Greenville County Bar “Year-End” CLE
Friday, February 7, 2025
Greenville Convention Center
SC Course # 252014
6.5 hours of Credit
with 1.0 in Ethics And 1.0 in SAMH
Nc Credit, Sponsor: 4770, Course: 1
6.5 hours with 1.0 in Professional Well-Being and 1.0 in Ethics
8:15-8:30
Welcome Remarks: CLE Co-chairs
+ William Maxey
Will Maxey is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on personal injury and wrongful death cases. An Horry County native and lifelong South Carolinian, Will graduated from Clemson University with a B.A. in English Literature and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While in law school, Will knew that he wanted to represent injured people against insurance companies and corporations, and he served as the president of the student chapter of the South Carolina Association for Justice, an organization of plaintiff’s attorneys in South Carolina dedicated to defending individuals’ rights to a civil trial by jury and to ensuring fairness in our state’s civil justice system.
Upon graduating law school and being admitted to the South Carolina Bar, Will served as an assistant solicitor, where he tried multiple jury trials to verdict and handled cases ranging from driving under the influence to drug trafficking. After serving as a prosecutor, Will began putting his skills to work on behalf of injured people in personal injury cases. During that time, Will worked at both large and small personal injury law firms, and brings the best of both worlds to Maxey McFarland Law Firm: the knowledge and skill to compete with any large firm and the individualized client service of a small firm.
Will lives in Greenville with his wife and remains a proud Pee Dee native, despite having made his home in the Upstate. He is a diehard fan of the Atlanta Braves, his beloved Clemson Tigers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. When he’s not practicing law, you can more than likely find him on the golf course or at a sporting event.
+ Ashley Parr
Ashley Parr focuses her practice on Employment and Labor Law by representing employers in litigation, as well as providing daily proactive advice and counseling on employee and business-related matters. She also supports clients with a wide range of business disputes and legal compliance issues, as well as complex litigation matters in health care, education, and manufacturing, among other arenas. Ashley is dedicated to understanding her clients' needs and has established a great rapport of trust, accountability, and attention to detail.
Ashley provides strategic guidance and represents clients in litigation on a wide range of issues, including:
- Claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation
- Wage and hour disputes
- Development and implementation of employment policies and employee handbooks
- Drafting and enforcement of restrictive covenants, such as covenants not to compete, non-solicitation agreements, and confidentiality obligations
- Employment and executive agreements
- Counseling regarding termination, discipline, and disability-related accommodations
- Claims such as breach of contract, unlawful disclosure of trade secrets, wrongful termination, and workers’ compensation retaliation
- Internal investigation and compliance issues
Before joining the Firm, Ashley clerked for the Honorable Jean Toal, Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court in Columbia, South Carolina. She also interned for the Honorable Joseph Anderson, United States District Court Judge in Columbia.
President’s Address and Greenville Bar Update
+ Jeanmarie Tankersley
Jeanmarie is a civil litigation attorney practicing in our Greenville, South Carolina office. Her practice includes all aspects of civil litigation, both at the state and federal level. She focuses primarily on personal injury, premises liability, products liability, insurance coverage, and construction cases.
Jeanmarie attended the College of Charleston for her undergraduate studies where she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in History and minors in both Psychology and Political Science. Jeanmarie then attended the University of Georgia School of Law, graduating cum laude in 2012. While there, she served as the Student Bar Association President, the Executive Editor of the Journal of Intellectual Property Law, and the President of the Public Interest Law Council.
Upon graduation, Jeanmarie served as a law clerk to Chief Judge Roger W. Dunaway, Jr. and Judge Harold A. Hinesley in the Superior Court of Georgia. She then began her career as a civil litigator in 2013. She is licensed in both South Carolina and Georgia.
Outside of her legal practice, Jeanmarie is active in the South Carolina Bar and the Greenville Bar. She served as the President of the SC Bar Young Lawyers Division from 2021-2022. She also spends time working with the Junior League of Greenville, the College of Charleston, and other legal organizations including DRI, Haynsworth Perry Inn of Court, and South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association.
8:30-9:30
From Yale to Jail, Addiction doesn’t Discriminate!
(60 Minute SAMH CLE)
Session Overview: This presentation explores the widespread and often overlooked issue of alcohol addiction, particularly within high-pressure professions such as business, law, and healthcare. It emphasizes that addiction, specifically alcoholism, does not discriminate and can affect anyone, regardless of their professional success or educational background. The goal of this presentation is to raise awareness of the hidden epidemic of alcohol addiction among high-functioning professionals, reduce stigma, and provide valuable insights into treatment, prevention, and the importance of support in addressing alcoholism. It is a call to action for a more compassionate and proactive approach to addiction, recognizing that it can affect anyone—regardless of their background or success.
+ Hubert Yarborough
Hubert Yarborough is a native of Greenville, SC. He is a graduate from Wofford College (1994) and earned a BS in Psychology and minor in Biology. After college, Hubert worked in the behavioral health field as a mental health counselor and then in the pharmaceutical business as a specialized sales representative for Eli Lilly and Company. In 2002, Hubert shifted his career to business and served as a VP of sales for Propel HR in Greenville, SC.
After years of maintaining a professional and “functional” lifestyle, Hubert finally fell victim of the devastation of alcoholism. In 2013, Hubert willingly decided that his progressive alcoholism was enough and admitted himself to an intensive outpatient program, coupled with an abundance of recovery meetings. His sobriety quickly opened many doors.
In 2017, Hubert was hired by FAVOR Upstate as the Senior Director of Emergency Room Services. Hubert helped launch a hospital program in Upstate emergency rooms to work with patients who presented with substance use disorders. While at FAVOR Upstate, Hubert received certifications as a National Certified Interventionist, a National Certified Peer Recovery Coach, a Certified Mayo Clinic Health & Wellness coach, and a Certified Family coach.
On 2021, Hubert resigned from FAVOR Upstate to pursue his independent interests and started Yarborough Recovery Solutions, LLC. Hubert uses his experience working with professionals in crisis environments to find fitting treatment solutions. He uses a compassionate, empathetic, and open-minded style, and his own recovery journey, to quickly connect with individuals and families who suffer from substance use disorders. Hubert has been engaged in over 1500 interventions.
Hubert is a graduate of Leadership Greenville, Leadership SC, and the Diversity Leadership Initiative at Furman University. Hubert has served on The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of SC, the Leadership Greenville Advisory Council, the Leadership SC Board of Directors, and the GHS Children’s Hospital Advancement Council. He currently serves as board member for the Greenville County Drug and Alcohol Commission and devotes several hours a week facilitating group therapy at SC Detox and Treatment and the Greenville County Veterans Association. Outside of work, Hubert enjoys hiking, arts & entertainment, and traveling. He and his wife Lee have two girls.
9:30-10:00
Current Judicial Branch Topics AFfeCTING the practice of law
(30 Minute CLE)
+ Chief Justice John Kittredge
John W. Kittredge was born in Greenville, South Carolina. John is the son of Elwyn Herbert, Jr. (deceased) and Marian Jeffries Kittredge (deceased). John married Lila Graham Hewell on June 20, 1981. John and Lila have three children, Lila Marian, Will and Zay. They have six grandchildren, Jeff, Elwyn, Marian, Lila, Murray, and Evelyn. The Kittredges are members of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville.
Chief Justice Kittredge graduated from the University of South Carolina, summa cum laude, in 1979. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1982. Academic honors include Phi Beta Kappa, Order of the Coif, and Wig and Robe.
Chief Justice Kittredge began his legal career as a law clerk to The Honorable William W. Wilkins, Jr. He practiced law in the firm of Wilkins, Nelson and Kittredge. Chief Justice Kittredge was actively involved in community and state service: Governor's Committee on Crime and Delinquency; Governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force; Greenville Technical College Foundation (Vice-President); City of Greenville Civil Service Commission (Chairman); Greenville County Crime Stoppers (President); Board of Directors of Child Evangelism Fellowship. Chief Justice Kittredge has served on the Commission on the Profession since 2003, serving as Chair from 2008 until 2024. In addition to his admission to the South Carolina Bar, Chief Justice Kittredge is also admitted to practice before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, United States Court of Military Appeals, United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Kittredge was elected to the South Carolina family court bench in 1991. He was elected to the circuit court bench in 1996, and the Court of Appeals in 2003. He was elected as an associate justice to the Supreme Court in 2008, and Chief Justice in 2024.
10:00-10:15
BREAK WITH REfreshments
10:15-10:45
Making a difference in the commuNITY: UnderstaNDING SC Legal services and the upstate medical legal partnership initiatives
(30 Minute CLE)
+ Shunna Jeter
Shunna V. Jeter serves as the Executive Director of South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS), a statewide law firm dedicated to providing civil legal services to low-income residents of South Carolina. Before joining SCLS in July 2024, Ms. Jeter was the Chief Executive Officer of GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission. In this role, she effectively coordinated a team of over 450 employees across 14 counties, administered a substantial budget, and tirelessly advocated for the needs of low-income families and communities.
Ms. Jeter's leadership is marked by a strong commitment to social justice and community empowerment. She has been honored as the South Carolina Community Action Program Administrator and Executive Director of the Year, reflecting her dedication to serving economically disadvantaged communities. Under her guidance, SCLS continues to address critical issues such as housing, discrimination, and disaster-related legal needs, ensuring that all South Carolinians have access to necessary legal resources.
Ms. Jeter holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
+ Kirby Mitchell
Kirby Mitchell is the Legal Director of the Upstate Medical Legal Partnership (MLP) in Greenville,
South Carolina, a successful and innovative partnership between South Carolina Legal Services (“Legal
Aid”), Prisma Health, and Furman University. He graduated in 1990 from Furman University, and the
School of Law at the University of Georgia in 1996.
As Legal Director of the Upstate MLP, Kirby represents low-income clients in a wide variety of
civil cases, including the family, probate, circuit and magistrate courts, as well as in appellate courts and
administrative proceedings. The MLP approach is popular and spreading across the U.S. – it is essentially
a “legal aid” office, embedded directly within Prisma Health, and Kirby helped start the 1 st MLP in South
Carolina. Kirby also teaches a popular “Poverty, Medicine, and the Law” class at Furman (2011-2024).
Kirby served as 2019 president of the Greenville County Bar Association. Kirby and his wife,
Danielle, a private attorney at Mitchell Ramseur, LLC, live in Greenville with their 2 kiddos.
10:45-11:15
South Carolina Bar Update
(30 Minute CLE)
+ Shaheena Bennett
Born and raised in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, Shaheena Bennett, Esquire is the owner of Bennett Law Firm. Founded in 2008, she serves as an attorney that focuses on Personal Injury, Wrongful Death, Entertainment Law, Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Sports Law. She is a Certified Mediator in the South Carolina Circuit Courts. Her mission is to establish relationships along with her clients through catering personalized attention and high level of service. In civil circumstances, by both settlement and trial, she has obtained or assisted hundreds and thousands of clients.
Her success as a hometown lawyer has included not-guilty verdicts in many cases. She has tried countless cases along with complex issues such as murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, driving under the influence, and much more.
Serving the role as hometown attorney, the main role of Shaheena Bennett is to secure and to protect the rights of her clients at all times. In addition, Shaheena is a zealous advocate and is well respected by her adversaries, colleagues, clients as well as judges sitting on the bench at present. She has conducted a lot of jury trials throughout her career.
11:15-11:45
G-Bar History: Part 2
+ Reid T. Sherard
Reid Sherard leads Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Family Law practice group. He concentrates his time in complex divorce-related litigation, particularly involving significant assets, income, valuation, or other challenging financial issues as well as contested custody matters, interstate and international jurisdiction disputes, and premarital and postnuptial agreements. He enjoys helping individuals find solutions to difficult personal problems, whether through negotiated settlement or in trial. Reid is sensitive to the private nature of the matters he handles and recognizes the importance of each case.
Reid is based in Greenville, his hometown, but practices across the state. He is frequently requested to speak on family law issues at statewide seminars.
Reid is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® (2023 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Greenville), South Carolina Super Lawyers® (top 25 in the state for 2017, 2018, 2020-2023, regardless of practice area), and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Family Law Power List. He enjoys the AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Reid’s peers have recognized him as the top attorney vote getter for Greenville Business Magazine Legal Elite for eight consecutive years. Reid is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and is a certified family court mediator. Reid received both the Distinguished Honors Alumni Award from the USC Honors College and the USC School of Law’s Compleat Lawyer Award (Silver).
Reid also maintains a litigation and appellate practice. He has tried cases in the family court, federal district and magistrate court, and various state and local courts. He has argued ten appeals, including in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Before joining Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Reid practiced for 15 years at an AmLaw 100 firm. He is a graduate of the nationally recognized Family Law Trial Institute in Houston, Texas. Reid commenced his career as a law clerk to the late Hon. G. Ross Anderson, Jr., U.S. District Judge for the District of South Carolina.
Reid currently serves as on the University of South Carolina Board of Trustees and on the SC Bar Family Law Section Council. He previously served as President of the Greenville County Bar Association, President of the Board of Directors of A Child’s Haven, and as Chair of the 2022 American Heart Association Upstate Heart Walk.
Education:
University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (2004)
University of Aberdeen, Scotland, MLitt, with distinction (2001)
University of South Carolina, Honors College, BA, magna cum laude (2000)
11:45-12:00
Break to grab Food for Working lunch
12:00-1:00
Professionalism, Ethics and Civility
(60 Minute CLE-Ethics)
Lawyers and legal academics should understand themselves as having four interrelated sets of obligations, however open-textured, each of which are of signal importance, as they consider how to act in particular contexts across the full spectrum of their careers.
+ John Nichols
John S. Nichols is an attorney at Bluestein Attorney whose practice areas include professional responsibility/ethics consulting, litigation and trial support, and appellate advocacy. He recently returned to the firm after five years as Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court of South Carolina.
John is admitted to practice in South Carolina’s state and federal courts as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Over the years he has served as president of the South Carolina Association of Justice, as a member of the S.C. Board of Law Examiners by Supreme Court appointment, and he is currently chairman of the S.C. Commission on Indigent Defense.
He has written or edited several books for the South Carolina Bar and for Thomson Reuters including The Trial Handbook for South Carolina Lawyers and South Carolina Civil Procedure. He served on the South Carolina Lawyer magazine’s Editorial Board, serving as editor-in-chief from 2004 through 2006. John also served as editor of The Bulletin, the magazine for the South Carolina Association for Justice.
John serves on the USC “Coaches versus Cancer” committee. He and his wife, Michelle, enjoy traveling, hiking, Gamecock sports, and spending time with his daughter, Beth, and her son, Max.