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Andrew is a litigator and the partner in charge of PCKB's Raleigh office. Andrew has concentrated his practice in the areas of construction law, premises liability, trucking law, personal injury, commercial loss, municipal law, employment law, education law, subrogation, insurance disputes and coverage, UM/UIM matters, and other complex litigation matters. Andrew's clients have included general contractors, developers, subcontractors, trucking companies, insurance companies, landlords, schools, municipalities, police officers, businesses, and individuals. Based on his experience as a member of the Greensboro Zoning Commission, Andrew also offers advice and representation to developers and property owners related to land use and zoning.
Andrew regularly represents clients in state and federal courts throughout North Carolina, on both the trial and appellate court levels. He has tried cases in front of juries in both state and federal court. He is also well versed in arbitration, routinely handling commercial disputes pursuant to the American Arbitration Association rules and procedures, as well as arbitrations involving uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance coverage. Additionally, Andrew has represented clients in front of administrative courts and licensing boards.
 

A native of Columbia, Ben graduated from Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he was awarded the Robert McCormick Figg, Jr. Trial Advocacy Award and the Claud Sapp Award for scholarship, industry, and leadership.  Ben also served as president of the USC School of Law Pro Bono Board while in law school and is currently a member of the Pro Bono Advisory Council. After law school, Ben served as a law clerk for the Honorable G. Thomas Cooper, Jr. of Camden, South Carolina before joining Bruner Powell as an associate and becoming a partner.

Understanding that no two companies or projects are alike, Ben takes a practical approach to each client based on that client’s goals and circumstances.  During his practice, Ben has gained experience in both trial and appellate courts in South Carolina, federal court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings.  He has handled cases involving construction law, professional negligence defense, collection of judgments, commercial collections, as well as business and general litigation.  With respect to the construction industry, Ben has represented owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, builders, and design professionals in a wide array of construction projects ranging from single family homes to commercial buildings to heavy highway construction.  He has represented clients in contract negotiation and drafting, contract default claims, termination claims, delay and acceleration claims, mechanic’s liens, performance and payment bond claims, defective workmanship and construction defect claims, insurance coverage for construction defect claims, and claims on public projects related to bid protests and contract disputes.  Ben is currently a Member of the South Carolina Bar Construction Law Section Council.

Ben listed in Best Lawyers in the areas of Construction Law and Litigation-Construction.  He is Peer Reviewed on Martindale-Hubbell.  In 2020, Ben was recognized again as one of Columbia Business Monthly’s Legal Elite of the Midlands for construction law.

Brett Becker is a Member of the Nexsen Pruet, PLLC law firm, primarily engaged in the firm's Construction Practice Group.  Mr. Becker represents a diverse client base of owners, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.  His experience ranges from complex construction defect claims and intricate performance bond claims, to payment disputes involving lien and payment bond claims. Mr. Becker is a graduate of Clemson University and Wake Forest University School of Law.  Mr. Becker currently resides in Greensboro, North Carolina and works from Nexsen Pruet's Greensboro Office.   He lives in Greensboro along with his wife, Anna, and their two kids, Bowen and Juniper.  

Bryan represents a wide range of general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and surety companies in North and South Carolina. He primarily practices in the areas of construction law and surety claims and disputes. Bryan's experience includes assisting clients with claim avoidance strategies, mechanic's liens, bond claims, payment claims, defect litigation, insurance coverage, scheduling and delay issues, and change order disputes. He is a former Chairman of the Construction Section Council of the South Carolina Bar and has served as a lecturer on a variety of construction topics for legal and industry groups including Carolinas Associated General Contractors. He is a co-author of the South Carolina Construction Law Deskbook, published by the Construction Law Section of the South Carolina Bar, and regularly presents the South Carolina Construction Law Update at the Construction Section's annual meeting.

Bryan is rated "AV" preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell.  He has been named to "The Best Lawyers in America" for Construction Law and Construction Litigation in South Carolina and Lawyer of the Year for Construction Litigation (Greenville) by Best Lawyers.  He has also been recognized among the "Legal Elite" by Greenville Business Magazine for Construction Law.  Bryan holds an undergraduate degree from Wofford College and attended law school at the University of South Carolina.
 

CALEB M. RISER is a shareholder with the law firm of Richardson Plowden & Robinson, P.A., where he focuses his practice on construction law although he also practices in general litigation, professional liability and utility litigation. Mr. Riser is admitted to practice in South Carolina; and before the U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina; U.S. Court of Federal Claims; and U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar (Construction Law Section, including its Section Council), American Institute of Architects, Richland County Bar Association, South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association, Defense Research Institute, American Bar Association, and The Jefferson Society, Inc. Mr. Riser earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee; his J.D. degree from Regent University School of Law; and studied abroad at Crakow University of Technology, Crakow, Poland (including award for most outstanding design). He is also a certified document technician (CDT).

Dan Atkinson is a Member of Wilkes Atkinson & Joyner, LLC, where he practices primarily in the areas of professional negligence defense, construction litigation, aviation litigation, insurance coverage, and business litigation.  He frequently addresses professional groups, including, but not limited to, design firms, AIA South Atlantic Regional Conference, the S.C. Engineering Conference, and the CNA Meeting of Invited Attorneys.  Dan is a Board Member and the Annual Meeting Chair for the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association.  He is General Counsel and President-Elect of the Palmetto Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and he as General Counsel for the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Football Game.
Dan grew up in Laurens, South Carolina.  He graduated cum laude from Furman University and the Washington & Lee University School of Law.  Dan resides with his wife and three children in Spartanburg, where he proudly serves as Cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 22 at Trinity United Methodist Church.
 

David Brennan is a Partner at Johnston, Allison & Hord PA located in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he is a member of the firm’s Construction Practice Group, which was recently recognized as “Band One” in Construction Law by Chambers and Partners.  David is licensed to practice in both North Carolina and South Carolina.  David’s practice focuses on representing general contractors, subcontractors, owners, and suppliers in a wide range of construction matters, including licensing, contract disputes, defects, delays, and lien and bond claims.  David is a “Double Deac,” having earned a BA from Wake Forest University and a JD from Wake Forest University School of Law.  He lives in Charlotte along with his wife, Alex, and twin daughters, Evie and Lulu.

Jim Schenck has been in private law practice continuously in North Carolina since 1982, when he graduated with degrees in law and government. He has varied experience as an advocate in the prosecution and defense of construction claims. The majority of his work involves dispute resolution, including negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation. Throughout his career he has also studied and counseled clients on project delivery systems and procurement. He routinely reviews contracts and insurance plans for contractors and owners. At the corporate level, he has assisted corporate and local government clients with business planning, budgeting, licensing, and other types of state regulatory compliance.  He is a past Chair of the ABA Forum on Construction Law, a past Chair of the Construction Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association, past member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Construction Lawyers, and past member of the Board of Governors of the North Carolina Bar Association.  Mr. Schenck frequently serves as a mediator and arbitrator in construction disputes.  He is a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Arbitrators, the American Arbitration Association Panel of Construction Mediators, and is certified as a mediator by the NC Dispute Resolution Commission for North Carolina Superior Courts.
 

Patrick is a Partner in CSVL’s Charleston, SC office and his practice focuses primarily on professional liability defense and design/construction litigation.  He frequently speaks at industry seminars/conferences, including events for The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM), American Institute of Architects (AIA), and local/regional trade organizations, as well as CSVL’s annual “Risk Management Seminar for Architects and Engineers” in Charleston, SC.  Patrick has been honored as one of the top construction attorneys in the area by Charleston Business Magazine’s “Legal Elite” Feature, a peer-nominated award.  He graduated cum laude from Clemson University (Financial Management) and summa cum laude from Charleston School of Law.  He is a graduate of CLM’s three-year Claims College program in the School of Construction Claims and earned his Certified Claims Professional (CCP) designation.

He grew up in coastal SC and has been in Charleston for the past 25 years.  In his spare time, Patrick enjoys writing/playing music, supporting the Clemson Tigers, and spending time in the Blue Ridge mountains.

Laura Locklair joined Boyle & Leonard, P.A. in 2017, and is the managing attorney of the firm’s Charleston office.  After graduating from Duke University in 2005, Mrs. Locklair studied at the University of South Carolina School of Law where she was a member of the Order of the Wig and Robe.  After gaining admission to The South Carolina Bar in 2008, she began representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects, and engineers in connection with design and construction defect litigation involving commercial properties and multi-family and single family residential dwellings.  Mrs. Locklair also has experience representing companies, homeowners’ associations, and property owners in personal injury cases arising out of alleged construction defects and industrial accidents, title insurance claims, and insurance disputes.  Mrs. Locklair now focuses her practice on the representation of policyholders relative to risk transfer issues in the commercial general liability context, insurance claim presentation, bad faith matters, and commercial and business litigation.

 Michael's over thirty years of experience has been gained on both sides of the permitting counter. His experience includes several years spent in the local government sector with the Hillsborough County, Florida Development Services Division in the Building Department. He worked as a plans examiner and then was subsequently promoted to the position of General Manager of Building Code Compliance and Contractor Licensing and eventually became the Building Official for Hillsborough County; a jurisdiction of over 1 000 square miles and a population of 1.2 million.
In addition to applying and interpreting the building codes, Michael is also a licensed building contractor who has worked on both residential and commercial projects of various scopes. He is also an ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager.
Michael is a credited reviewer of several FEMA construction-related documents including the Coastal Construction Manual, the Local Officials Guide to Coastal Construction and Natural Hazards and Sustainability for Residential Buildings. He has appeared on several national media outlets discussing building codes and construction including CNN, Good Morning America, and The Weather Channel.
Michael's experience extends into the classroom where he teaches a variety of classes on the building codes, disaster preparation and floodplain management. Audiences include all levels from those new to the topics to advanced students learning the latest code changes and requirements.
Michael received a Masters in Public Administration in 2011 from the University of South Florida and is currently a PhD candidate at University of South Florida.
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Professional Registration:
BU1892 / FL [State of Florida Building Code Administrator]
CBC1253520 / FL [State of Florida Certified Building Contractor]
PX2247 / FL [State of Florida Standard Plans Examiner]
International Code Council Certified Building Official
International Code Council Certified Building Plans Examiner
International Code Council Certified Electrical Plans Examiner
International Code Council Certified Disaster Response Inspector
International Code Council Certified Fire Inspector I
Association of State Floodplain Managers Certified Floodplain Manager

Robert T. Lyles is a shareholder with the firm of Lyles & Associates, LLC, which has offices in Mt. Pleasant and Beaufort, SC. He is a trial lawyer whose practice is devoted principally to handling construction and insurance coverage and bad faith claims. Mr. Lyles regularly lectures before various industry groups and has conducted seminars on numerous topics including construction law and insurance bad faith. He earned his B.A. degree from the College of Charleston and his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina in 1987, and is admitted to practice in South Carolina, and before the United States Supreme Court, the Fourth and Fifth Circuit Courts of Appeal.  He is a member of the American Bar Association, and the South Carolina Bar.