Sheila Abron holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business and Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

Abron serves as a partner at Fisher & Phillips, LLP, a firm with more than 2,500 employees.

She has held several prominent leadership positions in the legal community, including president of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association in 2018-2019, president of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division in 2019-2020 and president of the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations in 2023-2024.

Her recognitions include Silver Compleat Lawyer, Best Lawyers in America, Women of Influence and Legal Elite of the Midlands.

“The biggest challenges facing the legal profession today include challenges to the rule of law, access to justice for all, adaptation to technological advancements and improving mental health among practitioners,” Abron said.

She serves on the boards of Riverbanks Zoom Society, National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations and Columbia Society of Human Resource Management.

Constance Anastopoulo leads Charleston School of Law as President and Professor of Law, guiding the institution through its transition to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in December 2024.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia in 1984, Anastopoulo began her career as an investment broker at a Wall Street firm. The experience prompted her to pursue her Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1992.

Anastopoulo practiced law privately for 15 years before transitioning to academia. Her teaching excellence earned her Professor of the Year recognition from students, and she received the 2012 Black Law Students Association Honoree for commitment to legal and political change.

Beyond her academic leadership, Anastopoulo has served organizations including Time Served, Inc. as Board President and Daughters of Penelope Philanthropy as President.

A first-generation American whose immigrant father practiced law for more than 50 years, Anastopoulo said, “I define success as having a positive impact on students, the law school, and my community.”

Rhett D. Burney earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Presbyterian College before obtaining his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He established the Law Office of Rhett Burney in 2019, building a firm that has since quadrupled in size to 30 employees.

Burney’s professional achievements include membership in the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow. He received the Client Distinction Award from Lawyers.com for his legal practice.

Beyond his legal work, Burney serves the Simpsonville Rotary Club. His approach to business and life stems from lessons learned during his first job washing windows and mowing grass, where he discovered that consistent hard work pays off. When asked how he defines success, Burney said, “Never stopping, no matter how hard it gets.”

Outside the courtroom, Burney was the guitarist for The Love Monkeys band, demonstrating his diverse interests beyond his legal career.

James Buxton leads Buxton & Collie, LLC, specializing in corporate law and securities. A Princeton University graduate who earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Buxton serves as immediate past chair of the South Carolina Bar’s Corporate, Banking & Securities Section and general council representative for the South Carolina Law Institute.

He co-authored the “South Carolina Business Law Handbook: A Practical Guide for Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Their Counsel,” with a second edition in 2024. Buxton served as attorney in residence at USC School of Law in fall 2024.

His leadership extends beyond law. He chairs the Board of Trustees at Porter-Gaud School and previously directed the Roper St. Francis Hospital board and chaired Star Gospel Mission’s board. Recognized as South Carolina Legal Elite in corporate law since 2018, Buxton was named Best Lawyers South Carolina Lawyer of the Year 2026 for Business Organizations.

“Success in my business life is seeing our clients succeed, grow and contribute to the community,” he said.

Jay Courie leads MGC Law as managing member and serves as president of MGC Sports, guiding a nationally recognized insurance law firm that celebrated 30 years in 2025. Since opening in Columbia in 1995, MGC has expanded to 23 offices across 12 states with nearly 800 employees.

A University of South Carolina School of Law graduate, Courie has earned recognition including the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law distinction and DRI Leadership honor. He served as president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association and held leadership roles with DRI. As an NFL Players Association Certified Agent and graduate of Leadership Columbia and Leadership South Carolina, he brings diverse expertise to his practice.

“Success is working hard to create a successful and sustainable business for yourself, your partners and the employees that rely on you while always staying true to your values,” Courie said.

His community involvement includes former board chair positions at Hammond School, EdVenture Children’s Museum and Francis Marion University.

Michael Oliver Eckard serves as office managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Charleston office, part of a 2,659-employee law firm navigating the challenge of tracking constantly changing employment laws at state and local jurisdiction levels.

A 2005 University of South Carolina School of Law graduate with a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston, Eckard also completed Air Command and Staff College at U.S. Air Force Air University. He earned recognition as Best Lawyers® Charleston Employment Law – Management Lawyer of the Year for 2025 and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021.

“Law is more than technical mastery — it’s a relationship business,” he says, emphasizing the importance of understanding clients’ people, culture and business goals.

His first job at Chick-fil-A taught servant leadership principles reinforced during U.S. Army service, where he served as a military intelligence analyst.

Eckard serves on Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s executive committee and Saint Peter’s Church vestry, where he chaired the board from 2021 to 2023. An instrument-rated private pilot and Civil Air Patrol volunteer, he co-founded Ogletree Deakins’ ODVets business resource group for veterans.

Nickisha M. Woodward earned a Bachelor of Science in History and Communication Studies from Clemson University before obtaining her Juris Doctor from Charleston School of Law. After working for nearly a decade prior to law school, Woodward entered the legal profession in her 30s, bringing unique perspective from her professional experience.

As a partner at Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, Woodward specializes in litigation during a period of significant industry challenge. “Litigation is simultaneously increasing and becoming more difficult to resolve,” she said, citing litigation funding and social inflation as key factors driving up costs.

Woodward serves on multiple boards including the Preservation Society of Charleston and South Carolina Defense Trial Attorney’s Association, while holding executive board positions with the James L. Petigru Inn of Court. Her recognitions include Best Lawyers in America 2026, SC Lawyers Weekly Influential Women of Law 2024 and six consecutive Super Lawyers Rising Star designations. She is also a 2025 Riley Institute Diversity Leader Initiative Fellow.

John Wall IV graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the United States Army, including multiple overseas deployments. He later earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

As a partner at Burr & Forman LLP, Wall focuses on economic development, corporate law and government relations. The firm expanded its reach in June 2025, opening offices in Washington, D.C., and Chicago.

Wall serves as president of the West Point Society of Columbia and as secretary and board member of the Palmetto Business Forum. He co-chairs the Legislative Committee for the South Carolina Economic Developer’s Association and serves on the South Carolina Bar’s Military & Veterans’ Law Section.

“Lead with service, not self-interest,” Wall said, describing advice that shaped his approach to legal practice and client relationships.

Wall has been named to the SC Pro Bono Honor Roll and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America. He was also recognized by Southern Business & Development as an “Economic Developers Under 50 to Watch.”

Doug Kim earned a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Davidson College and a Juris Doctor from Campbell University. He founded Kim, Lahey & Killough Law Firm, where he leads a 12-person team specializing in intellectual property law.

Kim is a South Carolina Certified Mediator and has completed business certifications from Harvard Business School, including an AI essentials for Business Certification. He serves as Chair of InnoVision Awards and previously chaired the South Carolina Bar Technology, Innovation and IP Committee.

He regularly speaks across the state on intellectual property, artificial intelligence, innovation and their intersection with law, and has published articles in South Carolina Lawyer and ABA IP and Litigation publications.

Regarding AI integration in legal practice, Kim said, “Properly implemented, AI can significantly enhance efficiency in areas like legal research, patent analysis, document drafting and client service, but requires carefully crafted strategies, deep expertise, and thoughtful judgment.”

Kim has been scuba diving since 1979 and has served as a scuba instructor for almost 20 years.

Josh Lonon serves as counsel to national and regional companies and developers in the acquisition, development, and leasing of commercial real estate. His practice includes advising clients on economic development incentives, including fee-in-lieu of taxes arrangements, tax abatements, and rehabilitation credits.
 
Josh earned his B.A. from the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He has served as Chair of the South Carolina Bar Real Estate Practices Section and as editor of the South Carolina Commercial Real Estate Handbook. He is a former executive board member of the Upstate South Carolina chapter of the Urban Land Institute and has held leadership roles on several local government boards and nonprofit organizations. Josh is a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy and Leadership Spartanburg.
 
Josh is recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, SC Biz Magazine, and Greenville Business Magazine, and is a recipient of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Leadership in Law Award.

Leighton Lord leads strategic direction at Maynard Nexsen PC, a law firm with 1,000 employees worldwide. Lord earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Science in Communications and Political Science from the University of Delaware and a Juris Doctorate from Vanderbilt University School of Law.

In his role as president and chief strategy officer, Lord has overseen significant firm expansion. Since September 2024, the firm opened a new Atlanta office and grew its presence in Los Angeles, Austin and Washington, D.C., with substantial new hires.

Lord serves as board chair of the Healthwood Hall School Foundation and sits on the board of the Columbia Museum of Art. He defines success as building long-term client relationships and growing teams to serve them. “Service is everything,” Lord said, reflecting on lessons learned from his first job waiting tables.

Outside his legal practice, Lord teaches children how to skateboard.

Billy Newsome leads Newsome Law, P.A., a firm he founded in 2018 after more than 25 years with a large regional law firm. Newsome earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from Francis Marion College in 1988, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law in 1991 and a Master of Laws in taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1992.

The firm expanded significantly in 2025, adding attorneys Bert Brannon in July and Andrew Saleeby in October. The practice now includes three attorneys with master’s degrees in tax law and nearly 80 years of combined experience.

Newsome is a Fellow of the American College of Trust & Estate Counsel and a certified specialist in taxation and probate law by the South Carolina Supreme Court.

He currently serves as commissioner for the South Carolina Education Lottery and as adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

Jeanean Petoskey leads LawyerLisa as CEO, guiding the 50-employee legal services firm through challenges of integrating artificial intelligence ethically while maintaining client confidentiality and mitigating algorithmic bias.

A 1998 University of South Carolina graduate with an associate degree in business administration, Petoskey began her legal career as a paralegal at Weston Adams Law Firm in 1995, where founding partner Weston Adams mentored her in leadership and integrity.

“The best advice I ever received was to embrace your unique qualities, to show up authentically and trust your instincts,” she says.

South Carolina Lawyers Weekly recognized Petoskey as Unsung Hero in 2022 and 2024. She earned additional recognition including Woman of Influence from Charleston Regional Business Journal in 2023.

Petoskey serves as vice president and board member of Sherwood Forest, a nonprofit organization, and supports multiple charitable causes including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of her sister.

A certified aerial yoga instructor, she finds synergy between law’s logic and yoga’s mindfulness, applying leadership principles across both disciplines.

She defines success through empowering others to thrive and surpass expectations.

Ronald Scott holds four degrees from South Carolina institutions: a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with honors from The Citadel, and an MBA, Master of Accountancy and juris doctor from the University of South Carolina.

Scott began his career as residency officer at USC, making legal interpretations that impacted students’ academic futures. This led him to law school, where he served as Assistant Clerk and Research Analyst for the State Senate of South Carolina, shaping his understanding of how law and politics influence life.

As co-founder of Scott & Corley PA, Scott has built an almost 50-year legal career in business law, real estate law and government relations. He continues to draft proposed legislation for the SC General Assembly. His achievements include receiving the Order of the Palmetto in 2017, South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, and induction into the South Carolina Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2018.

Guided by his parents, nationally recognized educators, Scott lives by the principle: “To those whom much is given, much is required.”

Mary Shahid built her legal career on a foundation of academic excellence from Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, followed by her juris doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

As a shareholder at Maynard Nexsen PC, Shahid has established herself as a leading authority in environmental law and environmental permitting. She has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year in these practice areas in 2020, 2022 and 2024, demonstrating sustained excellence in her field.

Beyond her legal practice, Shahid serves as a board member for Our Lady of Mercy Community Outreach, reflecting her commitment to giving back to the community.

Her career trajectory began at Belk Department Store as a sales clerk in ladies dresses, where she learned a formative lesson. “In a corporate setting hard work is recognized and rewarded,” Shahid said.

She defines success as attaining beneficial results for clients while maintaining strong relationships with family and friends, emphasizing the importance of balancing career achievements with personal connections.

S. Jahue “Jake” Moore Sr. is the founding senior partner of Moore Bradley Myers, a law firm with offices in West Columbia and Saluda. Moore grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Presbyterian College and the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Moore recently celebrated 50 years in law practice, receiving the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto and Key to the City of West Columbia at a May 21, 2025, ceremony hosted at Stone River in West Columbia. He is a member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates.

His practice areas include civil litigation, criminal law, education law and government law. Moore has served as counsel to the Legislative Audit Council for the South Carolina General Assembly and as chairman of the board of visitors for USC.

A community advocate, Moore is passionate about conservation and literacy. He visited students at East Point Academy to read “Bruce the Moose,” a book he published with his daughter. Moore donated trees to local churches, schools and parks and secured land for and built Irmo Veterans Park. The town named a community park in Irmo, now known as Moore Park.

Alex Stalvey earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of South Carolina before receiving his JD from the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law.

As Managing Partner of Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, one of Greenville’s longest-standing full-service law firms, Stalvey leads a 21-person team focused on advocating for individuals, families and businesses. The firm’s Personal Injury Practice Group has seen continued growth and recognition for its compassionate, client-centered approach. He is Board Certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocates and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbell.

Recent recognitions include Best Lawyers since 2024 for Education Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Legal Elite of the Upstate for Personal Injury in 2022 and South Carolina Legal Elite from 2020 to 2022.

Stalvey serves as Diversity Chair on the Greenville County Bar Executive Committee and sits on the board of Project Host. He also leads the firm’s philanthropic efforts supporting local organizations including the Peace Center, International Ballet and Greenville Animal Care.

“Success is about impact,” Stalvey said. “It’s not measured by the number of cases we handle, but by the lives we help stabilize and the communities we strengthen.”

Joseph “Trey” Thompson has built nearly 30 years of litigation experience as a partner in the Charleston office of Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Thompson has tried over 100 jury trial cases in state and federal courts, handling commercial disputes and catastrophic personal injury claims involving premises, products and toxic exposures. He has argued cases before the South Carolina Supreme Court and South Carolina Court of Appeals.

Thompson serves as a Certified Circuit Court Mediator, qualified by the South Carolina Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification. His trial experience includes defending traumatic brain injury cases, defective product claims involving national retailers and international manufacturers, employment disputes concerning non-compete agreements and cases under maritime law.

Thompson has presented on topics including the South Carolina Payment of Wages Act, non-compete agreement enforceability, South Carolina Lemon Laws and automobile insurance coverage issues.

When not practicing law, Thompson enjoys spending time with his family, golfing and fishing in Charleston harbor.

H. Manning Unger co-leads Moore & Van Allen’s Charleston office and serves on the firm’s Management Committee, bringing expertise in corporate and commercial real estate law. The Lowcountry native returned to Charleston in 2001 after earning his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and a B.A. from the University of Virginia and practicing in Charlotte.

Unger has been recognized as The Best Lawyers in America Charleston Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2026 and Charleston Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2023 and 2025. He maintains rankings in multiple practice areas including corporate law, real estate law, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.

“As a leader, you should encourage new ideas and always be willing to listen to others’ viewpoints,” Unger said.

Beyond his legal practice, Unger actively mentors aspiring lawyers and supports organizations including the University of Virginia Alumni Association, First Scots Presbyterian Church and foundations for Roper St. Francis and McLeod Health. Under his leadership, the Charleston office celebrated its 28th anniversary.