Four Collins & Lacy, P.C. attorneys have been named to the 2012 list of South Carolina Super Lawyers®. Joel W. Collins, Jr., Stanford E. Lacy, Jack D. Griffeth, and Michael Pitts were among those attorneys recently selected for inclusion in the publication. Super Lawyers is a listing of attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis, and the selection process is multi-phased and includes peer nominations, independent research and review by peer attorneys in the same practice area.
Collins & Lacy, shareholder, Andrew Cole, has been named to the inaugural Rising Stars list for South Carolina. The Rising Stars list was established to recognize the top up-and-coming attorneys in each state. Rising Stars are attorneys, 40 years of age or younger, who have been practicing for 10 years or less. Rising Stars are nominated by fellow attorneys who have personally observed them in action, then reviewed by attorney-led research teams, who assign points to the candidate based on defined evaluation criteria. Those attorneys with the highest point totals are selected as Rising Stars, with no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in the state being named to the list.
Joel Collins, founding shareholder of the firm, is being recognized for his work in Civil Litigation Defense. His practice focuses on complex civil litigation and white collar criminal defense. He received his undergraduate degree from Clemson University in 1965 and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1968. Collins has held numerous leadership positions in civic organizations including Rotary and The National Safety Council. He currently serves on the National Board of Directors for the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) as well as a Trustee Emeritus for the ABOTA Foundation. Joel was the recipient of the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly 2012 Leadership in the Law Award. He also is named one of The Best Lawyers in America©.
Founding shareholder Stan Lacy is being recognized for his practice in workers’ compensation. Lacy graduated from the University of Virginia in 1967 and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1974. Lacy is a past president of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Education Commission. South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell appointed Lacy to the Advisory Committee for the Improvement of Workers' Compensation Laws in South Carolina, where he worked with the legislature to review and revise legislation affecting the state’s workers' compensation system. Lacy began teaching workers’ compensation as an adjunct instructor in 1981 and has continued to teach ever since. He also frequently conducts workshops on compensation laws. Stan recently received the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly 2012 Leadership in the Law Award. He has been selected by his peers for seven consecutive years to be included in The Best Lawyers in America.
Collins & Lacy shareholder Jack Griffeth has been honored as a 2012 Super Lawyer for his practice in Alternative Dispute Resolution. His 35-year practice of law has focused on defense trial work, representing employers in employment-related litigation and mediation. Griffeth is the Past-President of the Greenville Bar Association and is the President-Elect of the South Carolina Bar Foundation. Griffeth is a summa cum laude graduate of Wofford College and received his Juris Doctor from Duke University. He has been certified as a mediator by the South Carolina Bar and speaks frequently on the subject of mediation. Griffeth has appeared on the Best Lawyers list consecutively since 2005 and has an AV rating with Martindale-Hubbell.
Michael Pitts, Collins & Lacy shareholder, is being honored for his work in Employment Litigation: Defense. Mike has spent most of his 15-year career helping businesses with labor and employment matters and complex commercial cases. Michael is experienced in litigation and arbitration, as well as counseling management on ways to avoid disputes. He currently serves as the Anderson County Attorney. Michael graduated with distinction from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was made a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Michael received his Juris Doctor from The University of South Carolina School of Law. Michael has been honored as one of the Best Lawyers for his work in labor & employment litigation and employment law management.
Collins & Lacy shareholder Andrew Cole has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Andrew is a member of the firm’s Construction practice group team. His practice focuses on the defense of developers, general contractors and subcontractors on construction liability actions. He also has experience in class action litigation involving construction issues and damages, including lost-use claims. Andrew is a member of the House of Delegates for the Fifth Judicial Circuit for the South Carolina Bar. He also chairs the Construction Law Committee for the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association.
For more information about Collins & Lacy, P.C., please visit www.collinsandlacy.com or the International Society of Primerus Law Firms.