Legal Directory Publisher Ranks 11 Nexsen Pruet Attorneys For Excellence; Four Practice Areas Rated Among Top In state

COLUMBIA, SC – June 13, 2008 – Eleven Nexsen Pruet attorneys have been named among the top legal practitioners in their fields in the 2008 edition of the Chambers USA Guide, and four of the firm’s practice areas were rated in South Carolina.

The publication cited:

● David Dubberly for Labor and Employment Law;

● Vickie Eslinger for General Commercial Litigation;

● David Gossett  for Real Estate;

● Mark Knight  for Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions;

● Marc Manos for General Commercial Litigation

● Susi McWilliams for both Labor and Employment Law and General Commercial Litigation;

● Ed Menzie for both Corporate / Mergers and Acquisitions and Real Estate;

● Neil Robinson for Real Estate;

● Tom Stephenson for both Labor and Employment Law and General Commercial Litigation;

● Tom Tisdale for General Commercial Litigation

● Jeff Vinzani for Real Estate 

All were named among the state’s top three attorneys in their respective practice areas.  “The fact that we have so many lawyers, representing so many practice areas reinforces our strength as a law firm which serves the multiple needs of growing businesses.,” said Leighton Lord, board chairman of Nexsen Pruet. “We congratulate everyone who is listed.”

The Firm itself also ranks high.  For the fourth straight year, Nexsen Pruet’s corporate/mergers and acquisitions, real estate law, and general commercial litigation practices were ranked No. 1, while the employment practice was rated No. 2.  Achieving a #2 in employment law for a full-service firm is a big accomplishment, says Lord.  Many of our chief competitors in employment law are boutique law firms which focus only on employment law.  We find that our clients find value in having one law firm handle all of their needs.

Rankings in the Chambers USA Guide are based on more than 10,000 interviews conducted across the country. Attorneys are rated based on factors that include legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities valued by clients. Lawyers and firms who achieve the listings are widely considered to be leaders in the fields.

David Dubberly chairs the firm’s employment and labor law group and practices in the Columbia office. He is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in employment and labor law and is a member of the court’s Employment and Labor Specialization Advisory Board. A former chair of the South Carolina Bar’s Employment and Labor Section, he is also listed in Best Lawyers in America.

Vickie Eslinger practices in the Columbia office, concentrating on general and business litigation, labor and employment, and international law. She is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in labor and employment law, and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law and family law. She has also received the Compleat Lawyer Platinum Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law in recognition of her professional and civic accomplishments over 30 years of practice.­­­­

David Gossett is based in the Greenville office, where he concentrates his practice in the economic development, real estate, and lending areas. He is regularly involved in financing some of the larger agribusinesses in the country and is a board member of the Upstate Alliance, a regional economic development group. He has represented new and expanding business in all phases of their projects in the Upstate of South Carolina.

Mark Knight practices out of both the Columbia office and the Greenville office.  Knight leads the firm’s corporate practice group. He concentrates his practice primarily on the areas of securities, mergers and acquisitions, corporate, and partnership law. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for corporate, securities, and mergers and acquisitions Law, and is a former chair of the S.C. Bar’s Corporation, Banking and Securities Section.

Susi McWilliams, who practices in the Columbia office, is a trial lawyer with experience in products liability, employment, business litigation, malpractice defense, securities, and lender liability. She is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in employment and labor law; is a member of the America College of Trial Lawyers; and sits on the board of the South Carolina Ethics Commission. She is also listed in Best Lawyers in America for labor and employment law.

Marc Manos practices in the firm’s Columbia office.  He concentrates his practice in civil litigation, with an emphasis on intellectual property, unfair business practices, computer and technology related disputes, state procurement issues, constitutional issues and insurance coverage questions. He also counsels clients on the state procurement process, the procurement of technology, and intellectual property protection and licensing.  In addition, Marc represents utility companies in court and before the public service commission and North Carolina Utilities Commission with a focus on cooperative organizations.

Ed Menzie practices in the Columbia office, and combines extensive corporate, finance, real estate, and securities experience in the representation of a variety of clients, including major real estate developers. He is listed in the corporate law and real estate Law sections of Best Lawyers in America, and is a member of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers. Since 1986, he has served on the Board of Directors of Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.

Neil Robinson practices in the firm’s Charleston office. He has broad experience in complex real estate transactions; administrative law, including permitting, zoning and land sales registrations; community association and condominium law; and commercial and resort real estate development. He is recognized in Best Lawyers in America in real estate law, and is listed in both Who’s Who in Real Estate Development and Who’s Who Legal. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Clemson University Foundation, a member of the Clemson Board of Visitors, and a founding trustee of the Clemson Real Estate Development Foundation.

Tom Stephenson is based in the Greenville office and concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial litigation, labor law, employment law, and employment-related litigation. He is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in employment and labor law;is a certified mediator; and has been recognized in Best Lawyers in America for alternative dispute resolution and labor and employment law. He currently serves as vice chair of the Board of Trustees of the Medical University of South Carolina.

Tom Tisdale, based in Charleston, practices in the firm’s litigation and appellate groups. He is a former president of the South Carolina Bar and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for business litigation and First Amendment law.

Jeff Vinzani practices in the Charleston office and concentrates on general business law, including complex real estate and finance transactions; commercial, industrial, retail and resort development; and representing lenders in connection with making and restructuring loans and negotiating workouts. Jeff is currently serving as the Chairman of the Real Estate Section of the South Carolina Bar and is also serving as Chairman of the Developers Council of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce  He is also involved in the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Urban Land Institute.

For more information on the Chambers’ ratings visit www.ChambersAndPartners.com.

NEXSEN PRUET, LLC is one of the largest law firms in the Carolinas, with more than 170 attorneys and offices in Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Hilton Head, and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Charlotte and Green
sboro, N.C. Founded in 1945, Nexsen Pruet provides a broad range of legal services to the business community and represents companies and other entities in local, state, national, and international venues. Visit www.nexsenpruet.com