolina Chapter President for the
International Network of Boutique Law Firms.
He currently serves on the South Carolina Bar Family Law Council and was
appointed to the President’s Task Force on Alimony. Mr. McLaren has been named in the Best
Lawyers in America, Family Law Designation, since 1993, received an “AV”
designation from Martindale Hubbell since 1996, and has been named in the South
Carolina Super Lawyers publication since 2008. He is a contributing author to
the South Carolina Equitable Apportionment Act (§20-7-741, et. seq., S.C. Code
of Laws) and the South Carolina Alimony Statute (§20-3-130, South Carolina Code
of Laws). Mr. McLaren received his undergraduate degree (1973) from the
University of South Carolina and Juris Doctorate degree (1976) from the
University of South Carolina School of Law.
He was admitted to practice in 1976 and has maintained a private
practice in Columbia, South Carolina since that time. He is also admitted to practice in the U.S.
Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, U.S. District Court, South Carolina District,
and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a
frequent speaker on various family law topics for the South Carolina Bar,
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, American Bar Association, South
Carolina Association for Justice and Mandatory Judicial and Continuing Legal
Education Seminars. He has been a faculty member of the ABA/NITA Family Law
Trial Advocacy Institute, offered annually in Boulder, Colorado.
McLaren & Lee
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Jeremy Gilbert
Jeremy serves as a director in charge of the digital
forensics lab in DHG’s Charleston, SC office and manages a team of data analytics
professionals around the firm.
Jeremy’s digital forensic experience includes
extracting relevant data from computers, smartphones, and cloud accounts.
Jeremy assists attorneys and clients with digital forensics and electronic
discovery issues in a wide variety of matters, including intellectual property
theft, improper computer use, hacking incidents, malware incidents, family law,
personal injury, worker compensation, and financial fraud.
Jeremy’s analytics experience includes assisting
clients with fraud investigations, model validation, predictive analytics,
fraud deterrence, class certification/decertification, wage and hour claims.
Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP
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Jessica Christophillis
Jessica Christophillis is a partner at Christophillis & Gallivan in Greenville, South Carolina. Jessica focuses her practice predominately on divorce cases involving high net worth estates, alimony issues, business valuation issues, and other complex equitable division cases. Jessica is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where she earned her J.D. and B.S. in accounting. Jessica also attended Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois where she earned her L.L.M. in taxation. Prior to starting her firm, Jessica worked at PWC where she focused on tax compliance and planning for individuals, LLCs, partnerships, and corporations. Jessica is a Certified Family Court Mediator. She is also a graduate of the Houston Family Law Trial Institute and has been named as Greenville Business Magazine's Legal Elite of the Upstate in Family Law for the past 5 years. Jessica is the author of the article "What to Expect When Expecting Marital Litigation: Protecting Assets with Beneficiary Interest in a Divorce or Separate Support and Maintenance Action" published in the SC Lawyer in July 2017. Jessica currently serves on the Upstate Mediation Board and Artisphere board both in Greenville, SC. Jessica and her husband Cory live in Greenville with their six-year-old twin boys.
Christophillis & Gallivan, P.A.
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Jill HaLevi
Jill received her law degree from the University of Michigan, and she has been a member of the South Carolina Bar since 1995. She spent the first 10 years of her legal career as a county and then federal public defender, during which time she was active in the creation of the Charleston County Drug and Mental Health Courts. Jill spent two years working on legal issues relating to Israel, first at an organization dedicated to advocating and mediating on behalf of workers in employment disputes, and then as an attorney representing victims of terrorist attacks. Jill has been trained in civil, criminal, and family court mediation. She was also trained and worked as a Guardian ad Litem and in Collaborative Law. Jill served for many years on the South Carolina Bar Dispute Resolution Section Council, including a term as Chair of that Council. She was a co-founder of the MMCC as well as the Charleston Cooperative Family Law Association, where she currently serves as President and Chair, respectively.
Office of Jill E.M. HaLevi, Mediation & Legal Svc.
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John McDougall
As a founding partner of McDougall, Self,
Currence & McLeod, LLP, John O. McDougall hosts over 40 years of experience
practicing law in South Carolina. He earned his Juris Doctor from the
University of South Carolina School of Law in 1971, and was admitted to the
South Carolina Bar in the same year. In addition to his work with McDougall,
Self, Currence & McLeod, LLP, he is also a member of the American Trial
Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, and the South Carolina
Association for Justice.
John O. McDougall is the second lawyer to be
president of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South
Carolina Bar Association within the history of the two organizations. He is
also the only lawyer limiting his practice to matrimonial law to be president
of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the South Carolina Bar
Association. John O. McDougall has been nominated as one of the Best Lawyers in
America by Woodward/White, Inc. since 1991.
McDougall, Self, Currence & McLeod, LLP
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Kevin Barth
Kevin was born and raised in Marion, South Carolina before attending
college at Clemson University (graduating in 1979) and USC Law School
(graduating in 1982). Kevin is married to Donna Barth, whom he met in law
school, in Domestic Relations of all things. They have two children, Brendan,
who practices law with Kevin and John Robert who is employed with Colonial
Life. They have three wonderful grandchildren, Taylor (7), Marshall (6) and
Hampton (2), who are the highlight of their lives now. Lastly, Kevin and Donna
are the proud parents of two large bull mastiffs, Hettie and Ellie, both of
whom think they are lapdogs. After law school, Kevin clerked for Honorable
Ralph King Anderson, Jr. for one year when Judge Anderson was on the circuit
bench. He has tried many cases throughout his career including a few murder
cases and a death penalty case, but his practice has primarily been civil
plaintiff's trials and Family Court trials. Lately, much of his practice has
involved trying and mediating civil cases and mediating family court cases.
Kevin has practiced with his current law firm, Barth Ballenger & Lewis
since 1987. During that time he has been lead counsel in six trials that
resulted in verdicts in excess of $1,000,000 and was co-trial counsel in one
that resulted in a $237,000,000 verdict. He was President of the Florence
County Bar Association and has served on numerous committees such as the Board
of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, Fee Dispute Board, Supreme Court
Commission on CLE's and Specialization, Supreme Court ADR Long Range Planning
Committee and the S.C. Bar Judicial Qualifications Screening Committee. He has
been rated AV by Martindale Hubbell every year since 1999 and a South Carolina
Super Lawyer every year since 2010. The highlight of Kevin's legal career
occurred in the fall of 2019 when he was inducted into the American College of
Trial Lawyers at its Vancouver, Canada meeting, an international invitation
only organization which recognizes lawyers whose careers have consistently
displayed excellence in ethics, civility, and competence as a trial lawyer.
Barth, Ballenger & Lewis, LLP
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Marie-Louise Ramsdale
Marie-Louise
is the principal lawyer of Ramsdale Family Law in Mount Pleasant, South
Carolina, and practices solely in the area of family law. A cum laude graduate
of Harvard Law School, she has served as President of the South Carolina Bar
Foundation, as Chair of the South Carolina Bar Family Law Section Council, and
as a member of numerous committees of the South Carolina Bar. Marie-Louise
holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She is a frequent speaker at legal
education programs on family law issues. She is also working to address
wellness issues for members of the legal profession through the Charleston
County Bar.
Ramsdale Law Firm
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Mary Fran Quindlen
Mary Fran Quindlen holds two bachelor's degrees in History and English from Rutgers University. She received her law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1998, where she was a member of Women in Law and the Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity. Following her admission to the South Carolina Bar, Mary Fran practiced as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate serving as a Legal Assistance Attorney and Defense Counsel. She continued to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve until May of 2006 when she resigned her commission as a Major. After her release from active duty in 2002, Mary Fran became an Associate at Harvey & Battey, P.A. in Beaufort, South Carolina. She worked as their family law practitioner until 2005 when she opened her own practice in Beaufort. Mary Fran's practice is concentrated in the areas of Military and Family Law, to include custody, visitation and divorce. Mary Fran is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the International Academy of Family Lawyers, is a Member of the South Carolina Family Law Council, and serves on the South Carolina Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Board. Mary Fran has been qualified as an expert in South Carolina Family Courts regarding military matters related to divorce and she teaches military family law CLE's around the country
Quindlen Law Firm, P.A.
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Nancy Thomason
Thomason Mediations
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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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Robert Rosen
Robert N. Rosen is a shareholder in the Rosen Law Firm in Charleston. He received his B.A. degree in history from the University of Virginia in 1969, his M.A. degree in History from Harvard University in 1970, and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1973. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar that same year. He is, and has been, an active member of the South Carolina Bar, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He has lectured at Continuing Legal Education seminars and Judicial Continuing Legal Education Seminars. He has taught courses to newly-elected Family Court Judges. He served on the editorial board of the Family Advocate, a national publication of the A.B.A. Family Law Section. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and is a Past President of the South Carolina Chapter. He formerly served on the Board of Governors of the AAML. He is rated AV in Martindale Hubbell, is listed in the current and past twenty editions of the Best Lawyers in America in the field of Family
Rosen Law Firm, LLC
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Sean Markham
Sean Markham is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law as well as a circuit court mediator. Sean handles a wide range of business and consumer insolvency matters throughout the state of South Carolina. Representations include bankruptcy matters, collections, settlement negotiations, and other matters related to debtor/creditor law. Sean is a graduate of ECU and was a member of the first graduating class of the Charleston School of Law. He is licenses in both North and South Carolina. Sean and his wife regularly foster Labrador retrievers for a local rescue for almost 15 years and have helped over 70 dogs find forever homes.
Volvo Group North America
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Stephanie Brinkley
Developing a Successful Assisted Reproduction Technology Law Practice , written with colleague Richard B. Vaughn, which is published by the American Bar Association. As part of her practice, Stephanie represents clients seeking to build their families through surrogacy and/or gamete donation. She is also called upon to represent gestational carriers who have offered their services. With greater frequency, Stephanie is consulted to advise families transitioning divorce after creating children through third party reproduction. Parental disputes arising from genetic relationships (or lack thereof), misapplication of medical consent forms, and ownership rights of unused embryos are rising among divorce litigants.
Brinkley Law Firm, LLC
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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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