[COLUMBIA, S.C., March 29, 2012] – Collins & Lacy, P.C. is pleased to announce four of the business defense firm’s attorneys have been named to the 2012 list of South Carolina Super Lawyers®. Included in the list is Collins & Lacy’s co-founding partner Joel W. Collins, Jr., who also was honored with the status of being one of the top 25 Super Lawyers in the state. The 2012 South Carolina Super Lawyersdesignation also included co-founder Stanford E. Lacy, along with Greenville’s Jack D. Griffeth and Michael S. Pitts. Super Lawyers is an annual listing of attorneys who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
In addition, a prestigious honor has been given to Collins & Lacy’s Andrew N. Cole, who has been named to the inaugural Rising Stars list for South Carolina. Rising Stars are attorneys, 40 years of age or younger, who have been practicing for 10 years or less. There are no more than 2.5 percent of the attorneys in the named to the list.
Here is more information about each attorney honored:
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 and 2012 recipient of the inaugural Rising Star 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.
