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.

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.  

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.

Tyler Winton of Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP presented Building Non-Enclosure:  Who’s at Fault?  The event was held on January 28, 2016 at the Charleston Visitor Center, 375 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29403. Carlock, Copeland & Stair, LLP is a sponsor for this Building Enclosure Council event. 

Tyler Winton will be presenting at the National Business Institute’s seminar, “Construction Defect Litigation:  From Start to Finish”, which will be held in Charleston on Wednesday, May 6, 2015. More details to come soon.

Location: Charleston, SC / Event Details/Registration

Tyler Winton presented "Construction Defect Litigation: From A to Z" on May 6th, 2015 for NBI.

Location: Town & Country Inn & Conference Center 2008 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407 / Event Details/Registration

Copeland Stair Valz & Lovell, LLP is proud to announce that several of our lawyers have been selected for inclusion on the South Carolina Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars® lists for 2019. Super Lawyers recognizes attorneys who have distinguished themselves in their legal practice. Attorneys are chosen for this honor through a nomination process, peer review by practice area and independent research on candidates. The lengthy process identifies lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Meet our Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars®! Super Lawyers®, only five percent of attorneys in the state of South Carolina are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers list. Our Super Lawyers are: D. Gary Lovell, Jr. Kent T. Stair Rising Stars® list recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state – those who are 40 years old or younger, or those who have been practicing for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys are named to the Rising Stars list, here are ours: J. Patrick Norris Tyler P. Winton