Vaucluse Lawyers

Mr. Horton has been practicing civil litigation in Beaufort County since 2006. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Horton was judicial clerk to the Hon. Paul M. Burch of the 4th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. Feel free to visit us at www.hortonlawllc.com or at (843) 757-6190.

It is my goal to give each case the attention to detail it needs. I will not take on new cases at the expense of existing clients. The reality is there are only so many hours in a week. If I take on hundreds cases, I have less time to spend on each case than if I take on 25. If you want an attorney that will give you the attention you deserve, that can speak to you without a lot of legal jargon, that’s down-to-earth, and enjoys helping people, then please call 843-970-2929.

Lara N. Browne is an attorney at the Steinberg Law Firm, focusing on workers’ compensation law. Before joining the firm, she served as Legal Counsel for a large self-insured healthcare organization in the Lowcountry, managing a workers’ compensation program for over 6,000 employees. Her background includes extensive defense-side experience, having represented employers, insurance carriers, and third-party administrators at a major defense firm. This insight allows her to navigate cases strategically on behalf of injured workers. After a decade on the defense side, Lara transitioned to representing injured workers, finding fulfillment in advocating for their rights and alleviating their stress. A graduate...

Admitted in South Carolina and Georgia

Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys in Legal Malpractice

Practice concentrated in lawyer professional responsibility matters (plaintiff lawyer-malpractice claims, ethics consultations, law-firm dissolutions, and lawyer moves between firms).

Matthew was born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Growing up in "Hockeytown," Matthew developed a passion for the game of hockey, which he played at an elite level as a youth goaltender. After spending a time playing junior hockey in Chicago, Illinois, Matthew was recruited to play at the Division-I collegiate level with Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. During his time at Yale, Matthew earned a Bachelors of Arts in Economics and became a four-year, Varsity lettermen.

Following a brief professional hockey career, Matthew accepted a position with one of the...

J.D., High Honors, George Washington University Law School.
Ph.D., Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University.
B.S., Chemistry, Juniata College (Huntingdon, PA) and Leeds University (England)

Thrive IP, Managing Member, since 2005.
Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P., 1997-2005.

Dr. Stipkala serves clients in all aspects of intellectual property law, from evaluating freedom to operate to securing patents, trademarks, and copyrights, to providing strategic advice regarding trade secrets and managing intellectual property for strategic business advantage.

Cole Lawrimore was born and raised on his family’s tobacco farm in the rural, Pleasant Hill community of Georgetown County. As the son of a school administrator, Cole’s family moved frequently throughout the State of South Carolina with stops in Georgetown, Mt. Pleasant, Walhalla, and Newberry. Cole graduated from Newberry High School and attended Wofford College on an academic scholarship. In between attending social events, Cole was a Dean’s List student and the Vice Chairman of the Honor Council. After graduating from Wofford with a degree in accounting, Cole attended the Charleston School of Law. During his time there, Cole was...

Jessica L. Cleary received her B.A. from Westfield State College in 1997 and received her J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2000. She went before the court, for 8 years, representing disabled Veterans and their dependents in pursuit of VA compensation. Jessica is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar. She has been accredited by the VA since May 2009. In 2014 Jessica was recognized in...

Andrew Copenhaver devotes his practice to the representation of individuals and families harmed by defective products, motor vehicle accidents, nursing home abuse and neglect, premises injuries and other incidents involving negligence in products liability, personal injury and wrongful death cases. Mr. Copenhaver currently serves as counsel in several catastrophic and fatal injury cases throughout Georgia and South Carolina and is responsible for all aspects of litigation from initial pleadings to trial. He is also involved in several class actions in Georgia and states throughout the country. Prior to joining Bell & Brigham, Mr. Copenhaver clerked for the Honorable Dudley H. Bowen,...

Ralitsa François was born in Livingston, New Jersey but spent most of her life in Buford, Georgia. She is the daughter and descendant of Haitian immigrants and is very proud of her Haitian heritage. Ralitsa graduated from Queens University of Charlotte, cum laude, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with minors in Pre-Law and Psychology. There, she balanced being a student-athlete where she served as an executive member of the National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha, and was a co-captain and member of the Queens University of Charlotte Cheerleading Team. After college, Ralitsa worked in...

As a third-generation attorney with enthusiasm for representing victims in personal injury claims, Gedney M. Howe IV looks forward to carrying out his Father and Grandfather’s philosophy of “doing justice and healing the minds of his clients.” Gedney was admitted to practice law in South Carolina in 2020. Since becoming a member of the Bar he has obtained significant recoveries in many complex cases through both verdicts and settlements in a variety of cases. Participating in intense litigation against defendants such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Justice, and Dominion Energy. In his first year of practice Gedney has...

Edward A. Love was born in Charleston, South Carolina on March 3, 1978 and raised in Florence where he graduated from South Florence High School While attending the Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, he was a member of the 2000 Summerall Guards, President of the Rugby Club, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2000. He received his Juris Doctor from the Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University in 2003. While at Mercer, Ed participated in and coached for the Moot Court Board. He also served as Chief Justice of the Honor Court Upon...

Micah Gunn, MS, JD, is a patent and trademark attorney with extensive experience handling domestic and international patent and trademark matters. Micah’s interdisciplinary background and command of both patents and trademarks at the highest level helps him to develop broad strategies for his clients that are aligned with their business objectives. Micah’s patent practice is primarily concentrated on the innovation that occurs in the intersection between chemistry and other fields. Micah has worked on genetically modified organisms, pharmaceutical products, nutraceuticals, therapeutic methods, chemical dyes, 3D printed and chemical signature anti-counterfeit technology, biochemistry, chemistry and material science, as well as machines with...

Prior to running her own firm, Beth Santilli practiced with Fleet Freeman for several years, eventually becoming his partner. She is an experienced advocate that has helped many clients facing legal challenges in the Lowcountry. She works diligently to draft corporate and estate documents that keep her clients out of court. When litigation is unavoidable, you can rely on her experience and knowledge in the courtroom. She has litigated several civil cases including business disputes, estate disputes and employer/employee matters. She regularly creates business entities and acts as outside corporate counsel. Beth has drafted numerous corporate documents and corporate processes,...

Family law attorney David Wells makes his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with his wife, Annie.

After attending Camden Military Academy (Camden, SC), and Lyman Ward Military Academy (Camp Hill, AL), David attended Valdosta State University where he studied philosophy, applied ethics, and criminal justice.

David’s life-long dream was to become an attorney. He attended and graduated from the Thomas M. Cooley School of Law (Michigan). During this time, David interned for the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office in Horry County, South Carolina.

Upon being admitted to the South Carolina bar, David worked with Coastal Law Firm, LLC, before launching Wells Law Firm....

Johnny Gardner is a dedicated trial attorney with decades of courtroom experience. He began his legal career in 1992 as a Solicitor for the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. This background provides Johnny with a unique perspective of the legal system that greatly assists in the preparation of criminal cases for trial. Three years later, he entered private practice and founded his own law firm. Johnny concentrates his practice primarily on DUI and Criminal Defense, and has tried many difficult, complex cases. Johnny is an Horry County native. He attended Socastee High School and Coastal Carolina University. He served as an Infantry...

Many different areas of experience including but not limited to personal injury, insurance, employment, homeowners associations, real estate litigation, construction/mechanic's liens, unfair trade practices, wrongful death, auto/motorcycle/truck accidents, slip and fall accidents, and criminal.

For over 30 years, I've been helping South Carolinians that have been accused of criminal and traffic offenses get their day in court. I graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law, then clerked for Pike County (Kentucky) Circuit Judges Baird Colleton and Charles Lowe in Kentucky. I was a public defender in Orangeburg, SC. - fighting for clients that otherwise would have been worked through the system and jailed due to plea bargaining. My reputation for getting my clients in front of a jury of their peers rather than letting the prosecutors pressure them into a plea helped me build my...

Located at 702 Sea Mountain Highway, No. 4, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582; Phone (843) 455-9069; Fax (843) 249-6446; Email: MarjorieSimerman@aol.com

Based out of Charleston, Carl E. Pierce II offers compassionate and caring representation to clients. Carl takes on a wide range of cases, including product liability claims, professional negligence cases, legal malpractice defense, toxic torts, construction claims, and personal injury cases. With nearly 30 years of experience, he knows how to craft strong and compelling cases on behalf of his clients. Carl has been recognized for his legal skill with an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, inclusion in the Super Lawyers® list, and selection to Best Lawyers in America in the Defense of Mass Torts since 2010. If you are...

Trucking defense; professional liability defense; complex litigation

Patrick T. Napolski attended Clemson University where he was on the Dean’s List. Patrick then went to Charleston School of Law. While at Law school, he was a member of Student Trial Lawyers Association and American Bar Association Committee, among other activities. Outside of work, Patrick is a judge for various moot court and mock trial competitions, a member of the South Carolina Bar Association’s Professional Development Committee, and a mentor in Charleston School of Law’s Mentoring Program. Patrick is licensed to practice law in Illinois, South Carolina, and the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.

Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for his handling of insurance law matters, Barnwell Whaley member attorney K. Michael Barfield concentrates his law practice in the areas of professional negligence, construction litigation, commercial litigation, property related litigation, personal injury and fractional ownership transactions .

A full bio for K. Michael Barfield may be viewed at the firm website:
https://barnwell-whaley.com/attorneys/k-michael-barfield/

Nick is a native Carolinian, having spent his youth in Charleston, South Carolina. His professional career began in ColumbIa, South Carolina, at Allstate as a Claims Adjuster after earning his Bachelor of Science from Winthrop University. During his ten years at Allstate, Nick received claims training in Chicago, worked catastrophe claims and achieved multiple promotions, including working in the Charlotte Regional Office. Additionally, Nick gained licensure in all lines of casualty, property, surety, and marine in both South Carolina and North Carolina. Nick resigned from Allstate after having achieved a 10 year vested status. During the period following...