Lawrence Flynn named Lawyer of the Year in Columbia

Lawrence Flynn, a public finance and governmental law attorney and member of Pope Flynn, was named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in Municipal Law for Columbia. The designation is given to only a single lawyer in each practice area in each community, and is awarded to “individual lawyers who received the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region,” according to a news release.

Three attorneys with Pope Flynn, a law firm concentrating in public finance and government law in South and North Carolina, have received “Lawyer of the Year” in different categories over the years: Joe Lucas, for public finance in Charlotte for 2020 and 2015, Bill Musser, for public finance in Columbia for 2015 and for mergers and acquisition law in Columbia for 2022, and Lawrence Flynn, for public finance in Columbia for 2021 and 2024 and utilities law in Columbia in 2022 and 2024, according to the firm. Best Lawyers methodology is based on peer review.

Flynn is also the recipient of a 2018 Leadership in Law Award from SC Lawyers Weekly in which honorees are selected by a panel of judges, based on professional accomplishment, personal accomplishment, and community involvement within the Palmetto State.

“We are thankful to have a strong core of lawyers at Pope Flynn who have concentrated experience in governmental law,” Joe Lucas, managing member of Pope Flynn, said in the release. “Lawrence has worked for many years in municipal law and that accumulated wisdom is a great asset to the firm and to our clients. We are grateful that his peers have recognized his work.”

Recent representative projects by Flynn include:

Drafted, developed and implemented utility impact fees and related governance policies for a variety of municipal utility clients

Negotiated a settlement of a land use dispute related to a waterfront development in Port Royal, including repeal of a development moratorium, property conveyances, extension of the Spanish Moss Trail, and boardwalk easements to access Sands Beach

Drafted, developed and implemented development moratorium ordinances for a number of municipal clients

Created a consolidated special tax district, and arranged the defeasance of outstanding debt for Lancaster County

Negotiated a purchase and sale agreement, and incentive/inducement agreement related to a planned mixed-use recreation complex in Clinton.

Flynn is vice president and board member of SC Thrive, a non-profit for individuals and families in crisis that helps bring them to independence and stability through training and providing access to a number of state and private programs. He is also a member of the Duke University Alumni Admissions Advisory Committee and a council member of the Government Law section of the South Carolina Bar. Previously Flynn served as the treasurer and a board member of the city of Columbia Parks and Recreation Foundation. Flynn is a graduate of Leadership South Carolina, Leadership Columbia and The Riley Institute on Diversity, and was listed in Columbia Business Monthly’s “Best & Brightest 35 and under” for 2016.

Flynn graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Arts in History, then received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers.

Pope Flynn is headquartered in Columbia with additional offices in Charleston, Spartanburg and Charlotte. Pope Flynn focuses in public finance and governmental counsel and represents cities and towns, counties, special purpose districts, school districts, state institutions, hospitals, colleges and universities, and other public entities, as well as private entities, including banks, underwriters and nonprofit institutions.