Event Information

Derek D. Tarver represents individuals injured by defective products, industrial accidents, medical malpractice, and general negligence. Derek began his practice as a corporate defense attorney but had a change of heart after seeing firsthand how strong legal representation can potentially improve the lives of people in need. Derek joined Parker Law Group in 2023.

Derek has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Products Liability Litigation, and South Carolina Super Lawyers: Rising Stars for his practice in Products Liability. He graduated from the South Carolina School of Law, magna cum laude, where he received the CALI Award for the highest scores in his class in Torts, Products Liability, Legal Writing for the Courts, Appellate Advocacy, Fourth Circuit Practice, Choice of Law, and Comparative Law. After graduating, Derek served as the Associate Reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s committee on developing legislation for automated vehicles. Derek has since served as a regular guest lecturer at the law school and on legal panels discussing topics including automotive products liability, personal injuries, and industrial accidents.

When he’s not working, Derek is wrangling his two wild sons and/or trying to spend time with his beautiful wife, Kate, who is way out of his league. He also exercises a lot, but only after doing his chores. 

Paul Porter is a employee-side employment law and business litigation lawyer at Cromer, Babb, Porter & Hicks, LLC in Columbia, South Carolina. Paul is from Greenville, South Carolina. He went to college at Presbyterian College (go Blue Hose!) and law school at the University of South

Carolina. He is the current chair of the employment law section of the South Carolina Association of Justice. Paul was awarded the young lawyer award by ABOTA in 2016 in recognition of his aptitude as a young trial lawyer and he has been honored as legal elite in employment law and business litigation for both Columbia and Greenville several times. Paul is a certified specialist in South Carolina Employment and Labor Law. Paul became a fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2024. He's a "super lawyer" and also a super good guy. Paul lives in Columbia with his wife Ashley and dog Snoopy. He loves practicing law, but would rather be skiing, working out, or drinking a cold beer in the warm sun.

Overview
Lyndey Bryant is a skilled and experienced commercial litigator, who has represented large and small businesses, officers, and directors in complex civil litigation, arbitration, appeals, as well as administrative proceedings, across a variety of practice areas. With nearly fifteen years of experience, she has developed a keen understanding of the legal issues that can arise in business settings and is able to provide her clients with strategic and effective solutions to their legal disputes. Her professional achievements and service to the Bar have been honored numerous times.

Lyndey has experience with a wide range of business issues arising in litigation. In particular, she has frequently counseled companies and individuals regarding enforcement and negotiation of complex contract provisions, including employment, non-compete, confidentiality, and trade secret agreements.

In addition, Lyndey also has experience representing fiduciaries and beneficiaries in disputes related to wealth transfer, such as estate, trust, real estate, and closely-held business disputes, and the exercise of fiduciary duties. In these matters, Lyndey has counseled clients regarding issues of enforcement and modification of estate and trust provisions. She also represents clients in conservatorship and guardianship actions.

Bar Involvement
Lyndey is an active member of the legal community. She is a regular speaker at conferences and seminars on topics related to civil litigation, probate and trust litigation, and appeals. She co-authored the latest edition of the South Carolina Law of Torts book, published in 2023 by the South Carolina Bar. Lyndey also currently serves on the South Carolina Bar Board of Governors, is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel, and volunteers as Secretary of the John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court. She recently served as a Councilmember of the South Carolina Bar Trial and Appellate Advocacy Council for more than 5 years. For the first ten years of her career, she was an active member of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division, earning the Young Lawyer of the Year Award from the Bar in 2018.

Lyndey is passionate about mentoring law students and young lawyers in the profession. She has served as a mentor for first year law students through the University of South Carolina School of Law for more than a decade and also mentors third year law students through the John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court.

Community Involvement
Lyndey has also been a volunteer with the United Way of the Midlands for over a decade. She has served on the United Way's Executive Committee for the organization's Women in Philanthropy affinity group, member of the annual Campaign Cabinet, served on the Board of Directors, and on the Executive Committee of the organization's Young Leaders Society.

Within Adams & Reese, Lyndey is a co-Liaison Partner for Associate Development, mentoring and guiding more than 80 associates within the Firm. She is also the Firm's Pro Bono Coordinator for Columbia office. In addition, Lyndey consistently volunteers with and guides the Firm's HUGS Committee, through which she assists in implementing community service activities in Columbia. She has twice received the Firm's HUGS Volunteer of the Year award.

Recognitions
" Influential Women of Law - South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
" Legal Elite of the Midlands - Business Litigation, Estate & Trust - Litigation, Columbia Business Monthly
" Best Lawyers® Ones To Watch - Commercial Litigation
" South Carolina Rising Stars® (by Thomson Reuters) - Appellate
" University of South Carolina School of Law - Alumni Council Compleat Lawyer Award Silver Award
" South Carolina Bar - Young Lawyer of the Year
" Columbia Metropolitan Magazine - Capital Young Professionals Award
" South Carolina Bar - Young Lawyers Division President's Award
" Columbia Business Monthly Magazine - Best and Brightest 35 and Under
" University of South Carolina School of Law - Alumni Council Bronze Compleat Lawyer Award

Educational Background
University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. (2012)
Furman University, B.A. (2009)

 

Regina Hollins Lewis is an attorney and the owner of Lewis Law and Mediation, LLC. She is also Of Counsel to Collins and Lacy law firm in Columbia and has over 38 years of experience in civil litigation, appellate practice, and mediation. She focuses her practice in the area of mediation and has extensive litigation experience in the areas of tort and employment defense, having represented retailers, other employers and insureds in a broad range of matters, including catastrophic injuries and wrongful death claims, false arrest and malicious prosecution, third-party security claims, professional negligence pharmacy claims, and products liability claims, discrimination and wrongful termination claims.

Regina received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Carolina in 1984 and her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland in Baltimore in 1987. After practicing as an associate in the litigation department of a large Maryland corporate defense law firm and directing a non-profit legal clinic for abuse survivors, Regina was appointed as an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Maryland in 1994 and represented the state in civil litigation and criminal appellate matters.

Regina subsequently relocated back to her home state of South Carolina and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 2000. She was then employed as Special Counsel of a large corporate defense firm and was subsequently elected to membership at the firm. She practiced in the Employment and Labor and Business Litigation practice groups until she started the law firm of Gaffney Lewis & Edwards along with two partners in 2007. After 17 years in business, the firm, most recently named Lewis Blain, merged with Collins and Lacy.

Regina was certified as a mediator by the South Carolina Supreme Court in 2008. Her extensive experience has enabled her to effectively facilitate disputes between parties and assist the parties in reaching resolution. She is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest such rating available to any individual lawyer and representing a legal ability of “very high to preeminent.” She is a member of the South Carolina Bar and previously served on the Judicial Qualifications Committee and the Lawyer Image Taskforce. Regina has presented at numerous CLE sessions sponsored by the Bar and other organizations. She has been recognized in Legal Elite of the Midlands, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America and was named 2024 and 2026 Lawyer of the Year for Mediation in Columbia by Best Lawyers in America. Regina has served as a Commissioner on the South Carolina State Ethics Commission and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals, the John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court and a Fellow of the Liberty Fellowship, a statewide leadership initiative

Roger M. Young, Sr. the son of the late Rev. James W. Young and Joyce L. Young. He grew up in North Charleston, and in 1980 graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the Baptist College at Charleston, which is now known as Charleston Southern University. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1983 with the degree of Juris Doctor, and with the degree of Master of Judicial Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2000.

While in private practice, Judge Young also served as a Municipal Judge for the City of North Charleston from 1988-90. He was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1990 and served two terms. He was Master-in-Equity for Charleston County from 1996 until July 1, 2003, when he became a Circuit Court Judge for the 9^th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. He has also served concurrently as a Business Court Judge for SC since it was created in 2007 and is Chief Administrative Judge of the South Carolina Business Court.

He was President of the South Carolina Circuit Court Judges Association from 2012-14.

Theile B. McVey is managing partner at Kassel McVey, a personal injury law firm based in Columbia, SC. McVey has dedicated her career solely to representing plaintiffs.