SCLW Construction Law Power List 2024

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CONSTRUCTION LAW

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BENJAMIN C. BRUNER PARTNER

PERSONAL INJURY

BRUNER POWELL WALL & MULLINS

COLUMBIA

A native of Columbia, Ben Bruner takes a practical approach to each client he represents, based on their individual goals and circumstances.

T H E

Throughout his practice, Bruner has gained experience in South Carolina trial and appellate courts, federal court, arbitration and administrative proceedings. He has handled cases involving construction law and projects ranging from single-family homes to commercial buildings and heavy highway construction.

Bruner earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he earned the Robert McCormick Figg Jr. Trial Advocacy Award and the Claud Sapp Award for scholarship, industry and leadership.

BRYAN P. KELLEY PARTNER

A clerkship after law school convinced Bryan Kelley to pursue his career in construction law.

“I clerked for a trial judge who presided over a warehouse construction dispute, and that was my first practical exposure to the legal issues that could come into play during a project,” he says. “I became interested in how the various trades on that project impacted one another and the project as a whole.”

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HEALTHCARE

While at USC Law, Bruner served as president of its Pro Bono Board, and today, he is a member of the Pro Bono Advisory Council. After law school, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable G. Thomas Cooper Jr. before joining Bruner Powell as an associate and then becoming a partner.

As a partner at Elmore Goldsmith Kelley & deHoll, Kelley represented contractors, developers and surety companies in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is a past chairman of the Bar’s Construction Law Section and co-authored the section’s “Construction Law Deskbook.”

The construction lawyers at his firm work together to bring value to their clients and focus on cost-effective and creative solutions to their problems.

“We call ourselves the ‘hard hat lawyers,’ and we pride ourselves on understanding the challenges our clients face during a project, both in the office and in the field,” he says.

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DAVID C. KIMBALL PARTNER

ROBINSON BRADSHAW ROCK HILL

For David Kimball, construction law is all in the family. His father was a construction lawyer and did some work as a developer.

“I grew up around development and construction,” Kimball says. “I am also a hands-on person and enjoy learning about how stuff works. Digging into the factual and legal issues in a construction defect matter is interesting and fun.”

As chair of Robinson Bradshaw’s Construction Practice Group, Kimball enjoys exercising his substantial experience with litigation and transactional matters, while focusing on bringing value to his clients by helping them solve disputes without spending outsized costs and time in litigation.

And at the end of the day, he strives to maintain a healthy balance.

“I strive to be both a good lawyer and a good human, which isn’t always easy,” he says. “I’m thankful to have achieved a successful law practice while focusing on my core priorities — God and my family.”

EMILY GIFFORD LUCEY

SHAREHOLDER

RICHARDSON PLOWDEN CHARLESTON

A shareholder at Richardson Plowden, Emily Lucey practices in the firm’s Charleston office, where she is a member of the firm’s Construction Law Practice Group.

Her statewide litigation practice focuses on construction law, including surety law and commercial litigation. She has represented national, regional and local companies in construction defect matters.

Across her career, she has defended design professionals in complex construction defect cases with millions of dollars in claimed damages; assisted sureties with investigations, defaults and indemnification actions; defended contractors and subcontractors in disputes related to multifamily construction; and assisted construction clients with contract review, dispute resolution and corporate issues.

Lucey has earned three degrees from the University of South Carolina — her bachelor’s, a master’s in public health and her law degree.

She is a certified circuit court mediator and a certified Circuit Court arbitrator.

LAURA F. LOCKLAIR

SHAREHOLDER AND CHARLESTON

OFFICE MANAGING ATTORNEY

BOYLE LEONARD & ANDERSON CHARLESTON

As managing attorney of Boyle Leonard’s Charleston office, Laura Locklair brings vast experience to representing owners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, architects and engineers in design and construction defect litigation involving commercial properties and residences.

She focuses her practice on representing policyholders relative to risk transfer issues in the commercial general liability context, insurance claim presentation, bad faith matters and commercial and business litigation.

In 2015, Locklair was nominated and held a seat on the General Counsel Construction Law Section for the South Carolina Bar.

Originally from Upstate South Carolina, she earned her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, graduating cum laude. When she’s not at work, she enjoys running, reading and spending time with her husband, Jason, and daughter, Gwen.

Boyle Leonard & Anderson, an insurance litigation firm, recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. In addition to its Charleston office, the firm has offices in Tampa, Florida, and Fort Myers, Florida.

CHRISTY E. MAHON MEMBER

SWEENY, WINGATE & BARROW COLUMBIA

As a member at Sweeny, Wingate & Barrow, Christy Mahon practices construction defects litigation, insurance law, personal injury and appellate advocacy.

She graduated summa cum laude from Regent University School of Law, where she earned the Outstanding Scholastic Achievement Award. She also was the external editor and articles editor for the Law Review.

Before joining SWB, Mahon was a staff attorney for the Supreme Court of South Carolina.

A South Carolina native, Mahon grew up in Cheraw. She is involved in children’s and nursing home ministries and volunteers with a nonprofit organization that assists elderly individuals, underprivileged children and those who are physically and mentally disabled.

She also enjoys running, playing tennis and painting.

LAURA E. PARIS PATON PARTNER

GORDON REES SCULLY MANSUKHANI CHARLESTON

tices in all aspects of that area of law.

“It keeps the work engaging and keeps me on my toes,” she says.

Keeping a 9-to-5 schedule is not for Paton, who believes availability is essential for a successful attorney-client relationship.

“That might mean my clients reach out on Saturday afternoons seeking my advice on time-sensitive issues,” she says. “If my clients have that kind of trust in me, I must be doing my job well.”

Paton also strives to be a role model for her daughters.

“Recently, one of my daughters came home and told me she had ‘taken her first case’ on behalf of a friend at school,” Paton says. “Moments like that make me proud.”

JOSHUA D. SHAW PARTNER

HEDRICK GARDNER COLUMBIA

When Joshua Shaw showed up on his first day of work as an attorney, he saw a nameplate outside his office and a box of construction drawings on his desk.

“I have to admit, I was more excited about the nameplate, but I was also intrigued by the box of drawings,” he says. “For me, the ongoing process of learning the construction industry has been one of the more gratifying aspects of practicing law.”

Today, Shaw maintains a thriving practice as a partner, litigator and certified Circuit Court mediator at Hedrick Gardner, focusing largely on the construction industry.

He says he values the industry’s complexity and his relationships with clients.

“There is nothing more thrilling in my profession than a courtroom victory, but the essence of the job is bringing the dispute to a satisfactory conclusion for the client,” he says. “The process permits flexibility and creativity in achieving that result, which I strive to utilize for every client.”

CALEB M. RISER SHAREHOLDER RICHARDSON PLOWDEN COLUMBIA

Caleb Riser has six years of design experience working for TVS-DESIGN on projects such as commercial office building and public assembly space design. His experience in architecture brings valuable insight, knowledge and experience to his construction law practice.

As a student at Regent University School of Law, Riser served as a law clerk for Richardson Plowden, where he is now a litigator and shareholder and practices construction law.

He has an undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of Tennessee, where he received the Torchbearer Award, the highest honor given to a student. He also studied abroad at Cracow University of Technology in Krakow, Poland.

He also was a member of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy in 2014.

Riser is a prolific speaker who has presented at the National Business Institute, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Defense Conference, and the Georgia Chapter of the International Concrete Repair Institute.

Laura Paris Paton started her civil litigation career in construction law before it became a major practice area in South Carolina. Today, as a partner in the Charleston office of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, she prac-