Press Releases
Chambers and Partners Recognizes Nelson Mullins for National,
South Carolina, Georgia Practices
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 21, 2011) - Legal directory publisher Chambers and Partners has recognized Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP as a national leader in products liability litigation and gives partners David E. Dukes and Stephen G. Morrison national rankings for their products liability and mass torts practices. The publishers also rank the Firm for its South Carolina general commercial litigation, corporate/mergers and acquisitions, corporate work in banking and finance, and real estate practices, and in Georgia for its healthcare practice. Twenty-four Nelson Mullins attorneys are singled out for their practice areas in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and West Virginia. Rankings are based on interviews with law firms and clients and released in Chambers USA 2011.
In nationwide products liability & mass torts, the publication notes Nelson Mullins’ “diverse range of experience, with particular strengths in the pharmaceutical and automotive areas.” Key individuals identified by the publishers include Managing Partner David E. Dukes: “He led the team's involvement in the Prempro matter and is praised for his strategic approach. ... He is able to see the whole chessboard," the publication said. Steve Morrison “is highly regarded for his advocacy skills. He is experienced in litigation involving automotive, chemical and technology products,” the publication notes.
The publication calls the Firm’s South Carolina general commercial litigation group a top-tier practice and, in addition to Mr. Dukes and Mr. Morrison, recognizes Mark Phillips and notes his “great reputation for his national asbestos litigation practice."
Chambers ranks the Nelson Mullins South Carolina corporate/mergers and acquisitions group and the corporate/mergers and acquisitions group in banking and finance as top-tier and writes: “It is particularly noted for its representation of large banks and financial institutions, and it often represents several of the state's community banks.”
Key individuals in the corporate practice identified are Gus Dixon: “Sources consider him to be one of the leading corporate lawyers in the state," the publication says. Neil Grayson is well known as a banking attorney “with extensive experience handling regulatory issues." Dan Fritze "runs an excellent team, takes assignments personally, and is very responsive." Mason Hogue “has experience with technology-related issues and transactions.” John Jennings is a well-regarded banking attorney who was “heavily involved in the firm's work on the Palmetto Bank recapitalization,” according to the publication
The publication identifies notable South Carolina practitioners in labor and employment as Sue Erwin Harper, who “has a wide-ranging practice counseling the firm's national corporate clients on a host of employment matters, from trade secret claims to wage and hour class actions;” and William Foster, of whom peers say they are "impressed with his confidence and strong speaking skills" and "would always feel very comfortable referring work to him.”
In real estate, Chambers says the group “interacts seamlessly with the firm's strong corporate and litigation practice groups. Based in the Southeast, Nelson Mullins has the regional connections and know-how to provide informed and comprehensive legal counsel on a broad range of real estate issues. The national reach of the firm also allows the real estate group to represent a host of commercial, industrial and public clients across state lines.” Chambers identifies Bill Bobo as “an all-around great real estate lawyer” and Ralston “Pete” Vanzant, whose practice “is an effective hybrid between real estate and corporate work.”
Of the Georgia healthcare group, the publisher notes a seven-attorney increase in the past year. Key individuals identified include Stanley Jones for his Certificate of Need litigation and government relations work on behalf of healthcare clients; Rebekah Plowman, who chairs the firm's fraud and abuse practice and who focuses on government investigations and litigation, handling False Claims Act matters, and certification and licensure appeals; and David Winkle, who “is a highly regarded practitioner who joined the firm in 2010 and advises hospital authorities, nonprofit hospitals, and physician practices as general counsel.”
Notable practitioner Richard Herzog in Bankruptcy/Restructuring is "an experienced and capable attorney" who is currently involved in real estate workouts and is recognized for his involvement in the Bar, according to Chambers and Partners.
Notable practitioner Michael Hollingsworth, managing partner in Atlanta, “is known for his practical, get-it-done approach to deals. He focuses on middle-market corporate transactions, including M&A, divestitures and joint ventures,” the publisher notes.
In West Virginia, Chambers recognizes Managing Partner Marc Williams and partner Melissa Foster Bird as state leaders in general commercial litigation.
The publisher says Mr. Williams is “unquestionably in the top tier of litigators. His recent practice deals with a lot of labor and employment litigation. He counts several national companies among his clients and has been active in representing companies trying to recover costs incurred defending unfounded claims.”
Chambers and Partners says Ms. Foster Bird “is a highly regarded generalist, taking on cases from mass torts to labor and employment litigation. She is well regarded among her peers and has already amassed extensive trial experience.”
In North Carolina, Chambers recognizes partner Terri Gardner in Raleigh as among the top attorneys in North Carolina in bankruptcy/restructuring work. The publishers note that Ms. Gardner represents several large banks and other lenders in complex Chapter 11 cases and also has significant experience in handling debtor cases.
Based in London, Chambers and Partners for more than 20 years has been a leading publisher of legal directories worldwide. One hundred full-time researchers interview thousands of lawyers and their clients around the world. In a survey conducted by an independent journal, International In-House Counsel, 51 percent of in-house counsel around the world reported using Chambers and Partners directories more than any other directory to identify law firms and individual attorneys.
Nelson Mullins, established in 1897, has more than 420 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing from offices in Atlanta, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Raleigh, Tallahassee, Washington, West Virginia, and Winston-Salem. For more information on the Firm, go to www.nelsonmullins.com, or call 803.255.9794.
