Saila Milja-Smyly practices in the areas of land use and zoning law and real estate development in Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough's Charleston office.

 

Ms. Milja-Smyly counsels clients on entitlements throughout the land development process, from zoning map amendments to annexations and land subdivisions. She has experience in matters requiring representation before public bodies, such as planning commissions and design review boards, and advises clients in negotiating planned developments and development agreements. Ms. Milja-Smyly also assists with appeals from administrative decisions made pursuant to local land use and zoning regulations.

Attorney Milja-Smyly is also a professional planner certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, the professional institute of the American Planning Association. To become certified, an APA member must meet requirements for education and experience and pass the AICP Comprehensive Planning Examination.

 

Ms. Milja-Smyly extensive experience with local zoning and land development regulations arises in part out of her prior work as a municipal planner for the Town of Mount Pleasant, S.C., where she participated in various stages of the land development review processes and implemented new planning programs. She is closely familiar with the planning principles of smart growth, new urbanism, and sustainable development.

Ms. Milja-Smyly is certified by the American Translators Association as a professional translator from English into Finnish.  

Attorney Milja-Smyly is admitted to practice in South Carolina. She is a member of the South Carolina Bar and the American Bar Association. She earned a Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law, cum laude, in 2005. While in law school she was named to the Order of the Wig and Robe and the Order of the Coif, and received CALI Awards in Media Law and Real Estate Transactions I. In 2000, Ms. Milja-Smyly earned a Master of Public Administration degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Charleston. In 1997, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology, summa cum laude, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies, summa cum laude, from the College of Charleston.