Top Corporate Lawyers Near Me in Columbia Area

I have been with the firm Wolaver Carter & Heffington since February 2015.  I began my legal career in 1998 with the law firm of Hardin, Parkes & Kettering, PLLC, which later became Hardin, Parkes, Kelley & Carter, PLLC when I became a partner in 2007.  I primarily practice in the areas of personal injury law, business law, contract law complex civil litigation and wills and estate law.  I also serve as the city attorney for Spring Hill, Tennessee.. I received my doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Florida College of Law in May 1999, achieving both honors and high honors in my course work.  While at the University of Florida, I earned my pro bono certificate for my work with the Alachua County Teen Court.. Prior to attaining my law degree, I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Idaho in Political Science and Spanish and graduated magna cum laude.  I am a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key Honor Societies among others.  I also studied at the University of Tennessee as well as the Centro De Estudios Interamericanos in Cuenca, Ecuador.. Since beginning my practice, I have been involved in both the Maury County and Tennessee bar associations.  Locally, I re-established the young lawyers division of the Maury County Bar Association in 2000 and served as president of same from 2000 to 2003.  Statewide, I served as the District 11 Representative to the Tennessee Young Lawyers Division from June 2002 to June 2004 and June 2007 to June 2009, and the Middle Tennessee Governor from June 2004 to June 2007.  I have also served as the District 6 Governor for the Tennessee Bar Association from 2006 to 2012.  In addition, I was the secretary of the Teen Youth Court Advisory Board under the auspices of the Tennessee Legal Community Foundation from January 2002 to 2005.  I also graduated from the Tennessee Bar Association Leadership Law Class of 2005.  In June 2010,  I was inducted as a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.  Since 2011, I have chaired the local annual fundraising campaign for the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands.  I sat on the coordinating committee for the Tennessee Bar Association’s Informed Voters Project.. I have also been involved in other volunteer activities, such as the Maury County CASA organization, of which I was the organization’s first President and an active Board member, the University of Florida Alumni Mentor Program, and the Tennessee High School Mock Trial Program.  I am a graduate from the Leadership Maury Program.  Recently, I helped lead the charge to save the local YMCA facility, which became The Wellness and Aquatics Complex, Inc.  I also currently serve as the President for the Columbia Soccer Association and am on the Board of Directors for the Maury County United Way.  I am actively engaged in supporting local and community initiatives such as the Muletown Music Festival, Arts in Action and People’s Table among other things.. I am the proud parent of two daughters, Grace and Portia.  My daughters and I reside in Columbia, Tennessee.  I enjoy coaching swim team and soccer in my free time as well as racing in the sport of triathlon, having competed in the infamous Escape from Alcatraz Race in 2011.

I have been practicing law with the Finkel Law Firm for 20 years. Before that I practiced in Atlanta Georgia. In my practice I have handled a wide variety of matters. Currently I focus on business litigation and litigation involving construction defects and construction disputes. I represent homeowners, contractors, suppliers, homeowners’ associations and subcontractors. As I was previously a general contractor, I have an understanding of the construction industry from both a legal and hands on position. I strive to give each client quality representation and maintain good client communication.

I am an advocate, communicator, and wordsmith. I am also a certified Mediator and have served as a Special Referee. I serve my clients - individuals and small businesses - in situations that could end up in a trial, hearing or mediation, and/or advise them on how to stay away from problems with well worded agreements and well thought out plans. Lots of advice, fact finding, research and just plain working with people occurs before stating my client's case at a mediation, trial or hearing. The small business portion of my practice includes contract work, employment advisement, business formation, and lately helping businesses get it right from the beginning. As a continuing writer and broadcaster I understand creating valuable assets and works such as "reality shows" and music or movie creations needing trademark and copy right protection. As an advocate I work to protect my clients' rights by strongly addressing any wrongs committed against them. My practice balances favorably resolving disputes with helping clients develop their projects from concept to completion - and to protect them so they can grow and prosper.I use the law and common sense to help my clients succeed. My judicial clerkship during my first year out of law school taught me the system from the inside while watching a year's worth of all sorts of trials. I learned what judges and juries want. Trials are fun for litigators like me, but satisfaction from a well planned and protected project is just as good.As a South Carolina certified Circuit Court Mediator I can bring parties together, discuss strengths, weaknesses, shared problems and even common goals to work a solution that is better than proceeding with litigation.

For over 30 years, Jason A. Shapiro has been a highly recognized and sought after attorney in the state of Maryland. Jason has consistently been recognized as one of Maryland’s Superlawyers, by Best Lawyers in America, and was even named their Lawyer of the Year in 2016.  He’s been honored by his peers in the criminal defense bar by being chosen as their leader, serving as President of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association from 2010 to 2011. Jason has served as the Managing Partner of Shapiro Zwanetz & Associates which has repeatedly been honored as one of the Best Law Firms in America. This recognition is due not just to the excellent results that Jason’s firm delivers to its clients; it is also due to the firm’s recognition that each client is a unique individual, each deserving of the highest client/customer service.. In serving his community as a Defense Attorney, Jason has defended thousands of Criminal, DUI/DWI, Traffic and Juvenile cases. Jason has handled over 1000 Motor Vehicle Administrative Hearings. Most notably, Jason has successfully defended all types of criminal matters, and securing dismissals of all charges regarding the last two First Degree Murder cases which he co-defended with his partner, David Zwanetz.. Prior to entering the private practice of law, Jason served in the Offices of the State’s Attorneys for both Montgomery and Howard Counties. While serving as an Assistant State’s Attorney, Jason prosecuted a myriad of cases from Misdemeanors and Felonies, and from Agricultural Crimes to First Degree Murder cases. As a prosecutor, Jason was honored to receive the scholarship offered by the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association to Career Prosecutor School (a/k/a “Prosecutors’ Top Gun School”).. Jason has lived in the state of Maryland his entire life, grew up in Silver Spring, and has lived in Columbia for nearly the past 35 years. He has been active in the local community, coaching his children’s sports teams; serving on charitable Board of Directors; and was appointed by then – Governor Martin O’Malley to be the Chairman of the Trial Courts Nominating Commission for Howard County from 2007 through 2015.  Since 2017, Jason was elected as the President and Chairman of the Board of "HC DRUG FREE" a non-profit organziation seeking to educate the Howard County community regarding the prevention and treatment of drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Chris earned his Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from the University of South Carolina.  In addition, he earned a Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida. From this multi-dimensional perspective, Chris counsels business and nonprofit clients on matters arising throughout the life cycle of an organization, including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, operational and governance issues, and transactions involving termination or sale of the organization or business. He represents clients before federal, state and local tax authorities in tax controversy matters. Chris focuses a large part of his practice on tax credits and other incentives for real estate development, renewable energy investments, and commercial growth.. Chris is committed to community service and is actively involved in various organizations.  Among other activities, he is a member of the Lexington Kiwanis Club, where he has served as President and Treasurer, he serves on the Board of the Columbia Development Corporation, and he coaches his daughter’s youth soccer team.. In addition to his community service, Chris has been on the faculty of various continuing legal education seminars on topics such as tax exempt organizations, entity matters, and tax incentives. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the Columbia Tax Study Group, and the Richland County Bar Association.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.

Experienced Corporate attorney serving clients in Columbia and surrounding areas.