Event Information

Betsy Rader is the District Director of the EEOC's Charlotte District, which includes six offices in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She is a member of the Senior Executive Service.

Prior to joining the EEOC in 2023, Ms. Rader was Regional Director of the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S.  Department of Education.  She also served as Senior Counsel for a non-profit healthcare system, the largest employer in Ohio.  Her prior experience includes representing workers in her own employment law firm, running a government agency advocating for abused children, and conducting business and employment litigation at an international law firm.

She graduated from Yale Law School in 1986 after receiving a B.A. summa cum laude in Classics from The Ohio Sate University.  Following law school, she was judicial clerk for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  Her volunteer work has included serving as Vice-President of the Board for the Cleveland Legal Aid Society, serving on the Board of the Ohio Employment Lawyers Association, and service as President of the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel.

 

I grew up in a single-family home with a Mom who worked her ass off to support my sister and me.  I am a product of blue-collar middle class American culture and I did everything that it told me to do.  On the outside, I was the poster child for “success.”  I worked hard in school and went to an Ivy League university.  I eventually ended up as a public school educator.  I got married and had all the material things that money could buy and were supposed to make me happy including a new home and car.  And yet, on the inside, I felt empty and alone.  Something was missing.   

A series of acute panic attacks that lasted for several years sent me on a downward spiral.  The sensations that arose in my body were unfamiliar and uncomfortable.  This led me on a journey of deep self-exploration.  Throughout the last 15 years I have ventured beyond the limits of my comfort and confronted parts of my being that had been ignored.  These discovered parts of myself revealed an inner-landscape that was worth exploring.  With the guidance of many teachers, mentors, and spiritual guides, I eventually started to find my way home.  

Home is an embodied presence that requires you to turn inward.  This is a courageous act because there will be moments when fear or doubt arise and you want to stop.  The commitment to stay on the path, even when you know that intense emotions will arise, is what will lead to a life of incredible wholeness.  I am here to serve others on the path to cultivating an embodied presence that is confident, clear, creative, and heart-centered.  To serve in this role is an honor and I have such deep gratitude for those who trust me to walk with them.  

Professional Experience 

I have served children and families for 20 years in several different capacities including teacher, school counselor, and coach.  I joined the Peace Corps after college and worked at a public high school in northern Romania as an English teacher and boys’ basketball coach.  This experience dramatically impacted my worldview and opened my eyes to so much about the human experience.  When my panic attacks started, I was introduced to the practice of mindfulness.  For the first time in my adult life, I became aware of my body.  I was invited to pay attention to my breath, something I had never done before, and it was intense.  It also provided a sense of comfort and I wanted more.  This eventually led me to India where I completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training.  I continued to explore other practices that invited me to live from the inside-out in order to bring my physical state back into balance.  These practices include breathwork, sound healing, and somatic movement.  Throughout my professional journey, I have learned how to incorporate these modalities into my work with others so that they can experience the fullness of being alive. 

Somatic Journey 

My life has always been filled with movement.  I fell in love with soccer before I started kindergarten, even though my first baby pictures were taken with a football in my hand.  By the time I was in elementary school, I was on a football, baseball, basketball, and soccer team.  When I wasn't at some kind of practice, I was exploring the woods behind my elementary school with my best friend building forts and catching tadpoles in the creek.  I eventually chose to focus on football and played until my sophomore year at Cornell University.  When an injury forced me into early retirement I turned my attention to long-distance running.  Over the next 8 years, I completed 11 marathons.  I then spent 2 years competing in triathlons and finished the Ironman at Panama City Beach.  After many weekends of riding hundreds of miles, I decided to train for a ride across the United States.  In 2011, I rode my bike from Seattle to Washington DC with the American Lung Association's Big Ride Across America.  It was absolutely one of the greatest accomplishments of my life.  I have spent the last several years exploring other forms of movement including yoga and different styles of dance.  I am particularly called to West Coast Swing, Ecstatic Dance, and Contact Improv.  I believe that movement is the medicine that can heal us from so much pain.   

Chan is a trial lawyer regularly handling employment, contract, corporate, and immigration matters in Georgia, South Carolina, and Washington D.C.  Prior to embarking on his career as an attorney, Chan served in the Foreign Service as Press Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul-where he earned the U.S. Department of State's Employee of the Year Award-and worked as a communications specialist for Samsung, a South Korea-based global conglomerate. He has also worked as a fashion designer, as a wine consultant, as an interpreter/translator, and as a tour guide in Western Europe.

Chan earned his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served as the Special Projects Editor of the South Carolina Journal of International Law & Business (SCJILB) and worked as a research assistant for Prof. Marie C. Boyd. 

Chan has actively participated in the South Carolina Bar's Public Programs, including lecturing in multiple Law School for Non-Lawyers (LSNL) sessions and speaking for the Law Talk program.
 

Daniel assists multinational corporate clients with their complex U.S. immigration needs, including nonimmigrant visas, permanent residence, and compliance issues. Daniel has experience advising both small and large corporations across a range of industries including technology, finance, e-commerce and transportation. Daniel’s areas of focus include: H-1B, L-1, E-3, & TN nonimmigrant visas, as well as PERM and EB-1 immigrant petitions, and Adjustment of Status applications.

Education

Campbell University School of Law

• J.D., 2017

Utica College of Syracuse University

• B.S., 2010

Bar & Court Admissions

• North Carolina, 2017
• North Carolina Supreme Court

Honors & Recognitions

• Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® "Ones to Watch" for Labor and Employment Law - Management (2025)

Professional & Civic Associations

• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
• American Bar Association, International Law Section
• North Carolina Bar Association, International Law Section

Press Room

• How Employers Can Stay Compliant with U.S. Immigration Laws: Complimentary Webinar by Constangy

4.23.25

• Constangy Presents Webinar on H-1B Cap and Registration Process

11.22.24

• In the News: Justin Coffey and Daniel Ball Review Changes to H-1B Visa for HR.com

3.5.24 

David Dubberly is an employment and labor lawyer with Maynard Nexsen in Columbia, S.C.  He is certified by the S.C. Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law and represents companies in trade secrets, non-compete, whistleblower, discrimination and harassment, OSHA, wage and hour, and other cases. 

David is a former chair of the S.C. Supreme Court Employment and Labor Law Specialization Advisory Board; S.C. Bar Employment and Labor Law Section; S.C. Bar International Law Committee; ABA Section of International Law Committee on International Employment Law; and ABA Section of International Law Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S.   

He is a current or former member of the boards of the Midlands Technical College Foundation; S.C. Chamber of Commerce; and Columbia Urban League. 

David grew up in Uruguay and is fluent in Spanish.  He graduated from Bob Jones University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, and he served as law clerk to the Honorable Curtis G. Shaw of the S.C. Court of Appeals.

Nick has exclusively practiced U.S. Immigration Law for his entire legal career. In 2008, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Immigration Litigation through the Attorney General's Honors Program. For more than a decade he litigated a wide range of issues on behalf of the federal government. Nick now draws on that experience to help clients whose visa petitions have been arbitrarily denied or unreasonably delayed. He also represents companies subject to government immigration compliance investigations.

Prior to law school, Nick spent four years teaching English in Japan, where he developed a firsthand understanding for the challenges and rewards that come from working abroad on an employment visa. Since entering private practice in 2019, Nick has worked with clients, both individuals and companies , to prepare and file a wide range of immigrant and nonimmigrant employment visa petitions and applications. Nick has experience representing established companies, startup entrepreneurs, academia and nonprofits. 

Nick regularly presents on immigration law topics at bar association CLE programs, universities, and civic organizations. He is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, South Carolina, and the District of Columbia and is admitted to appear in numerous federal courts. He is a graduate of Davidson College, with honors in Political Science (2001) and the Charleston School of Law, magna cum laude (2008). He is an adult volunteer with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) and an Eagle Scout.

Desirae C. Thomas represents clients in all aspects of labor and employment law. Desirae's services range from advising on everyday employment needs to offering in-depth analysis and strategic guidance for litigation, as well as representing clients in legal matters.
Desirae regularly represents pro bono clients in housing matters. She is a graduate of the Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute at the Michigan State University College of Law.
Prior to joining the firm, Desirae represented clients in complex litigation disputes in North Carolina. She has advised clients at various levels of litigation, from fact investigation through the appeals process.  Her experience includes labor and employment, breach of contract, independent and regulatory investigations, securities issues, health care and other general business litigation matters. 

Florence C. Thompson is an associate in the Charlotte, North Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice focuses on representing employers in a wide variety of workplace law matters, including preventive advice and counseling.

Florence represents employers in a broad range of employment-related disputes and litigation in state and federal court, including claims brought under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and North Carolina's Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act. Florence cares about each client and their outcomes. With experience both in litigating and advising, Florence seeks to provide her clients in-depth and comprehensive advice.

Prior to joining Jackson Lewis, Florence was an associate at a boutique law firm representing and advising employers and individuals in employment law matters. Florence represented clients in state and federal courts in matters related to, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, unfair competition, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and wage and hour violations. She also prepared employment and severance agreements and assisted businesses with internal investigations and administrative proceedings.

During law school, Florence received several accolades, including being inducted into the Order of the Barristers; membership in the Moot Court Board; quarterfinalist at the Campbell Moot Court Board Competition; semifinalist at the Jessup International Law Regional Moot Court Competition; and semifinalist at the Constance Baker Motley Regional Mock Trial Competition. When she is not in the office, Florence can be found hiking, training for half marathons and races of other distances, or rooting for Alabama football and UVA basketball.

Education
University of Alabama School of Law
J.D. 2019
University of Virginia
B.A. 2016

Admitted to Practice
North Carolina - E.D. N.C.
2021
North Carolina - M.D. N.C.
2022
North Carolina - W.D. N.C.
2020
North Carolina
2019
South Carolina
2022

Professional Associations and Activities
John S. Leary Bar Association of Black Attorneys
Mecklenburg County Bar Association
North Carolina State Bar Association
South Carolina State Bar Association

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. 

• Employee theft of trade secrets
• Enforcement of restrictive covenants, such as covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality agreements
• Employment discrimination pursuant to Title VII, the ADA, and the ADEA
• Wage claims pursuant to the FLSA and the SC Payment of Wages Act
• ERISA litigation
• Administrative investigations and enforcement pursuant to OSHA and the NLRA
• State unemployment insurance tax appeals
• Development and implementation of employment policies and employee handbooks

Jeffrey Hirsch, Geneva Yeargan Rand Distinguished Professor of Law, joined Carolina Law in 2011. He served as Associate Dean for Strategy from 2016-2018 and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2013-2016. 

Hirsch’s teaching and research focuses on labor and employment law issues, and he has authored numerous books, book chapters, articles, and essays on topics including technology in the workplace, unions, and dismissal law. His article Regulatory Pragmatism at Work was selected for the 2008 Seton Hall Labor & Employment Law Scholars’ Forum, and his co-authored article Comparative Wrongful Dismissal Law: Reassessing American Exceptionalism was selected for Princeton University’s 2012 Comparative Law Works in Progress Workshop. 

He is an editor of the Workplace Prof Blog, executive committee member of the Labor Law Group, research fellow at the NYU Center for Labor & Employment Law, former chair of the AALS Labor Relations & Employment Law Section, and former president of the Southeastern Association of Law Schools. Professor Hirsch received University of Tennessee’s Marilyn V. Yarbrough Faculty Award for Writing Excellence in 2007, Carolina Law’s Charles E. Daye Award for Excellence in Service in 2018, and Carolina Law’s Frederick B. McCall Award for Teaching Excellence in 2019, and in 2021 the Paul Steven Miller Award for outstanding academic and public contributions to the field of labor and employment law.

Hirsch earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia; Master of Public Policy from the College of William & Mary; and J.D. from the NYU School of Law, where he received the ABA/BNA Prize for Excellence in Labor & Employment Law and Seymour Goldstein Prize for Academic Excellence in Labor Relations. He then clerked for Judge Haldane Mayer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Judge Robert Beezer, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; litigated in the National Labor Relations Board’s Appellate Court Branch; and taught for several years at the University of Tennessee College of Law, as well as Vanderbilt University Law School as a visiting professor.

Education

• J.D. (cum laude), New York University Law School (1998)
• M.P.P., College of William and Mary (1995)
• B.A. (cum laude), American Government and Economics, University of Virginia (1992)

Jennifer Harling, OLR’s Chief Labor Relations Officer (CLRO), has more than ten years of labor relations experience. Jennifer leads OLR's work with county labor partners to both improve labor relations and build a model program that incorporates interest-based bargaining principles. As CLRO, Jennifer provides guidance to County leadership with respect to the administration of the County’s collective bargaining agreements and serves as the County's Chief Negotiator in collective bargaining. 

Joshua Van Kampen is a multi-award winning employment attorney, solely dedicated to protecting those who have been wronged by their employers. Recognized statewide for his niche specialization in plaintiff-side employment representation, Josh has consistently been ranked one of the Top 100 attorneys in the state of North Caroline by SuperLawyers from 2017-2025, and has been named one of Charlotte’s Top 25 attorneys, across all areas of practice, from 2018-2023 and again in 2025. Josh is proud to be among the youngest attorneys in North Carolina to belong to this elite group and receive these recognitions so consistently. 

 Management Trained
 
 The road to plaintiff-side employment representation began on the opposite side of the negotiation table. Having started his career in Chicago in 1998, Josh cut his teeth at two nationally recognized employment law defense firms: Seyfarth Shaw and Franczek Sullivan. During his six years as a defense attorney, Josh represented companies ranging from Fortune 500s to SMBs, counseling them on matters related to age, race, gender, disability, compensation, litigation avoidance, and sexual harassment training. 

 Plaintiff Focused
 
 From the onset, Josh knew that he sought more from his law career. Despite winning major cases for his defense clients, he felt increasingly dissatisfied by his personal misalignment with the outcomes: working in a profession where success for a client often came at the expense of honest, hardworking people and their families, who simply lacked the resources to adequately defend themselves against a large employer. The emotional toll of feeling like he was defending the wrong party finally led Josh to leave Chicago and move to North Carolina in 2004, forgoing a comfortable salary to start his own firm and transition his practice from defending employers to exclusively representing victims of employment law cases. Today, Van Kampen Law is regarded as one of the most effective and aggressive plaintiff-side employment law firms in the state. Josh’s experience working for large defense firms has proven to be invaluable in shaping the perspective he brings to his plaintiff clients today, allowing him to anticipate defense tactics well in advance, bringing proactive strategies and invaluable opposing perspectives to every client’s case. 


 Heart Centered
 
 After visiting Costa Rica in 2021, Josh had a realization that would profoundly alter his approach towards his vocation, and building his practice. Spending time in unobstructed nature helped reawakened Josh to the truth of his own: that more than an attorney, he sees himself as a brave, compassionate, heart-centered leader and companion to those whom he employs and the clients that he represents. In a profession that beats the heart out of law students and teaches them to think only with their minds, Josh had a vision to build a firm that would blaze the trail for the next generation of heart-centered legal professionals who see their work not only as a livelihood-sustaining, but soul-sustaining as well.

Passionate Advocate
 
 In addition to building a law firm for the next generation, Josh is active in the legal community as a frequent lecturer on employment law issues and negotiation strategy. He has also assumed several leadership roles within the plaintiff-side employment law bar in North Carolina, currently serving as vice-chairman of the Mecklenburg County Bar Association’s Labor and Employment section and previously serving as chairman and ethics chair of the North Carolina Advocates for Justice’s Employment Law Section. Josh has served on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Employment Law Executive Committee for several years. He is also a member of the National Employment Lawyers Association and Southern Trial Lawyers Association. 

Keisha Murray counsels and represents employers in an array of employment law matters. With proficiency across all phases of litigation, Keisha has experience defending clients facing claims of discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. She also has experience representing clients before administrative agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and in state and federal court.

Keisha has successfully conducted mediations and settlement negotiations. Bolstering her experience, she earned an Employment Law Certificate from Cornell University, demonstrating her commitment to excellence in the field.

Keisha is active in the legal community and serves on the Mecklenburg Bar Association Board of Directors, the Mecklenburg Bar Association DE&I committee, and the North Carolina Bar Association Labor & Employment Law CLE committee.

Prior to joining O’Hagan Meyer, Keisha was a business litigation associate at an international law firm. Previously, Keisha served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Alison Renee Lee in South Carolina’s Fifth Judicial Circuit.

Education

• B.A. from the College of Charleston.
• J.D. from the Charleston School of Law.
• Employment Law Certificate from Cornell University

Admissions

• United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
• United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
• United States District Court for the District of South Carolina

States Licensed

• North Carolina
• South Carolina 

Attorney Nicole Patino is a North Carolina Employment Law Specialist and a zealous advocate for her clients. She loves the practice of Labor and Employment Law and considers herself lucky each day she gets to practice.

Attorney Patino graduated from Elon University School of Law where she was a staff member of the Elon Law Review in 2013-2014 and became Notes and Comments Editor during the 2014-2015 school year.  Nicole was a law clerk with the Law Offices of Fred T. Hamlet during her second and third year in law school.  She continued her legal career as an associate with Law Offices of Fred T. Hamlet for five years until Mr. Hamlet's passing.  Her goal is to honor his memory and work with the same dedication and devotion to the ethical practice of law.

Before attending law school, Attorney Patino worked as a substance abuse counselor where she gained knowledge of HIPAA, FMLA, federal privacy laws, and medical records.  She also gained experience working with EAPs, human resources personnel, employers, and employees.  Attorney Patino uses her knowledge of medical records and medical practices in her representation of medical practices, nurses, and in litigating cases which require medical knowledge.

Education
Law School: Elon University School of Law - J.D. 2015
Graduate Degree:  Virginia Tech - M.A. English - 2007
Undergraduate: Virginia Tech - 2005

Memberships:
North Carolina State Bar
Greensboro Bar Association
High Point Bar Association
North Carolina Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)

Admitted to practice before the following courts:
North Carolina Supreme Court
U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
 

Liam Duffy is a dynamic, high-motor trial lawyer with significant experience in complex, high-stakes injury and wrongful death cases. In the last several years alone, he has obtained over $110 million in jury verdicts and settlements on behalf of clients.

Liam’s practice focuses on representing people who have suffered catastrophic injuries—or families who have lost a loved one—because of negligent conduct. He has handled a variety of cases involving issues of workplace safety, products liability, tractor-trailer collisions, power line safety, dram shop liability, and more. And he has faced off in courtrooms against some of the world’s largest corporations including electrical utility companies, consumer and automotive product manufacturers, trucking companies, road construction contractors, and retail and hospitality enterprises.

Some of Liam’s recent results include:

• $21 million verdict against Dominion Energy for the wrongful death of a landscaper who was electrocuted by an overhead powerline while trimming palm trees.
• $16 million against Cadence Education, one of the nation’s largest daycare chains, for the wrongful death of an infant as a result of violations of safe sleep protocols.
• $15.75 million against multiple defendants, including Sunbelt Rentals, for an injured worker in Louisiana who suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of a defective scaffold and unsafe worksite.
• $9.75 million against a regional distributor for a global beer brand, its employee, and a dram shop defendant for injuries caused by the distributor’s employee while drunk driving.

Today’s world is technology-driven, and Liam’s practice is no different. He has a creative and forward-thinking approach to his cases and has spent hundreds of hours working to master and incorporate the latest, cutting-edge trial and case management technologies to better communicate with juries and advance his clients’ interests in the courtroom.

Because of his experience and commitment to his craft, Liam is regularly sought out as a speaker on litigation and trial strategy.  He has presented at numerous seminars hosted by organizations including the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Association for Justice, the Injured Workers Advocates, the Kentucky Justice Association, the Louisiana Association for Justice, and the Attorneys Information Exchange Group.  He has published numerous articles in AAJ’s Trial Magazine and SCAJ’s Justice Bulletin, and is the primary author of the leading treatise, Dealing with Objections to Written Discovery: The Modern Approach to Discovery Objections in SC State and Federal Courts. Year after year, Liam has been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of South Carolina’s “Rising Stars.”

Liam is also active in legal and community organizations. He is a member of the Attorneys Information Exchange Group (AIEG), the American Association for Justice (AAJ), and serves as the Legal Tech Chair and member of the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ). Liam’s professional leadership and community involvement recently earned him recognition as the South Carolina Bar’s 2023 Young Lawyer of the Year.

Matt is an experienced litigator in Greenville, South Carolina representing individuals and businesses in labor and employment law disputes. Matt has tried dozens of jury trials across South Carolina and litigates in state and federal courts.

Matt handles cases involving workplace discrimination, retaliation, harassment, wrongful termination, and unpaid wages and commissions. Matt represents individuals and companies in non-competition and trade secrets cases. Additionally, Matt negotiates employment contracts and severance agreements on behalf of his clients. Matt advises small businesses and start-ups on contract and human resource issues.

Matt regularly represents individuals and businesses in complex civil litigation ranging from insurance disputes to large multi-plaintiff tort actions.

Since 2021, Matt has been included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for outstanding professional excellence in private practice. Matt is regularly featured on television including being featured on Inside Edition, WYFF4, Fox Carolina, and Snapped on the Oxygen network.

Prior to founding Grove Ozment, Matt was a litigator in the Greenville office of Jackson Lewis P.C., an Am Law 100 law firm. Additionally, Matt served as a judicial clerk to United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker in the District of South Carolina and for Judge William H. Seals, Jr. in the South Carolina Circuit Court.

Matt graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law where he served on the editorial staff of the American Bar Association Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal. Prior to law school, Matt attended the University of Georgia, graduating Cum Laude with Honors in 2007.

Matt and his wife Whitney have three daughters along with three dogs and three horses. They are members of Village Anglican Church. Matt enjoys anything outside, golf, and Georgia Bulldog football.

Bar Admissions: 

• South Carolina 2010
• District of South Carolina 2016
• Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals 2021

Primary Practice Areas: 

Employment Law
Business Litigation

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Greenville County Bar
• South Carolina Bar
• Federal Bar Association, Board of Directors for South Carolina Chapter

Mike Carrouth is a partner in the Columbia office. He is certified as a Specialist in Labor Law by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Mike has represented clients in successfully responding to union organizing efforts in 30 states.

This work includes successfully defending against multi-site and multi-state national organizing blitzes and card-check/neutrality campaigns. Mike also has represented clients in numerous litigation matters, including jury trials, involving Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Title VII, breach of employment contract, and non-compete enforcement. He practices before state and federal courts, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and state and federal administrative agencies in the areas of union-related matters, employment litigation, discrimination cases, non-compete agreements, and wrongful discharge cases.

Mike is a frequent speaker at seminars on labor and employment and litigation matters. He has written several articles, including "The Impact of the Civil Rights Act of 1991 on Employment Litigation" and "What the General Practitioner Should Know About Employer Liabilities in Conducting Job Interviews."

Mike is “AV” Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been selected for inclusion in South Carolina Super Lawyers since 2008. He has been listed in Chambers USA, America's Leading Business Lawyers since 2005 and in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007.

He was selected by his peers to be one of Greater Columbia Business Monthly's Legal Elite in 2011 and 2013. 

EXPERIENCE:

Bar Admissions

           South Carolina 

Court Admissions

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina

Nancy Zisk is a Professor of Law at Charleston School of Law. She earned her bachelor's degree and law degree from Duke University. Formerly in private practice with Akin,Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, and Ross, Dixon & Bell, both in Washington, D.C., she began teaching at the Charleston School of Law in 2004 where she has taught Employment Discrimination, Torts and Remedies. She speaks and publishes in the areas of bioethics in health care, employment discrimination, equal pay, and the issues of race and gender in the workplace and college and graduate school education. Professor Zisk is a member of the bar in the District of Columbia and Virginia.

Nicole is a 2022 graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she graduated with honors. In law school, Nicole served as the President of the Pro Bono Board, as a Senior Articles Editor on the South Carolina Journal of International Law and Business, and as a member of the John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court. In law school, Nicole was the recipient of the Hugh L. Willcox Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year Award, the Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, and the Susan McCrary Award.

In the first few years of her career, Nicole practiced immigration law. Her focus was on complex employment- based NIV/ IV matters, specifically EB-1, L-1, O-1, R-1, EB-2 National Interest Waivers, E-2, E-3, and other areas. Nicole has experience closely collaborating with a wide range of employers, international business investors, and professionals in specialty occupations.

Nicole currently serves as co-counsel for the University of South Carolina School of Law’s Domestic Violence Clinic and as a certified Barre3 Instructor at Barre3 Columbia.

Education

• University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2022
• University of South Carolina Upstate, B.S., Experimental Psychology, Minors: Spanish, Child Advocacy Studies, 2018

Admissions

• South Carolina, 2022

Certifications & Memberships

• Richland County Bar Association
• American Immigration Lawyers Association
• Barre3 Certified Instructor 

Samantha Albrecht is an attorney in the Lovely Law Firm’s Goose Creek, South Carolina office. Her passion for justice and commitment to her clients drive her career, making her an invaluable asset to our team. 

With a focus on employment law, Samantha tackles a wide range of issues, including workplace discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation, defamation, and more. She also extends her advocacy to civil rights law, frequently taking on Title VII discrimination cases against both public and private employers. Samantha’s work in education law has included representing individuals in cases against colleges and public schools, emphasizing her commitment to ensuring fair and equitable educational environments.

Samantha is a fierce litigator with an unrelenting determination to hold individuals, businesses, and public agencies accountable for their actions. Her dedication to her clients and the pursuit of justice is a testament to her passion for upholding the principles of equality and fairness in the legal arena. 

Before joining The Lovely Law Firm, Samantha spent seven years practicing employment and education law in Columbia, South Carolina. She graduated cum laude from Northern Illinois University College of Law. 

Samantha is admitted to the bar in South Carolina, North Carolina, and New York, enabling her to extend her legal advocacy across multiple jurisdictions and provide comprehensive support to clients in need. Her diverse background, dedication to her practice, and fervent belief in the power of the law to effect positive change make her a dynamic and valuable advocate.

Beyond her legal pursuits, Samantha’s altruistic spirit shines through her volunteer efforts, whether building schools or combating chemical waste contamination in Nicaragua— Samantha’s volunteer and professional work are an embodiment of her profound commitment to serving others. 

Professional Associations

• South Carolina Bar
  -Young Lawyers Division
• American Bar Association
• Richland County Bar Association
• South Carolina Women Lawyers Association
• South Carolina Association for Justice
• American Association for Justice 

Awards & Honors

• “Legal Elite of the Midlands,” by Columbia Business Monthly in Education and Labor and Employment, 2020 to present
• “Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch,” Labor and Employment Law – Employee, 2024
• South Carolina Young Lawyers Division Star of the Quarter 2018

Judge Shiva V. Hodges was appointed to the bench of the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina as a Magistrate Judge in 2010, where she has presided over bench and jury trials while managing employment discrimination and other civil cases, social security appeals, habeas corpus petitions, and prisoner civil rights actions. Additionally, Judge Hodges’s criminal duties include initial appearances, arraignments, detention/bond hearings, criminal complaints, search warrants, and grand jury matters. In addition to her formal role as a Magistrate Judge, she routinely handles mediations at the request of District Judges and federal practitioners. Before her appointment, Judge Hodges served as a career law clerk for six years to then-Chief District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. Prior to entering public service, she was a litigator for Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP, handling employment disputes, general civil disputes, and bankruptcy matters, practicing in the federal and state courts of South Carolina and North Carolina.

She obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina’s Honors College, a Juris Doctor from the USC School of Law, and a Master in International Business Studies (Italian track) from the Darla Moore School of Business.

Judge Hodges taught Advanced Legal Writing at the USC School of Law from 2013–2016 and is active in legal education and mentoring programs for lawyers and students. She is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics, including employment law issues, e-discovery, ethics and social media, and evidentiary pitfalls. Judge Hodges enjoys judging mock trials and arguments, including at the Department of Justice’s National Advocacy Center and middle and high school competitions.

Education:   

University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina

Juris Doctor (May 2000)

University of South Carolina, Darla Moore School of Business, Columbia, South Carolina

Master of International Business Studies (MIBS) (May 2000)

Italian Track with Concentration in Management

Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi, Graduate School of Economics, Management, and Law, Milan, Italy (May–July 1998)        

University of South Carolina Honors College, Bachelor of Science, Biology major, Chemistry cognate (May 1996)

Licenses:

•        South Carolina Bar 2001 

•        North Carolina Bar 2000 (inactive)

Selected Professional Associations and Community Involvement    

•        Lawyers Without Borders Judges Advisory Council (2021–present)

•        Federal Magistrate Judges Association Executive Board of Directors: Vice President (2022), Treasurer (2021), Secretary (2020); Fourth Circuit Director (2017–2020); Chair of Budget and Finance Committee, Chair of History and Archives Committee, Chair of Magistrate Judge Caseload Analysis Committee, member of Diversity Committee, International Committee, Civics Education Committee, Convention Planning Committee

•        Leadership South Carolina Board of Directors (2020–present); Graduate of Class of 2018

•        Federal Bar Association

•        Richland County Bar Association

•        South Carolina Women Lawyers Association

•        Kosmos Town and Gown member (2020–present)  

•        Presiding judge over United States Probation Officer Investiture Ceremonies

•        Regular host to groups visiting federal courthouse (2004–2022)

•        Speaker and presiding judge in mock trials for the National Advocacy Center’s U.S. Attorneys training, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorney Association, middle and high school competitions

•        Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Alumni, former member Alumni Association Board of Directors

Publications:       

•       Authored thousands of opinions and orders since 2010 in federal civil cases, most available on Westlaw, Lexis/Nexis, and PACER

•        Forthcoming book on Social Security law and practice (expected 2023)

•        A Measured Approach to E-Discovery: A Federal Practitioner’s Guide to the Civil and Ethical Rules Governing E-Discovery, 64 S.C. L. Rev. 755 (2013)

•        South Carolina Lawyer July 2005 article: “Getting With the Program: Electronic Case Filing in the District of South Carolina,” co-authored with Virginia L. Vroegop, Esq.

•        Editorial Board, Appellate Practice in South Carolina (2d ed.) by Chief Justice Jean Hoefer Toal, Shahin Vafai, Esq., and Robert A. Muckenfuss, Esq. (SC Bar CLE Publication 2002)

•        Editorial Board of An ECF Survival Guide: Electronic Case Filing in the United States District Court for the District Court of South Carolina by Wyche, Burgess, Freeman & Parham, P.A. (SC Bar CLE Publication 2005)

•        Contributor to Best Friends at the Bar: What Women Need to Know About a Career in the Law by Susan Blakely, Esq. (Aspen Legal Publishers, 2009)

•        Assisted with Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.’s speech to the South Carolina Rule of Law Conference, a program of the World Justice Project sponsored by the American Bar Association (National Advocacy Center October 11, 2007)

•        Assisted with The Lost Art: An Advocate’s Guide to Effective Closing Argument (3d ed.) by Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. (SC Bar CLE Publication 2008)

•        Assisted with Effective Courtroom Advocacy by Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. (NITA 2009)

Selected Speaking Engagements and Honors:

•        2020 Matthew J. Perry Civility Award, Richland County Bar Association

•        Cochair for April 2023 Roadways to the Bench Event in Columbia, SC

•        Hilton Head Bar Association Super CLE speaker on Tips from the Bench (2/7/22)

•        Leadership South Carolina speaker on Implicit Bias: How it affects decisions (9/9/21, 9/9/20)

•        2020 SC Bar Convention panelist for Corporate, Banking, and Securities Section on Implicit Bias and How to Address it to Better Serve Your Clients (1/24/20)

•        2019 Annual Judicial Conference: Staff Attorneys and Law Clerks session panelist on Implicit Bias (9/17/19)

•        USC School of Law Employment Law Society, Inaugural Speaker on Federal Employment Practice (2/25/19)

•        Women in Law/Richland County Bar Association Panel Speaker (2/20/19)

•        2019 South Carolina Women Lawyers Association Annual Conference Federal Practice: Advice from the Bench (11/8/19)

•        South Carolina Supreme Court Institute: Teacher Training on Federal Courts (2017–present)

•        Federal Bar Association Summer Associates Seminar at Matthew J. Perry Courthouse, Presenter (2007–2019)

•        Bridge the Gap, Federal Court Practice in South Carolina, Speaker (three times per year 2010–2017)

•        Carolinas Business Litigation Year in Review: A View from the Bench (2/9/18)

•        Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Lecturer of five-part Series on Faith and Technology: Raising Families in a Tech-Savvy World (2018)

•        SC Bar Employment Law Essentials CLE, Litigating Employment Law Claims, Speaker (2014–2019)

•        SC Bar Webcast Wednesday, Speaker, A Pragmatic Approach to Federal Practice (10/4/2017)

•        2016 Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference Magistrate Judges meeting speaker, 2015 Federal Rule Changes

•        2016 Association of Corporate Counsel Annual Meeting panelist, Emerging Issues in Electronic Discovery (11/8/16)

•        South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association speaker: Ethics and Social Media (5/1/2016)

•        USC School of Law Tech Series speaker: Blurred Lines: Social Media and Ethics (9/2/2015)

•        USC School of Law Class Reunion, CLE speaker: Ethics and Social Media (10/17/14)

•        Guest Lecturer for various classes at USC School of Law, including Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr.’s Evidence class, Professor Eichhorn’s Advanced Civil Procedure class, Professor Leonardi’s Legal Writing and E-discovery classes, Professor Durant’s E-discovery class, Professor Virzi’s Legal Writing class, Judge Lockemy’s American Legal History, and USC Honors College pre-law courses

•        South Carolina Association for Justice CLE speaker: Social Security: A View from the Bench (8/5/21, 8/7/14), Employment Law (8/2/18, 7/28/17)

•        South Carolina Law Review E-discovery Symposium panelist: Ethical Challenges in E-Discovery: Passwords, Privilege, Profiles, & Beyond (3/1/13)

•        SC Bar Law School for Journalists speaker on Federal Courts (12/12/12)

•        National Advocacy Center Federal Guidelines Seminar speaker: Ethical Issues for CJA Panel Attorneys (9/24/12)

•        E-Discovery CLE panelist in Charlotte, NC, Where Reality Meets the Law (1/18/12)

•        South Carolina Legal Services CLE speaker in Myrtle Beach, SC, Federal Practice in South Carolina (11/09/11)

•        NC/SC Labor and Employment Law Conference panelist in Charleston, SC, Insight from the Federal Bench (10/22/11)

•        Recipient, Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics Outstanding Alumna of the Year Inaugural Award, Inducted graduating students into the GSSM Alumni Association (5/28/11)

•        Girl Scouts Women of Distinction Dinner in Columbia, SC, Keynote Speaker (4/26/11)

•        South Carolina Law Review Symposium panelist in Columbia, SC, Judicial Ideology: Responses to How Judges Think by Richard Posner (10/22/10)

Personal

•        Naturalized American Citizen

•        Conversant in Farsi (Persian) and Italian, some French

•        Married to employment attorney R. Hayne Hodges III

•        Cooking, reading, traveling, and sports

•        Heathwood Hall Episcopal School Lacrosse play-by-play announcer 

Stephanie Ramia Sandifer practices primarily with the Clement Rivers, LLP Employment and Labor Law practice group. Stephanie assists both public and private employers in employment matters, including day-to-day employment issues, federal and state litigation, as well as proceedings before administrative agencies such as the EEOC, SC Human Affairs Commission, and the NLRB. 

Stephanie also has experience in representing clients in corporate dispute matters, asset purchase deals, personal injury, premises liability/professional liability matters. Prior to joining Clement Rivers, she served as a Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Supreme Court. In law school, Stephanie was the Research Editor of the Southeastern Environmental Law Journal and served as a representative for the Student Bar Association. 

She also worked for the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee and a Columbia law firm. Before law school, she worked for a large international business and litigation law firm in Washington, DC.

Admitted to Practice

South Carolina, 2011
U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, 2014
U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, 2016

Education

University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 2011
Dickinson College, with a B.A. in Political Science, 2006

Memberships and Activities

South Carolina Bar Association
Federal Bar Association, South Carolina Chapter (Board Member 2020 – present)
Charleston County Bar Association
American Bar Association
SC Women Lawyers Association
Junior League of Charleston
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Prior Community Outreach Center & Service Board Member

Publications & Lectures

• Co-Author, “Special Problems Relating To Race Discrimination” Labor and Employment Law for South Carolina Lawyers, Fifth Ed. Volume II, Chapter 22 (2019)
• Co-Author, “Clarifying the Public Policy Exception to At-Will Employment”, SCDTAA’s Defense Line (Vol. 43, No. 1, Spring 2015)
• Co-Author, “What to Expect When Employees are Expecting”, SCDTAA’s Defense Line (Vol. 42, No. 2, Winter 2014)
• “Smart Growth: the Toolbox for Addressing Sprawling Development in Coastal South Carolina,” 19 Southeastern Envtl. L.J. 173 (2010) 

Cullen represents management in employment litigation matters involving wage and hour disputes, breach of contract, restrictive covenants, unfair competition, discrimination, harassment, and unfair labor practice charges.  He also represents clients in commercial litigation matters, including such areas as trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, construction litigation, and other complex business litigation.  Cullen has represented clients at all stages of litigation in state and federal court and routinely represents clients in proceedings before the N.C. Department of Labor, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other federal and state agencies.

Cullen represents companies in a variety of industries, including healthcare, construction, transportation, manufacturing, retail, education, and finance.  In addition, Cullen counsels employers on a variety of issues, including reductions in force, terminations, regulatory compliance, and drafting effective employment agreements.

Prior to joining the firm, Cullen worked at Ford Harrison LLP, a labor and employment firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Cullen graduated cum laude from Emory University School of Law.  During law school, Cullen clerked for the Georgia Supreme Court.

Awards & Recognition

• Listed among Business North Carolina Magazine Legal Elite: Employment (2024-2025)
• Listed among North Carolina Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” Employment & Labor (2017-2024)

Professional & Community Activities

• North Carolina State Bar
• North Carolina Bar Association: Member, Labor and Employment Council, CLE Committee
• Georgia State Bar
• North Carolina Museum of History: Board Member, Executive Committee Member

Representative Experience

• In a recent case involving a large hospital system in which the plaintiff sought seven-figure recovery, Cullen obtained dismissal of plaintiff’s claims for breach of contract, defamation, and tortious interference on summary judgment, which decision was succesfully upheld on appeal
• In a recent JAMS arbitration, Cullen obtained a defense award in favor of the client on all counts, including claimant’s harassment and retaliation claims under Title VII
• In a bench trial before the Office of Administrative Law Judges, Cullen obtained a defense verdict in a federal whistleblower retaliation suit, which was successfully upheld on appeal
• In a recent trade secret action asserted against a cosmetics manufacturer, Cullen obtained dismissal of the plaintiff’s claims, which decision was successfully upheld by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
• In a recent restrictive covenant case, Cullen obtained temporary restraining orders against three employees barring them from continuing to work in violation of their non-competition agreements
• Represented subcontractor in breach of contract action arising from construction of apartment complex, resulting in favorable settlement for client
• Obtained decertification of collective action under the Fair Labor Standards Act, which resulted in settlement of over a hundred individual claims on favorable terms
• Represented client in action alleging trade secret misappropriation and breach of non-solicitation agreement in which opposing party sought seven-figure recovery. After prevailing on a motion to compel discovery, Cullen settled the matter on favorable terms at mediation

Reported Cases

• Van Dyke v. Virtue Labs, LLC, 2023 WL 1810508 (Fed. Cir. Ct. App. 2023)
• Van Dyke v. Virtue Labs, LLC, 2021 WL 5566505 (M.D.N.C. 2021)
• Hwang v. University of North Carolina Healthcare System, 882 S.E.2d 153 (N.C. App. 2023)
• Brier Creek Integrated Pain & Spine, PLLC v. U.S. Dep’t of Health and Human Services, 2019 WL 4207408 (E.D.N.C. 2019)
• Leslie v. Barclays Bank Delaware, 2017 WL 8220505 (N.D. Ga. 2017)
• Burdette v. ExpressJet, 2016 WL 454190 (DOL Adm. Rev. Bd. 2016)
• Zulauf v. Amerisave Mortgage Corp., 2013 WL 10300879 (N.D. Ga. 2013)
• Zulauf v. Amerisave Mortgage Corp., 911 F. Supp. 1266 (N.D. Ga. 2012)

Certifications

• North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Employment Law

Related Insights

• Objections to FOIA Request Requiring Disclosure of EEO-1 Reports Due by September 19, 2022
• Fourth Circuit Expands Scope of Potential “Same-Sex Harassment”
• What Employers Need to Know About the Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• DOL Implements New Joint Employer Rule
• Employment Law Newsletter: Getting a Handle on Employee Medical Leave

Speeches & Publications

• Supreme Court to Decide Whether Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Against LGBT Employees, Client Alert, May 2019
• Supreme Court’s 2018-2019 Term Could Impact Employers, Client Alert, October 2018
• Supreme Court Enforces Class Action Waivers in Employment Arbitration Agreements, Client Alert, May 2018
• The Resource: Trump Administration Reverses Obama-Era Employment Regulations, Issue 67 – Summer 2017
• BUT THEY’RE NOT MY EMPLOYEES?! – Fourth Circuit Holds that General Contractor Is Liable for Subcontractor’s Wage and Hour Violations, Client Alert, February 2017
• How Does HB2 Impact Private Companies?, Client Alert, April 2016
• The Resource: Getting a Handle on Employee Medical Leave, Issue 60, winter 2015
• The Resource: Employers Should Consider Revisiting Worker Classification and Compensation in Light of Proposed DOL Rules, Issue 62, summer 2015
• The Resource: Getting Into Hot Water: Costly But All Too Common Interview Mistakes, Issue 59, fall 2014
• “The Trouble With Tips Continues: Two Recent Court Actions Illustrate Ongoing Challenges Facing Hospitality Employers,” Legal Alert, February 2012
• “Out With the Old – In With the New: Time For Employers To Take Advantage of Georgia’s New Employer-Friendly Restrictive Covenant Statute,” Georgia Employment Law Letter, January 2012 

William H. Foster focuses his practice on issues of employment law, human resources, employee benefits and immigration on a local, regional and national basis. He advises and defends employers in employment-related matters, including:

- Discrimination and retaliation under federal and state equal employment opportunity laws
- State common law wrongful discharge
- Non-compete and trade secrets agreements and related litigation
- Employee benefits litigation under ERISA
- Immigration compliance
- Contract disputes
- Corporate investigations and risk management
- Allegations of sexual abuse

Bill's extensive experience includes numerous employment law and employee benefits class actions. He has defended clients in jury and non-jury cases in state and federal courts in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

Prior to joining Littler, Bill led the employment practice of a large South Carolina firm. After law school, Bill clerked for the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Bill is a frequent lecturer for both industry and legal forums. 

With over 30 years of experience, Wood focuses his practice on advising national employers on addressing the employment law challenges of operating in all 50 states. Wood often handles the employment litigation nationwide for these same companies.

Wood regularly defends employers in court and arbitration against single plaintiff, multi-plaintiff, and class or collective employment claims of all types, including Title VIII, FLSA, ADEA, ADA FMLA, and state-law wrongful termination claims.

Wood also routinely advises clients on the investigation, discipline, and termination of all levels of employees; wage and hour issues; whistleblower allegations; joint employment and independent contractor issues; restructuring; layoffs, and shutdown of facilities, including advice on the WARN act and severance issues; harassment or discrimination complaints; employee attendance or leave issues under FMLA, ADA, state workers' compensation laws, and ERISA benefit plans; workplace fatalities, OSHA investigations; and employment agreements, including non-competition and confidentiality agreements.

Additionally, Wood has extensive knowledge of ERISA litigation issues. He has advised and defended large employers against ERISA denial of benefit and breach of fiduciary duty claims arising out of pension and welfare benefit claims, including claims involving executive compensation, pension eligibility and calculation issues, and elimination or modification of retiree health care coverage.

Prior to joining the firm, Wood practiced at national and AM Law 100 firms where he held leadership positions. Wood also clerked in the Eastern District of Virginia for the Honorable Walter E. Hoffman.

Education

J.D., Washington and Lee, 1991

B.A., University of Virginia, 1988

Admissions

• North Carolina
• Virginia
• U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina
• U.S. Eastern District Court of Virginia and the Western District Court of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit