SCLW Influential Women of Law 2024

2024 INFLUENTIAL WOMEN OF LAW

REP. BETH E. BERNSTEIN

SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ATTORNEY

BERNSTEIN

& BERNSTEIN COLUMBIA

Rep. Beth Bernstein is a seasoned professional focusing on residential real estate transactions, probate administration and civil litigation at Bernstein & Bernstein. She also is serving her sixth term in the South Carolina House of Representatives.

Biggest challenge: As a mother of two daughters, balancing the demanding schedule of a lawyer-legislator with family responsibilities is often one of my most significant challenges. I strive to achieve a healthy work-life balance, which is essential for my long-term effectiveness and personal well-being.

The practice of law: My father always considered the practice of law an honorable profession and we, as attorneys, must uphold ourselves to the highest ethical standards. He was considered a true lawyer’s lawyer and someone whom I try to emulate in how I practice law.

Guilty pleasure: That extra scoop of ice cream, especially a chocolate-dipped one from Zesto’s. It’s just so good on hot summer days.

One word: Kind-hearted.

M. MALISSA BURNETTE PARTNER

BURNETTE SHUTT & MCDANIEL COLUMBIA

Malissa Burnette is a founding attorney at Burnette Shutt & McDaniel and a certified specialist in employment and labor Law. She is highly regarded for her women’s rights advocacy and has received numerous awards, including the Columbia Urban League’s Stephen G. Morrison Social Justice Award for her work in advancing the legal equality of women.

Career challenge: To build enough security and experience to be able to accept some cases with the potential to make life better for entire groups of people instead of just one individual. I want my work to have a broad impact.

The practice of law: The practice of law today is so complex that it is best to become highly skilled in one or two areas of law. It is impossible, and dangerous, to be a general practitioner. I cannot overstate the importance of mentorship, collegiality and civility in a successful practice. And those who maintain a high standard of ethics will always serve their clients well.

One word: Trustworthy.

ADAIR FORD BOROUGHS

U.S. ATTORNEY

DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA

Nominated by President Joe Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Adair Boroughs was officially sworn in as U.S. attorney for the District of South Carolina on July 26, 2022. Boroughs was previously a partner at Boroughs Bryant, and she was a co-founder of Charleston Legal Access to help bridge the justice gap in the state.

Biggest challenge: Finding the courage to take a nontraditional career path. I am grateful to the friends, mentors and colleagues who helped me find that courage.

The practice of law: As a profession of decision-makers, advisers and leaders, it is important to have attorneys from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. That diversity of experience leads to better decisions, more just outcomes and more trust in the justice system.

Professional accomplishment: My dear friend and attorney Sally Newman had a vision for a sliding-scale law firm representing the working class in South Carolina. Helping her bring that vision to reality in Charleston Legal Access was an honor of a lifetime.

One word: Engaged.

SARAH WETMORE BUTLER PARTNER

COPELAND STAIR VALTZ & LOVELL CHARLESTON

A trial attorney in Charleston, Sarah Butler has expanded her general liability and insurance defense practice to include construction litigation defense at Copeland Stair Valtz & Lovell. She is the immediate past president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association.

Biggest challenge: Managing the stress and never-ending workload that comes with practicing law. Working full time as a trial lawyer while trying to be a good mom, spouse, friend, daughter, or sibling and finding time to participate in activities that bring me joy outside of work and take care of my health, is truly challenging.

The practice of law: I am lucky to consider so many attorneys my genuine friends. It makes practicing law a little easier when you get to do it with people who you like and respect. The most important things we carry with us as attorneys are our reputations, civility and honesty. We all work hard to represent our clients, and we can do so with respect, empathy and professionalism.

One word: Compassionate.

BEVERLY A. CARROLL

Known as a skilled litigator, experienced counselor and certified employment law specialist, Bev Carroll works with businesses of all sizes on a wide range of issues and offers advice about procedures and policies that can help prevent problems from cropping up.

She received her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and is a partner at Morton & Gettys.

In 2019, she received the South Carolina Bar’s Distinguished Lawyer Award in the employment and labor law section, and in 2014, the USC School of Law Alumni Council presented her with the Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award.

Carroll is a leader in the legal community and her Rock Hill community. She is a past president of the South Carolina Bar and the South Carolina Bar Foundation and sits on the American Bar Association Board of Governors.

Closer to home, Carroll chairs the Rock Hill Public Parks & Recreation Commission and serves on the Rock Hill Sports Commission board.

A former managing shareholder at Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, Allison Carter is currently a partner in the firm, focusing on workers’ compensation defense. She also has managed an active mediation practice since she became certified in 2005.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in financial management from Clemson University in 1986 and her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina in 1989, where she was a member of the South Carolina Law Review and the Order of the Wig and Robe.

Carter is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. She became a certified South Carolina civil court mediator in 2005.

She lives in Charleston with her husband and two children. She enjoys traveling, boating and supporting local artists.

Congratulations to the Hon. Margaret B. Seymour (Ret.) on being selected to the “Influential Women of Law” list

Judge Seymour is a trailblazing attorney recognized for her contributions to the legal community in South Carolina. She was the first African American woman to serve as a federal judge in the region and went on to become chief judge of the U.S. District Court of the District of South Carolina. After retiring from the bench, she is now a mediator and arbitrator at Saxton & Stump, bringing her decades of legal experience to help clients in commercial litigation, Title IX, and labor and employment cases.

ALICE W. “TALLY” PARHAM CASEY MEMBER WYCHE COLUMBIA

A litigator with two decades of experience, Tally Parham Casey applies the skills and tenacity she acquired during her military career to give her clients the edge.

She is a member at Wyche and chair of the firm’s executive committee. Her practice focuses on complex matters in commercial and securities litigation, health care and qui tam litigation, products liability, insurance and aerospace law.

She is a magna cum laude graduate of Princeton University and earned her law degree at the University of Virginia School of Law.

A former F-16 fighter pilot, Casey was the first woman in that role in the South Carolina Air National Guard and is a veteran of three combat tours over Iraq.

She is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and a member of the Liberty Fellows Class of 2017. In 2004, she was named the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyer of the Year.

MARY M. CASKEY SHAREHOLDER HAYNSWORTH SINKLER BOYD COLUMBIA

Mary Caskey is a certified bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law specialist and leads Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s recovery practice group. She also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee.

Biggest challenge: Crafting a career that reflects both my dedication to law and my priority commitment to family. I strive to model for my team that success is multifaceted, and that it's possible to achieve excellence in our work while nurturing a rich personal life.

The practice of law: The practice of law is moving at an unprecedented pace. While technology has been a powerful tool in increasing efficiency and accessibility, it has also fostered a culture of constant availability and immediate responsiveness. This often comes at the expense of thorough legal analysis. Unfortunately, technology is increasingly eroding this space, leading to more reactive rather than reflective work.

Best advice: The most impactful advice I've received and continue to follow is mastering the art of a respectful “no.” Adhering to this tenet has been fundamental to my practice.

One word: Resilient.

SALLY H. CAVER MANAGING PARTNER, COLUMBIA OFFICE

Sally Caver, managing partner of Nelson Mullins’ Columbia office, concentrates her practice in the areas of complex commercial contract negotiations, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters.

Biggest challenge: Learning the business of law while practicing law. Becoming a leader of a law firm requires a different set of skills than simply practicing law. I feel I am still developing those skills.

The practice of law: The practice of law is rapidly changing, especially in terms of technology. What has not changed is the impact that lawyers and the practice of law can have on our communities, institutions and cultures generally. Upholding the rule of law, making personal connections with others, and acting with respect, decorum and civility are of vital importance today, and we, as lawyers, have the opportunity to lead by example.

Guilty pleasure: I have more than one, but one of my “brain breaks” during the day is to check the latest celebrity gossip. Also, energy drinks.

One word: Sincere.

JENNIFER CLUVERIUS

Known for her experience and effective representation, Jennie Cluverius provides daily counsel to a variety of employers, including prominent companies doing business in South Carolina. She serves on the MaynardNexsen board of directors and leads the firm’s labor and employment practice group. Biggest challenge: Finding and maintaining work-life balance. It’s a constant recalibration.

Practicing law today: We have too few first-chair litigators, and it is difficult to provide younger lawyers, especially female attorneys, trial-related opportunities. Regardless, we give our younger attorneys every opportunity to gain meaningful trial and other in-court experience.

Proudest accomplishment: I have, along with others on my team, worked hard to build out and cultivate a first-class labor and employment team in a general practice firm. Our team is not a service practice within the firm but a powerhouse in its own right. This is unusual in a general practice firm, and I’m proud of our team and the work we do.

One word: Driven.

EMMA T. DEAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

SOUTH CAROLINA BAR COLUMBIA

Emma Dean has parlayed her education and experience into her current role as executive director of the South Carolina Bar. After graduating from the University of South Carolina School of Law, she served as a staff attorney at the South Carolina Court of Appeals and went on to clerk for state Supreme Court Justice John Kittredge before becoming chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee.

The practice of law: The practice of law is an honorable profession made up of people who want to solve other people’s problems. In this job, I have met many South Carolina attorneys who quietly help others and do great things. Attorneys appear in court against each other and are then friends on the sideline at their child’s soccer match. That level of civility is rare and vital, and it must be celebrated.

Off the clock: My husband and I enjoy coaching our children in sports and taking them to interesting places. Seeing the world through our kids’ eyes is great fun and inspiring.

One word: Encouraging.

LAURA JOHNSON EVANS PARTNER SHUMAKER CHARLESTON

An accomplished attorney with decades of experience serving clients in the health care industry, Laura Evans is an influential leader at Shumaker. She is the firm’s health law regional service line leader and the health care business sector chair.

Biggest challenge: I represent health care providers, so I am on call like they are. Issues and crises rarely arise during office hours. My biggest challenge has been carving out a balance between work and home, and my husband’s recent passing made me focus more on well-being, friends and family.

Practicing law today: The practice has changed drastically in 30 years. I remember using pink telephone message slips back then, and now clients have a multitude of ways to reach us instantaneously. In many ways, change is good, but I miss the days when we had lunch with bar mentors, and our phone wasn’t constantly dinging.

You didn’t know: I am a pretty good shot. Shooting clays is my favorite.

One word: Communicative.

Congratulations to Nelson Mullins partner Sally Caver! She is a trailblazer and excels within her profession.

Sally, your commitment to excellence and ability to anticipate client needs from all angles has always been beyond admirable. As the managing partner of the Columbia office, you set an increasingly high standard for everyone at the firm and your legal peers at every turn. 1,000+

GAIL B. JABBER FOUNDING PARTNER

JABBER & ISAAC COLUMBIA

Gail Jabber is a founding partner of the law firm of Jabber & Isaac. She has been an attorney for 30 years, practicing real estate and family law, and has served as a Municipal Court judge for the city of Columbia since June 2018.

Biggest challenge: Striving to do the best job possible for my clients and meet their expectations. It’s a challenge because the facts and the law are not always favorable to them. As their advocate, it is my responsibility to ensure that under any set of circumstances, clients are informed and well-represented.

The practice of law: The demands of a legal career are enormous, so it is critical that I ensure my personal life is in order to meet the demands and stress of work. I find that if I am better mentally and physically, the result is that I am a better advocate for my clients, a better administrator for my law firm and staff, and a better law partner.

One word: Passionate.

JENNIFER E. JOHNSEN PARTNER

GALLIVAN WHITE BOYD

With more than 30 years of trial experience representing insurers in insurance coverage litigation, Jennifer Johnsen is known as a leader in the legal profession and her community. She is a partner at Gallivan White Boyd and a fellow of the American College of Coverage Counsel.

Biggest challenge: My biggest challenge, at least initially, was balancing a demanding legal practice with the important demands of personal life and family. The more experienced I got, the better I became at making hard choices professionally and personally. This has resulted in a fulfilling career and rewarding family life.

The practice of law: When I started practicing there was no email. Today, communication takes place at lightning speed. Generative AI is being used to speed up legal tasks, and it will have a significant impact on the practice of law. Flexible work arrangements have become more commonplace. Overall, the practice of law has become more complex and challenging.

Off the clock: I enjoy spending time with family and friends.

One word: Confident.

AMY Y. JENKINS

ATTORNEY

M c ANGUS GOUDELOCK & COURIE CHARLESTON

Amy Jenkins brings 30 years of employment law experience to McAngus

Goudelock & Courie, handling all aspects of employment law, including drafting and evaluating policies, handbooks and contracts. In 2022, she became the first woman to be elected to MGC’s management committee.

Biggest challenge: The age-old balancing act of trying to be a good attorney, law partner, spouse, parent, child, neighbor and friend all at the same time. There are always a lot of balls in the air, and we juggle as best we can.

The practice of law: I’m glad we still have a high degree of collegiality in the practice of law, especially in the employment law section of the bar.

Guilty pleasure: Travel. I try to visit somewhere new every year. Last year included trips to the Exumas and Spain, and this year I will bike in Bryce and Zion national parks.

One word: Organized.

HON. JOCELYN P. NEWMAN

CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE

SOUTH CAROLINA JUDICIAL BRANCH COLUMBIA

When Circuit Court Judge Jocelyn P. Newman embarked on her career on the bench, she told the Judicial Merit Selection Commission her family inspired her to practice law. Her father is Clifton Newman, a longtime circuit judge who recently retired.

“I was raised in a family of public servants, which is in part what inspired me to become an attorney,” she said.

Newman earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of South Carolina and her Juris Doctor from Howard University, where she was a merit scholar.

She began her legal career as a judicial law clerk for now-retired Circuit Court Judge G. Thomas Cooper Jr. She also served as an assistant solicitor for the 5th Judicial Circuit before entering private practice with the law firm Richardson Plowden & Robinson.

She was elected to the Circuit Court bench in 2016, a role she has described as a highlight of her career so far.

“I want to be excellent at what I do. I want to get it right,” she says in an interview with SC Lawyer Magazine. “I try to do that with a smile, and I always hope that people step out of the courtroom feeling heard.”

As a partner at Burr & Forman, Bhumi Patel assists companies, large and small, in navigating various aspects of real estate and business transactions. She serves on the S.C. Women Lawyers Association board of directors and was included in B2B: The Grand Strand magazine’s 50 Most Influential People for 2024.

Biggest challenge: Time management. In addition to my actual work commitments, I want to participate in career growth and advancement activities while also dedicating time to office management tasks. It is so important to me to spend time with my husband, my kids and our extended family. I continue to work through this challenge daily.

The practice of law: Practicing law seems to get harder each day due, in part, to the advances in technology. These developments often help me do my job more efficiently and make communication faster and easier but they also elevate client expectations for instantaneous responses and constant availability.

Guilty pleasure: Regular yoga classes and coconut chocolate chunk ice cream from Kilwin’s.

One word: Adaptable.

SHANNON TILL POTEAT MEMBER

As a member at Robinson Gray, Shannon Poteat focuses her practice on workers’ compensation and workers’ compensation mediation. She co-authored the second through fifth editions of “The Law of Workers’ Compensation in South Carolina.”

Career challenge: Managing work-life balance seems to be the challenge most attorneys face over their careers. I could not have done this without the support of the firms I have worked with.

The practice of law: The pace has become very fast due to technology. While this is a natural development and not a negative thing, technology has made it hard to take the necessary time everyone needs to disconnect and recharge.

Top accomplishments: I have loved the ability to maintain my connection to my childhood growing up on a dairy farm and sharing this love of the outdoors with my family. Professionally, I hope I’ve shown students and new attorneys they can work hard in their careers while maintaining their personal lives.

One word: Involved.

MARGARET B. SEYMOUR

SENIOR COUNSEL

SAXTON & STUMP CHARLESTON

Margaret Seymour is known as an institution in the Charleston legal community and beyond. She started her career in South Carolina as an assistant U.S. attorney and went on to become the first African American to serve as chief judge of the U.S. District Court for South Carolina. Today, she is a senior counsel at Saxton & Stump, where she enjoys mentoring younger attorneys and sharing her knowledge with the next generation.

Biggest challenge: Maintaining a balance between family and business. When I went to law school at night while working during the day, it was always a challenge to make sure the basics were covered at home.

The practice of law: The practice of law is making strides to increase diversity and recognize the need for that. I’ve seen it in practice every day, and I’ve seen educational forums and conferences pushing to change the institutional culture.

You didn’t know: I am an avid runner, and I have run about 15 marathons.

One word: Determined.

SHEILA M. ABRON WILLIS PARTNER

FISHER PHILLIPS COLUMBIA

As a partner at Fisher Phillips, Sheila Abron Willis is committed to finding practical, real-world solutions to her clients’ employment law needs. She represents companies large and small and higher education institutions.

Biggest career challenge: Early in my career, my challenge was determining a way to benchmark my development. You learn many different skills and abilities as an attorney, so finding a way to gather intel and create benchmarking was a challenge, but not an insurmountable one.

Practicing law today: Law is exciting, particularly in the employment law practice area. The world is changing, and it shows in the way people work. Every day, a new proposal, law, societal discourse on a topic, or social media trend can impact our practice.

Best advice: Never self-select yourself out of an opportunity. The worst that can happen is someone will say “no,” and honestly, you may get a lot of “noes” in your life, so that should never be a deterrent.

One word: Fearless.

BARBARA WAGNER MEMBER

BARNWELL WHALEY PATTERSON & HELMS CHARLESTON

Barbara Wagner enjoys a thriving law practice, holds multiple patents, taught chemistry at the College of Charleston, and has completed 24 marathons. She earned her law degree with the Charleston School of Law's first graduating class.

Biggest challenge: Early in my legal career, adjusting to gray areas was a challenge. My scientific education and background made me accustomed to thinking in black and white, but understanding the shades of gray helped me become a better lawyer.

The practice of law: We hear about the importance of diversity in thought, experience and perspectives. Certainly, the practice of law benefits from giving voice to many perspectives. While there is still work to be done, I’m encouraged by the increasing diversity I see throughout the bar.

First job: My first job was as a cashier at a mom-and-pop grocery store. Many of our customers had minimal means but were doing their best with what they had. That experience taught me empathy for people from all walks of life.

One word: Disciplined.

Nickisha Woodward is known as a skilled litigator with a decade of experience defending the interests of her clients. She also is a dedicated mentor, guiding young associates on the firm’s litigation team and fostering a culture of excellence.

Biggest challenge: Balancing clients’ business goals in litigation is always challenging. And in an ever-evolving legal and technological landscape, it makes for a delicate balancing act.

The practice of law: The practice is changing. Disputes are on the rise, but mandatory mediation in many jurisdictions has led to fewer trips to court. I value the mediation process when advocating for my clients, but an unexpected consequence is that many young lawyers lack courtroom legal skills. With the advent of artificial intelligence, the role of counselor will look different in a few years.

Outside the office: I want to visit all 50 states and seven continents. So far, I’ve visited 33 states and four continents. I’m looking forward to my upcoming tour of Asia next summer.

One word: Attentive.

NICKISHA M. WOODWARD SHAREHOLDER TURNER PADGET CHARLESTON