Three Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd Lawyers Named Finalists for Emerging Legal Leaders

CHARLESTON, SC – December 14, 2010 – Three Haynsworth SinklerBoyd, P.A. associates have been selected as finalists in the inaugural“Emerging Legal Leaders” by SC Lawyers Weekly.”  Clay M. Grayson,William R. (Will) Johnson, and Stephen J. (Seph) Wunder, Jr. are threeof the 18 finalists chosen for this statewide honor.

Ten winners will be announced from the pool of finalists on January 27,2011, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. SC Lawyers Weekly,a legal publication, is hosting this  first annual awards event torecognize the achievements of lawyers who have been licensed ten yearsor less and work on a daily basis to make a difference both in and outof their professions. 

Abusiness lawyer, Charleston native Clay M. Grayson joined HaynsworthSinkler Boyd’s Charleston office in 2004.  He assists clients at everystage of their business development — from the formation of theenterprise to the implementation of creative, tax-efficient strategiesfor expansion, protection of intellectual property rights, compensationand benefit packages, ownership succession, reorganizations, and mergersand acquisitions. He has developed a national practice dedicated totax-exempt organizations, with a particular focus on nonprofitfoundations that support universities and hospitals.

Grayson currently serves as general counsel of Health Sciences SouthCarolina, where he consults on a variety of projects. He has beenpublished in South Carolina Lawyer, Practical Tax Strategies, and the SCChamber of Commerce’s South Carolina Business.

Fluent in Italian and conversational in Spanish and Greek, Graysonreceived his LL.M from New York University in 2004, and his Juris Doctorand M.I.B.S. degrees from the University of South Carolina. In 1999, hereceived his Certificate, Italian/European Business, S.D.A., atBocconi, in Milan, Italy. Grayson graduated with honors from the Collegeof Charleston in 1995.

Active in statewide and community activities, Grayson is a board memberof the South Carolina Association of Nonprofit Organization (SCANPO),Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Artists of Charleston. A memberof the Hollings Cancer Center Advisory Citizens Council, he is agraduate of Leadership Charleston, Class of 2008.
 

WilliamReamer (Will) Johnson, a native of Lake City, SC, joined HaynsworthSinkler Boyd’s business practice in the Columbia office in 2006.  Hefocuses on tax and economic incentive matters, including estateplanning, corporate organizations and governance, and mergers andacquisitions.
Johnson was named “Young Lawyer of the Year” in May 2010 by the SouthCarolina Bar Young Lawyers Division; this award is given annually torecognize a young lawyer who most exemplifies excellence in practicinglaw and public service.

In 2006, Johnson obtained his LL.M. at New York University, where heserved as the student editor of the Tax Law Review.  Upon graduation, hewas awarded the highest academic honor given to a student in thegraduating tax program, the Harry J. Rudick Memorial Award.  Whileearning his J.D., magna cum laude, at The University of South Carolina,Johnson was the associate editor-in-chief of the South Carolina LawReview. He was the recipient of the Dean’s Medallion for graduatingfirst in his class, the Cy Young Award, the Arthur B. Custy Tax Award,and CALI Awards for Torts I, Property I, Torts II, Constitutional LawII, Criminal Procedure, Antitrust, Estate & Gift Tax, Evidence, TheConstitution, and Remedies. He received his Bachelor’s degree, summa cumlaude, in finance from Wofford College in 2002.

He is currently a member of Leadership South Carolina Class of 2011, anda board member and incoming secretary of Special Olympics SouthCarolina. For the South Carolina Bar, Johnson serves as chair of theYoung Lawyers Division Special Olympics Committee and as a member of theYoung Lawyers Division Long-Range Planning and Professional DevelopmentCommittees. He is a member of the SC Economic Developers’ Associationand the Columbia Tax Study Group and is active with the Central SCAlliance. Johnson serves as an advisory board member for Honor FlightSouth Carolina. He is a graduate of Leadership Columbia, Class of 2008,and serves on the Leadership Columbia Planning Committee.

Spartanburg native Stephen J. (Seph) Wunder, Jr. joined the Firm’spublic finance team in the Greenville office in 2007. He concentrateshis law practice on the structuring of bond issues, renewable energyproject finance, and financial and economic incentive transactions.  Wunder also is involved in structuring derivative-financingarrangements, such as swaps and guaranteed investment contracts.

With an economics and political science degree from University of NotreDame, Wunder has a strong foundation in economic development andeconomic-incentive transactions.  His background includes thestructuring of many incentive-related transactions such asFee-in-Lieu-of-Tax arrangements, income tax credits, including NewMarket Tax Credits and those related to the renewable energy sector, jobdevelopment credits, as well as several others.

Wunder also works with the Firm’s technology and energy team where hefocuses on helping innovative, start-up companies in their formation,financing, and operation. His articles have appeared in Government Law& News, a publication of the South Carolina Bar’s Government LawSection as well as South Carolina Business magazine.

He graduated, cum laude, in 2007 from the University of South CarolinaSchool of Law, where he was a member of the Order of the Wig and Robeand Research editor of the ABA Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal.Wunder received his B.A., magna cum laude, in 2004 from the Universityof Notre Dame.  Currently, Wunder serves as secretary of the Notre DameClub of the Western Carolinas.  

A 2008 graduate of Opportunity Greenville, Wunder was also named thatyear as one of the area’s “Best and Brightest 35 and Under” byGreenville Magazine. He is chair-elect of the Greenville Chamber ofCommerce’s Professionals United for Leadership and Social EnrichmentProgram (PULSE) and also serves on the Greenville Chamber’s LeadershipDevelopment Advisory Council.  Wunder is active on the Advisory Councilof the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club of Greenville Country.
 

About Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A.
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A. provides business, litigation andfinancial legal services, and governmental relations to national andinternational clients. With a history dating back to 1887, it is one ofthe largest law firms in the Carolinas with more than 130 attorneys.  The Firm has offices in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, andMyrtle Beach SC, and Washington, DC.  For additional information, visit www.hsblawfirm.com.

About South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
For more information, visit www.sclawyersweekly.com.