Name Organization Speaking At
D. Nichole Davis
D. Nichole Davis is a leadership consultant, practicing attorney, adjunct law professor, and nationally respected speaker who helps leaders shift from performative to purposeful. With a background in legal ethics, risk management, and organizational culture, she equips clients to lead with clarity, accountability, and emotional intelligence.
As the founder of D. Nichole Davis Consulting, she partners with companies, nonprofits, and academic institutions to build people-first leadership systems rooted in trust, transparency, and psychological safety. Her Experience-Driven Leadership framework and Reflection to Impact scenario decks are used across industries to strengthen decision-making, culture, and communication.
A three-time stroke survivor, Nichole brings hard-earned insight to every room she enters. Her keynote series, From Breakdown to Breakthrough, challenges audiences to redefine leadership through the lens of lived experience, resilience, and courage.
Nichole continues to teach at the University of South Carolina School of Law and has served as an advisor to the ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism. She holds a J.D. and a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certificate. She has delivered more than 65 presentations on leadership, ethics, bias, and workplace wellness across national stages.
When she’s not teaching or consulting, she mentors emerging leaders and helps high performers reconnect with what matters most.
D. Nichole Davis Consulting, LLC
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Emmanuel Ferguson
Emmanuel J. Ferguson, Sr., is an accomplished legal professional with a diverse and extensive background in both public service and private practice.
Early Career:
Emmanuel began his legal career as a state prosecutor in Charleston County, where he honed his trial skills and developed a deep understanding of criminal law. His commitment to justice and public service led him to transition to the federal arena, where he proudly served as a federal prosecutor for the District of South Carolina. During this time, Emmanuel handled a wide range of cases, gaining invaluable experience and a reputation for his dedication to upholding the law and doing what is right.
Defense Practice:
After his distinguished service as a prosecutor, Emmanuel transitioned to private practice, where he used the litigation skills he learned as a prosecutor to become effective defense counsel. Emmanuel represented government entities, large corporations, and small businesses in various employment-related matters. Emmanuel's strategic legal approach and commitment to his clients' best interests allowed him to become an efficient and effective advocate.
Emmanuel has argued cases in every level of the state courts, including the South Carolina Supreme Court.
Plantiffs' Representation:
Emmanuel's legal prowess extended to representing plaintiffs in various legal matters. His experience includes handling contract disputes, personal injury cases, and discrimination claims based on sex, age, race, and disability. Emmanuel has been a relentless advocate for justice, consistently fighting for the rights of those who have been wronged. His ability to navigate nuanced legal terrain and clearly explain the legal process to his clients has helped them make decisions that suit their needs.
Public Service:
As a native of Charleston, Emmanuel believes it is his duty to serve his community. Before he became an attorney, Emmanuel was a public school teacher and also serves on the board of a local charter school. Currently, Emmanuel serves the City of Charleston as a Municipal Court Judge.
Throughout his career, Emmanuel has demonstrated a relentless pursuit of justice, whether as a prosecutor, counsel, or mediator. His dedication to the law and unwavering commitment to his clients' interests make him a respected figure in the legal community. As he continues to contribute to the legal field, Emmanuel remains a steadfast advocate for justice, working to ensure the principles of fairness and equality prevail in every case he encounters.
Ferguson Law and Mediation, LLC
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Ernest Brown
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Jane Shuler
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John Hearn
Entered 3/28/13 by rsg (from DL-599)
John J. Hearn
John Hearn is a shareholder with the Columbia law firm Rogers Townsend & Thomas. John's legal work focuses on resolution of title insurance claims, contested foreclosure matters, and property tax sale disputes. Additionally, he manages a wide variety of business litigation matters. Much of John’s work is for banks and other mortgage lenders. John travels the state defending claims against lenders and manages a team of lawyers who concentrates on those claims. John has served on the Executive Committee of the Richland County Bar Association for four years; he is currently President-elect. John also serves as a volunteer Attorney to Assist for the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, as a mentor for the South Carolina Bar's Lawyers Helping Lawyers program, and as Chair-elect of the Bar's Consumer Law Council. John serves on the firm's Professional Development Committee. John clerked for the Honorable J. Ernest Kinard, Jr. of the Fifth Judicial Circuit after law school. John is a member of South Carolina Bar’s Lawyers Helping Lawyers Program, Consumer Law Council (Chair-elect); Richland County Bar Association (Executive Committee, President); American Bar Association. John received his B.A. in 1984 from the University of South Carolina Honors College, cum laude and his J.D. in 1994 from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Rogers Townsend LLC
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Kevin Hall
entered 10.19.10 by CCN
KEVIN A. HALL
Mr. Hall earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, magna cum laude, in 1987 from the Honors College of the University of South Carolina. He received his Juris Doctor degree, with highest honors, from Emory University School of Law in 1990, where he was inducted into The Order of the Coif. From 1990-91, Mr. Hall served as law clerk to The Honorable Robert F. Chapman of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Mr. Hall is a member of the South Carolina Bar and the State Bar of Georgia. He is admitted to practice before the state courts of South Carolina, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the United States Supreme Court. He has tried cases in state and federal courts throughout South Carolina, and he has been admitted to practice pro hac vice in other states as well. He is a partner in the law firm of Hall & Bowers LLC.
Mr. Hall is active in civic and community affairs. He has served as Chairman of the Board of the Sisters of Charity Foundation, as a member of the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities for the State of South Carolina and as Chairman of Voices for South Carolina's Children. In 2002, he was appointed by Governor Mark Sanford as Co-Chair of the Governor's Task Force on Government Restructuring and Campaign Finance Reform.
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
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LaRone Washington
S.C. Attorney General's Office
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Rhea Merck
Universtiy of South Carolina
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Sarah Cox
A long-time resident of Columbia, Sarah Cox focuses her practice on employment law, personal injury, civil rights law and civil litigation.
Sarah came to Burnette Shutt & McDaniel as a senior law clerk, working for the firm as she completed her Juris Doctor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Sarah also attended the University of South Carolina School of Law for one year, where she also served as a library research assistant. She earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She studied abroad for a semester in Estonia.
Sarah lives in Columbia with her husband, Matt, and their two children. In her free time, Sarah enjoys exploring South Carolina state parks with her family.
Sarah
is a member of the South Carolina Bar Employment and Labor Law Section, South Carolina Supreme Court Historical Society, Richland County Bar Association Diversity Committee, South Carolina Women Lawyers, and South Carolina Bar Civil Rights Section.
Sarah’s published works include:
Sarah J.M. Cox, Grandparent
and Third-Party Visitation Rights: A 50 State Survey , 40 Child. Legal Rts.
J. 76 (2020)
Sarah
J.M. Cox, Six Things “Bad” Movies Can Teach Us About Oral Advocacy , SC Lawyer (Nov. 2021)
Sarah’s
awards include:
ABA
Free Legal Answers Pro Bono Leader 2020, 2021
South
Carolina Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll 2020, 2021
Burnette Shutt & McDaniel, PA
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Sheila Abron
Sheila Willis is a Partner in the Columbia office and Co-Chair of the
Firm’s Affirmative Action and Federal Contract Compliance Practice Group. She
is committed to finding practical, real world solutions to her clients’
employment law needs. She represents companies—large and small—as they navigate
employment issues related to hiring, discipline, investigations, employment
discrimination, unemployment, and other related issues. Sheila provides
guidance to higher education institutions on Title IX Compliance and
investigations She has extensive
experience providing compliance advice to federal contractors on affirmative
action and OFCCP regulations and audits.
Sheila also has extensive experience working on collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and class actions under wage and hour state laws. Sheila also provides training for supervisors and managers on harassment, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) compliance, the Family Medical Leave Act, diversity and inclusion, and many other areas.
Sheila is involved in various professional and community activities.
She is a past president of both the South Carolina Women Lawyers’ Association
(SCWLA) and the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers (SCYLD) Division. She also
serves on the Board of Directors for Columbia – Society for Human Resource
Management (SHRM) and the board of the National Conference of Women’s’ Bar
Associations. Sheila is active in the Richland County Bar, American Bar Association, and is a member of the Junior League of Columbia.
Prior to attending law school, Sheila was a member of store leadership for a Fortune 500 retail company, providing employee supervision and managing a variety of employee issues related to wage and hour, workers’ compensation, discrimination issues, performance management, and other personnel issues.
Sheila is a 2019 recipient of the Silver Compleat lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law Alumni Association. This award recognizes alumni who have made significant contributions to the legal profession and who exemplify the highest standard of professional competence, ethics, and integrity.
She has also been named to the Columbia Regional Business Report’s list
of 2018 Women of Influence, Columbia Business Monthly’s 2018 Best and Brightest
35 and Under, Columbia Business
Monthly’s Legal Elite of the Midlands in 2017 and the American Bar Association’s On the Rise – Top 40 under 40 in 2018. She is also a 2018 South Carolina Super
Lawyers – Rising Star and a 2019 recipient of the Leadership in the Law
award. She was awarded the Johnathon
Jasper Wright Award by The Honorable Matthew J. Perry Chapter of the Black Law
Students Association at the University of South Carolina School of Law, is a
three-time recipient of the President’s Award a and a four-time recipient of
the Start of the Quarter award from the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers’ Division.
Fisher & Phillips, LLP
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Suzanne Snyder
South Carolina Department of Education
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