Sarah Butler co-presented at the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association's Diversity and Inclusion Seminar on Thursday, February 20, 2020 in Columbia, SC.  This seminar gave attendees the opportunity to speak openly about diversity, equality, acceptance and inclusion in the legal profession.  Sarah's presentation, So, Now What? A Candid Look at the Progress of Women in the Practice of Law, focused on the obstacles women lawyers face in their occupation, namely sexism and discrimination.  They discussed how the passage of time, political climate and the Me-Too Movement has impacted women in law.  Sarah is a member of Copeland Stair's Diversity Committee and President-Elect of the SCDTAA. CSVL Charleston Partner Laura Paton was also in attendance.  Laura, Chair of CSVL's Diversity Committee, serves on the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association and is a member of the National Association of Women in Construction. For more information about this seminar or the SCDTAA, please click here.

Laura Paton presented at this year's NAWIC South Atlantic Region Fall Conference on October 18, 2019 at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC.  Her session focused on Contractor and Design Professional presentations as well as key revisions to AIA contract documents. The Palmetto Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction was chartered in 2018 to serve the Charleston and Lowcountry area.  NAWIC provides opportunities for women in the industry to connect with one another with the united goal of increasing the female representation in the construction industry. For more information on this conference or NAWIC, please click here.

Copeland, Stair, Valz & Lovell's Annual Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Seminar was held on Thursday September 12, 2019.  Located at the beautiful Atlanta Botanical Gardens, this two-track format addressed the emerging issues that keep you up at night.  Some session topics included: the rise in tort litigation, putting together the pieces of the wrongful death case, effective use of recorded statements and the material misrepresentation defense, liability exposure in the age of active shooters and the impact bias has on case evaluation and jury deliberations. For more information on this seminar, please contact Michelle Mattox.

We are proud to announce that Laura Paris Paton was named as one of South Carolina Weekly's 2018 Leadership In Law Honorees. South Carolina Lawyers Weekly hosted the tenth annual Leadership in Law awards ceremony on March 23, 2018. This event recognizes attorneys from across the Palmetto State who have achieved success in their law practice, made contributions to society and had an impact on the legal profession. This puts Laura in the running for the top "Lawyer of the Year" award, picked from the 2018 honorees, when 2018 comes to a close. Congrats, Laura! For more information on the South Carolina Leadership in Law award, please click here.

Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP congratulates Laura Paris Paton, Tyler P. Winton, and Tyler J. Wetzel on being selected to join the Firm’s partnership. Laura Paris Paton is a Partner in the Charleston office of Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP.  She is co-chair of the firm’s Construction Litigation Practice Group and a member of the firm’s General Liability Practice Group.  Laura holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Super Lawyers Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers® in 2014, 2016 and 2017.  Laura’s practice focuses primarily on Construction and Design Litigation representing contractors and design professionals in both the development of various types of construction projects as well as in a variety of disputes. She also provides corporate and individual clients with exceptional legal services in the areas of product liability defense, personal injury defense, and premises liability defense. Laura has successfully developed and executed resolution plans representing corporate entities and individuals in dozens of pre-litigation disputes and litigated cases and is a certified mediator. In addition to her practice with the firm, she is a published author, respected speaker, and avid volunteer.  Laura is a member of the Board of Directors for the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, leads the SCWLA Public Service Committee, serves on The CLM’s Diversity in Construction Committee, and is a member of the Elliottborough-Cannonborough Community Garden and Good Friends of the Lowcountry. She is a graduate of the South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy’s 2014 class. Laura received her J.D. from St. John's University School of Law in 2005 and a B.A. cum laude from Georgia State University in 2000. Tyler P. Winton is a Partner in the Charleston office where he concentrates his practice in professional malpractice defense work. Tyler proudly focuses on the representation of architects and engineers within the construction litigation context. He frequently defends design professionals against multi-million dollar construction and design defect claims, including class action litigation, multi-family projects, site work design, roadway engineering, design-build projects and more. Additionally, Tyler often represents developers, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and even owners in lawsuits involving any construction-related disputes. Tyler also defends other professionals, including realtors and attorneys. Beyond counsel in the litigation realm, Tyler offers non-litigation support for construction clients providing advice related to industry issues and payment disputes, as well as analyzing contracts in an effort to prevent disputes from arising in the future. Prior to joining Carlock, Copeland & Stair, Tyler practiced law at a well-respected litigation boutique in Columbia, S.C., where he concentrated his practice on complex commercial litigation and the efficient resolution of business disputes. His business litigation background enhances his skills, experience, and perspective necessary to represent clients and resolve issues in the most efficient and desired manner. Tyler has been named a South Carolina Rising Stars® by Super Lawyers® in 2015, 2016 and 2017. After graduating from Porter-Gaud, Tyler attended Vanderbilt University, where he graduated summa cum laude, obtained The Dean's Award for Academic Excellence and became a member of Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society. Tyler also studied abroad at The University of Sydney and pursued additional studies in London. After college graduation and a three-month motorcycle trip across the country, Tyler returned home to attend the University of South Carolina School of Law where he excelled academically, became a Competition Team Member of the Moot Court Bar and was elected to the Editorial Board of the Southeastern Environmental Law Journal. Tyler is engaged in his community through his service on the Advisory Council of Big Brothers Big Sisters and through his ongoing involvement with local organizations like One80 Place and Habitat for Humanity. Tyler J. Wetzel is a Partner in the Atlanta office and focuses his practice on commercial litigation, including accounting and legal malpractice defense. Prior to joining Carlock, Copeland & Stair, Ty served as a Staff Attorney for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. He assisted the Court in several capacities, such as serving on the Court’s jurisdiction unit, and worked on a broad range of federal cases. Ty’s experience with the Court developed his research and writing skills, and it gave him unique insight into both appellate practice and writing persuasive briefs and motions. Ty graduated cum laude from Washington University School of Law in 2009. While at Washington University, Ty served as a Board Member and Primary Editor of the Washington University Journal of Law & Policy. Ty received his undergraduate degree from Macalester College in 2006, where he also graduated cum laude. During his time at Macalester, Ty participated on the varsity football team Please click here for the PDF version.

Sarah Wetmore and Laura Paton presented on panels at the 2017 Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (CLM) & Business Insurance's Construction Conference on October 9-11, 2017 in San Diego, CA.  Laura presented No Reservations: Crafting a Reservation of Rights Letter After Harleysville v. Heritage. Sarah presented Navigating the Settlement Agreement.

Laura Paton moderated the panel The State of Women in South Carolina Politics at the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association's (SCWLA) annual conference, September 29, 2017 in Greenville, SC.  The panel was comprised of South Carolina State Legislators. For more information on SCWLA or their annual conference, please click here.

Carlock, Copeland & Stair hosted their annual Insurance Coverage & Bad Faith Seminar on August 24 at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Presentations and Presenters: Have Traditional Rules Gone Up in Smoke?  Impact of Growing Legalization of Medical Marijuana - Dave Root and Abby Grozine. Best Practices for Maintaining Your Claims File - Ryan Wilhelm, Jennifer Guerra, and Claire Sumner. Defending the Institutional Bad Faith Claim - Charlie McDaniel and Kathy Carlsten. New Technology, Old Policies:  Are Aging Policies Equipped to Handle the Consumer Technology Boom? - Fred Valz and Melissa Bailey. Apportionment:  Has It Gotten Insurers Where They Want To Go?  - Charlie McDaniel, Graham Thompson, and Kristen Thompson. Additional Insured Jeopardy - Alex Davis, Laura Paton, Sarah Wetmore, Sally Bright and Nick Stewart. Why the Involvement of a Tractor Trailer Escalates a Case - Gary Lovell. Risk-Averse Insurers and the New Juror:  Exploring Possible Links Between Fewer Trials, Millennial Jurors, and Seemingly Bigger Verdicts - Doug Smith and Lee Weatherly. Please contact Michelle Mattox at mmattox@csvl.law if you would like our attorneys to present in-house lunch & learn sessions or webinars.  

Laura Paton and Sarah Wetmore attended Claims and Litigation Management Alliance's Greater Atlanta Chapter Educational & Networking Event on May 3rd.  The event was hosted by CLM's Diversity in Construction Claims Committee and co-sponsored by Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP. Please click here for more event information or to register.  

Kent Stair, Bill Jones and the Design Professional Group presented How to Avoid, Manage and Resolve Claims Against Design Professionals and led a discussion regarding claims against design professionals which included advice on the best practices to avoid claims, how to handle claims when they cannot be avoided, and the various ways to resolve claims. This event was held at the Cobb Energy Centre on November 17. Please contact Patty O'Toole at potoole@csvl.law for more information.  

The 2016 CLM National Construction Claims Conference was held from September 28-30, 2016 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt, San Diego, California. Laura Paton participated in the Session III Panel entitled, Not So Simple Addition: Coverage Issues Surrounding Additional Insureds in the Southeast on September 29, 2016. Speakers: • Laura Paton, Carlock, Copeland and Stair, LLP • Stephanie Glickauf, Goodman McGuffey LLP • Constance Woods, American Southern Insurance Company • Tracy Yaun, Berkley Southeast Insurance Group In 2013, ISO introduced a new additional insured form. Now that the form has been around for a few years we have been able to see it in practice. This session will discuss coverage issues surrounding additional insureds on commercial general liability policies issued to contractors and subcontractors in the Southeast. These issues include priority of coverage, coverage (or not) for claims of an additional insured's exclusive negligence, and how contractual indemnity and additional insured status work together and work with the Southeastern states' laws regarding enforceable indemnity contracts. Additional Insured status has taken center stage in construction litigation in so many ways, and this panel will lead an interactive discussion about the not-so-simple challenges this issue presents. Patrick Norris attended. Please contact Patty O'Toole for more information regarding this event.

The 2016 Construction Law Conference was presented by the South Carolina Bar Continuing Legal Education Division and the South Carolina Bar.  The conference was entitled, Multi-Use Urban Projects, EPC Contracts and What You Need to Know.  This event was held at The Sonesta Resort on Hilton Head Island on September 23. Laura Paton participated in the Engineering Procurement and Construction Contracts Panel: The Contractor’s, Owner’s and Designer’s Perspective.

SC Lawyer article by Laura Paton, Sarah Wetmore and Clinton Magill on the possible uses of Fitbit data cited by the Wall Street Journal in Law Blog.  The Wall Street Journal Law Blog is entitled, Prosecutors Say Fitbit Device Exposed Fibbing in Rape Case. Laura Paton, Sarah Wetmore, and Clinton Magill's article entitled, "How Wearable Fitness Devices Could Impact Personal Injury in South Carolina" was published in the January 2016 SC Lawyer publication.  SC Lawyer is a publication of the South Carolina Bar. With the emergence of the wearable fitness device market comes an increase in personalized health and fitness data for discovery and investigation on using information from fitness devices in personal injury litigation. Laura Paton is of counsel and Sarah Wetmore is a partner in the Charleston office of Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP.  Clinton T. Magill is an associate in the Atlanta office. With express permission to reprint by SC Lawyer Magazine, January 2016 Edition©.

We are proud to announce that 9 of our lawyers have been selected for inclusion on the South Carolina Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists for 2016. Super Lawyers® Kent T. Stair - Construction Litigation Only five percent of the lawyers in the state are named by Super Lawyers®. The selections for this esteemed list are made by the research team at Super Lawyers®, which is a service of the Thomson Reuters. Each year, the research team at Super Lawyers® undertakes a rigorous multi-phase selection process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area, and a good-standing and disciplinary check. Rising Stars® Andrew W. Countryman - Professional Liability Defense Jackson H. Daniel, III - Civil Litigation Defense Douglas W. MacKelcan - Civil Litigation Defense Patrick J. Norris - Construction Litigation Laura Paris Paton - Construction Litigation Lee C. Weatherly - Medical Malpractice Defense Tyler P. Winton - Construction Litigation Rising Stars® is a listing of exceptional lawyers who are 40 years of age or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less, and have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 2.5 percent of the total lawyers in the state are honored on the Rising Stars® list.

Article by Laura Paton, Sarah Wetmore and Clinton Magill on the possible uses of Fitbit data cited by the Wall Street Journal in Law Blog.  The Wall Street Journal Law Blog is entitled, Prosecutors Say Fitbit Device Exposed Fibbing in Rape Case.

Laura Paton is attending the Executive Women's Round Table with Chief Justice Jean Toal. For more information please click here.

Laura Paton attended the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association Conference held October 22 - 23 in Columbia, SC. Click on the link below for more information: South Carolina Women Lawyers Association Conference Information  

Laura Paton presented at this year's NAWIC South Atlantic Region Fall Conference on October 18, 2019 at the Wild Dunes Resort in Isle of Palms, SC.  Her session focused on Contractor and Design Professional presentations as well as key revisions to AIA contract documents. The Palmetto Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction was chartered in 2018 to serve the Charleston and Lowcountry area.  NAWIC provides opportunities for women in the industry to connect with one another with the united goal of increasing the female representation in the construction industry. For more information on this conference or NAWIC, please click here.

The 2019 CLM Construction Conference was September 25-27, 2019 in San Diego, CA.  Charleston partners, Patrick Norris and Laura Paton attended the seminar.  Laura, alongside other colleagues, led a round table discussion titled Golden Opportunities: Maximizing the Utility of Notice and Opportunity to Cure Statutes during the annual conference. This conference covered all areas of risk, claims management and insurance related to the industry at the national, regional and state levels.  Topics included construction defect, coverage issues, site accidents and new technologies. For more information on CLM or this conference, click here.

Laura Paton and Charles McDaniel's presentation focused on complex coverage issues that arise within the context of various claims, and the exchange between covered and non-covered claims.  The audience was taught how to best handle and resolve claims involving multiple issues, such as numerous claims from a single occurrence, claims arising from multiple occurrences and exhaustion.  Presenters then provided insight into handling claims that contain both covered and non-covered claims, without compromising coverage defenses and the interest of the insured. For more information on this presentation or firm seminars, please contact Michelle Mattox.