2019 saw an ever-so-slight decline in the number of attorneys working at the state’s largest law firms, according to the 2019 South Carolina Largest Law Firms survey, with the firms at the very top of the list showing a modest increase.
Nelson Mullins (204), the perennial largest firm in the state, reported the biggest increase from last year among the firms that were surveyed (+6), allowing them to retain their position as the largest in the state.
“The firm continues to execute a strategic growth plan focused on both geographic markets and practice areas to ensure we are situated to serve our clients with relevant expertise,” said Jim Lehman, managing partner at the firm. “The firm has been operating in South Carolina for more than 120 years, and we are deeply committed to the state.”
Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd (119) also saw an increase (+3), allowing the firm to move into second place above Nexsen Pruet (118) by a very slim margin.
Nick Nicholson, managing director at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, said the firm has been strategically growing in size in an effort to best serve clients in the areas where attorneys are most needed.
Rounding out the top five is MGC (McAngus Goudelock & Courie, 88) and Burr Forman McNair (79), which was created when Columbia-based McNair Law Firm merged with Alabama-based Burr Forman at the start of the year.
While 12 of the top 25 firms saw growth in size over a year ago, the growth was not enough to overcome an overall 0.2 percent decline in the number of attorneys working at the state’s 25 largest firms.
11 of the top 25 firms saw a decline in attorney numbers and two firms stayed the same as they were a year ago.
Burr Forman McNair (-11) saw the biggest decline, followed by Gallivan White & Boyd (-7). A press official from Gallivan White & Boyd said that while they lost a few attorneys to attrition in the past year, they have plans to fill the vacancies and are currently seeking to fill three positions. Burr Forman McNair representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Turner Padget (69), Womble Bond Dickinson (65), Motley Rice (63) and Ogletree Deakins (60) held steady to stay inside the top 10, while Willson Jones Carter & Baxley (57) moved up to push out Gallivan White & Boyd (55).
Smith Moore Leatherwood merged with Fox Rothschild in September 2018, and the firm is listed under its new name. The total number of attorneys working for the firm in the state (and their ranking) remained constant from 2018 to 2019.
Rounding out the list, Dority & Manning, Moore & Van Allen (+3) and Carlock Copeland (+3) showed growth while holding their positions in the rankings.
The annual survey of South Carolina’s Largest Law Firms is based on the self-reported number of South Carolina-licensed lawyers practicing from an office located within the state.
The information was gathered over the past two months, using email, telephone calls and digital survey questions to put together an up-to-date list of information from all the firms that appeared in the 2018 survey.
In compiling the 2019 survey of South Carolina’s Largest Law Firms, we have made every effort to provide complete and accurate information.
If we have inadvertently left out a firm, or if the information listed is not correct, please contact Matthew Chaney, the reporter who worked on the survey, via email at mchaney@sclawyersweekly.com.
We will begin collecting data for 2020 edition of the survey next February.