Hopkins Lawyers

Long term care and Medicaid planning. Special needs trusts. Guardianship and Conservatorship actions. Probate litigation. Estate administration. Estate planning. Real estate closings. Title searches.

I grew up in Greenwood, South Carolina, in a family of attorneys. The community I grew up in helped one another--no matter the task--which gave me the understanding of and appreciation for the value of good people.

When I moved to Columbia, South Carolina to start law school, I met my wife, Patti, who now works in admissions at USC Law. After graduating early from law school, I had the opportunity to learn from some of the brightest minds in South Carolina while working for the Court of Appeals for two years. Once my term at the...

Robert F. Goings focuses his practice on catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and workers compensation. He is known to be a fighter in the courtroom-- just ask the lawyers that go up against him in trial.

Robert grew up on his family's farm in Union County, South Carolina. Mr. Goings is a 2003 graduate of Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Government, receiving the highest distinction in his major. He graduated with highest honors as a summa cum laude graduate. He was was inducted into the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa...

Marc is a dedicated litigator. His practice focuses on various injury and civil rights matters. Marc takes pride in providing aggressive and effective representation on behalf of each of his clients. He goes above and beyond to ensure that his clients understand their rights and are treated like extend members of the firm's family.

Prior to opening the Marc Brown Law Firm, attorney Marc Brown worked for a national law firm defending large corporations and insurance companies. He has experience working both sides of a case, and he knows exactly how insurance companies evaluate claims and what...

William L. “Bill” Smith, II is a founding partner of Chappell, Smith & Arden. He concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation and mediation. Bill graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1984. In his years of practice, he has handled thousands of cases for injured workers. He uses his knowledge and experience in workers’ compensation to pursue justice, obtain the compensation and improve conditions for workers

I am a Columbia, SC personal injury and workers' comp attorney. Since my first day in practice, I have been protecting the rights of those harmed by unsafe drivers, caregivers, and products.

Among the cases I accept are those arising from car accidents, wrongful death, traumatic brain injuries, and on-the-job injuries.

J. Scott Shirley is one of the owners of Popowski Callas & Shirley, P.A., and since 1995 has dedicated himself to the firm's Workers Compensation Practice and the representation of injured South Carolina workers and their families. Prior to attending law school at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Shirley worked as a roofer. His experience observing injured colleagues led him to the conclusion that no one was standing up for their rights; insurance companies and employers were backed by high-powered attorneys. His mission then became to put injured workers on equal legal footing with their employers.

Mr. Shirley graduated from...

ATTORNEY DAYNE PHILLIPS has dedicated his life to defending those who are wrongfully accused or who have made an unfortunate mistake and need help. He is a trained and experienced South Carolina criminal defense attorney and appellate litigator. He has successfully defended citizens in felony jury trials and has successfully argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Dayne is a former President of the South Carolina Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and former circuit representative on that organization's Board of Directors. He is also a graduate of the National Criminal Defense College and...

Jonathan Lewis graduated from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont, with a Bachelors Degree in 2011. He returned to Norwich University in 2013, where he graduated in 2015 with his Masters in International Affairs, During this time he lectured upon, and focused in, International Extremism / Terrorism. He has spent over ten years in emergency medicine and Fire/Rescue as a Firefighter/Medic in Vermont, Virginia, and for the Department of Defense at various postings in the Middle East.

In 2015 Jonathan decided to pursue the practice of law, and attended the University of South Carolina School of...

Growing up in the small town of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, home of Gamecock greats Phil Petty and Dylan Thompson, I attended Winthrop University and then received my Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After graduation, I worked as a staff attorney at the South Carolina Supreme Court, while also moonlighting as a legal writing instructor at the law school.

After leaving the Supreme Court, I worked at an insurance defense firm representing insurance companies, individuals, and corporations in personal injury, bad faith, product liability, and commercial litigation, trying numerous cases to verdict. After...

Attorney Brent P. Stewart made it his mission early on to not only become an injury lawyer, but to create a place where victims could turn in the darkest hour and seek the help they needed.  That’s why Brent focused on building his law firm to feel like a family atmosphere and a firm that truly puts their clients first.  With over 30 years of experience, he knows how important it is to have someone to stand up and fight for you against the insurance companies and corporations.  At Stewart Law Offices, you will not be just another case, but...

Peter concentrates his practice in workers’ compensation and mediation, representing the rights of injured workers. Peter obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA in 1999. He was commissioned as a Special Agent for the United States Secret Service 2000. Peter was assigned to the New York Field office, and served in both special protective and investigative missions for the U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security while he was an agent. Peter returned home to South Carolina to attend law school and received his law degree from the University...

Mark Chappell is a founding partner of Chappell, Smith & Arden. He concentrates his practice in personal injury, truck and auto accidents, catastrophic injury and product liability cases. Since he was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1985, Mark has handled thousands of cases, winning millions of dollars for injured clients. One of Mark’s cases created a new South Carolina law protecting young ATV riders. Mark served as Chair of the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee representing 71 race fans injured in the bridge collapse at the Charlotte Motor Speedway and was the plaintiff’s liaison in the Graniteville train derailment class...

Jacob Born concentrates in the areas of premises liability, personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, product liability, nursing home abuse and neglect, catastrophic injury litigation and trucking accidents. Jacob received his J.D. from The Charleston School of Law and was admitted to practice in 2011. He was also admitted to practice in Georgia in 2012.

John practices in business transactions and concentrates his practice in commercial real estate development, commercial real estate leasing (with an emphasis on retail leasing), commercial lending, mergers and acquisitions and marina/resort development. John advises developers, investors, lenders, buyers and sellers with regard to financing, leasing, land use and development, conservation easements, construction, real estate title insurance, and all aspects of structuring commercial loan and business transactions. John enjoyed similar practices with large firms headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina and Columbia, South Carolina before co-founding Graybill & Lansche, LLC. John graduated with Honors in Psychology from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia....

General legal practitioner. I have represented businesses and citizens throughout the State of SC in: business law matters, civil litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, appeals. I am SC certified Civil Mediator and presently serve as the Town Attorney for the Town of Irmo.

South Carolina bankruptcy attorney. I help clients with Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters

Whether working as a mediator or as an attorney, I work to empower individuals and families who desire to find fair and sustainable solutions to complex family transitions, conflicts, and legal issues. Some representative types of issues include mediated divorce, collaborative divorce, elder law, estate planning, probate administration, prenuptial agreements, adoptions, name changes, adult guardianships, issues related to mental illness, and protection of long term but non-married partners.

Danny Vega boasts nearly 15 years of experience in the legal profession and has represented over one thousand clients in workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability claims. Danny takes great pride in building strong relationships with his clients, personally handling client intake, claim management, evidence discovery, court proceedings, hearings, and file closure. Danny speaks fluent Spanish and enjoys providing legal services to members of the Hispanic community as he is able to converse with and relate to his Spanish-speaking clients in their primary language.

Hugh McAngus leads Chappell, Smith & Arden’s Litigation team, overseeing all files in active litigation. Hugh’s primary practice involves trucking litigation, representing individuals who have been injured or had family members killed in collisions involving commercial vehicles. Although focusing primarily on trucking cases, Hugh handles many other types of personal injury and wrongful death matters, including automobile collision, nursing home negligence, premises liability, dram shop, and products liability cases. Hugh’s trial victories include a $12,000,000.00 verdict in a personal injury case arising out of a shooting at a nightclub that left his client paralyzed from the chest down...

Joseph Preston “Pete” Strom, Jr., the managing partner at Strom Law Firm, LLC, has been fighting for justice since 1984. Born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1959, Pete attended the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts. While attending the University of South Carolina, Pete served as President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Pete attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he graduated with a J.D. in 1984. After graduating from law school, Pete served as law clerk to the Honorable...

H. Patterson McWhirter was born and raised in Walterboro, South Carolina and is a founding member of McWhirter, Bellinger & Associates, P.A., with offices in Columbia, Lexington, Orangeburg, Sumter, Aiken, Camden and Newberry, South Carolina. We continue to strive to give the very best legal service to the thousands of clients we have been honored to serve over the past 40 years.

The practices focuses primarily in the areas of workers' compensation, medical malpractice, automobile accidents, tractor trailer wrecks, nursing home litigation, premises liability, product liability, wrongful death and all forms of personal injury cases.

Mr McWhirter received his B.A. from...

Daniel Coble is the Associate Chief Magistrate Judge for Richland County. He serves full time in Central Court located on Decker Boulevard. He handles criminal and civil trials, mediation, preliminary hearings, traffic court, domestic violence court, and landlord tenant court.

Daniel previously worked as a prosecutor with the Fifth Circuit Solicitor's Office. He handled a wide range of cases, including burglary, robbery, DUI & DUAC, and drug cases. As a prosecutor, he worked with Nelson Mullins, the Public Defender's Office, and Chief Municipal Judge Dana Turner in establishing South Carolina's first homeless court. In 2014, Daniel...

Nicholas G. Callas has been practicing law in South Carolina since 1991. He has extensive knowledge and skill representing clients in Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, and Social Security Disability matters. Mr. Callas provides aggressive, determined, and experienced representation, focused on the best possible results.
He is dedicated to recovering the compensation you need and deserve.

Mr. Callas received his B.A., cum laude, from Boston College in 1982. He earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1990. Mr. Callas's prior experience includes work as an Assistant State Prosecuting Attorney, Fifth Circuit Solicitor, Richland County. Additionally, he is a...

Bill Green has become a noticeable figure in Charleston. His face is easily recognizable from numerous television commercials and his catchy slogans are heard throughout the Low country. But it is his focus on the concept of customer service to meet the needs and expectations of his clients that has led to his enormous success and reputation. Bill completed his undergraduate degree in 1985 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He continued his stint as a Tarheel and attended law school in Chapel Hill, graduating in 1987. After law school, Bill...

“No one can ever plan for the physical, financial, or emotional toll an accident has on them or their family. I am very grateful that I became a personal injury lawyer because making a positive, concrete difference in someone’s life adds meaning to mine.”

– Stephen Vicari

* Note: Voluntary inactive status in KS - can be reactivated any time.

John Kassel is a managing partner at Kassel McVey, a personal injury law firm based in Columbia, SC. Mr. Kassel represents injured victims and their loved ones in personal injury cases such as auto accidents, product liability, premises liability, construction accidents, and medical malpractice. Throughout his career, John has committed to fight on behalf of injury victims and not corporations, manufacturers or insurance companies.

John Kassel graduated from Northwestern University in 1979. He then joined Volunteers in Service to America, where he worked for the Brown Lung Association, a group mainly comprised of retired cotton textile mill workers who were suffering...

Mark D. Chappell, Jr. concentrates in the areas of personal injury, premises liability, motor vehicle accidents, products liability, nursing home abuse and neglect, commercial motor vehicle accidents, and intellectual property disputes. Mark is a 2010 graduate of Wofford College and previously worked as a Banker in Charleston, South Carolina before beginning law school. Mark is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to practice in 2015. As a law student, he was actively involved in the Student Bar Association, President of the South Carolina Association for Justice – South Carolina School of Law...

Maggie Raines Chappell graduated from Wofford College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Following graduation, Maggie worked as a Legal Assistant in Columbia, South Carolina before attending law school at the University Of South Carolina School Of Law in 2015. While in law school, Maggie was actively involved in Women in Law and was a Pupil in the John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court. Maggie graduated from law school and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 2018. Maggie plans to focus her practice in the areas of personal injury, motor vehicle...

John is a 1966 History graduate of The Citadel, Charleston, South Carolina; earning his J.D. in 1969 from the University of Detroit, Detroit, Michigan. In addition, John attended graduate school at Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (1970). He is a member of the State Bar Associations of South Carolina, Florida, and Michigan. Currently, John has offices in Columbia and Edisto Beach, South Carolina handling primarily DUI, drug cases, and criminal matters. He often testifies as an expert witness in police procedures, high speed chases, and other law enforcement practices. John serves as Counsel for the South Carolina Trooper's Association,...

Elizabeth Dalzell is a personal injury lawyer at the Law Office of Kenneth Berger in Columbia, SC, a firm that exclusively handles catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Elizabeth handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, drunk driving crashes, boating wrecks, product liability, and wrongful death. Before working as a plaintiff's attorney, Elizabeth worked at an insurance defense firm, allowing her to gain valuable insights that make her a strong advocate for his injured clients. To schedule a free consultation, visit bergerlawsc.com or call (803) 790-2800.

Jim Sproat went to high school in Irmo after living in Indiana and Ohio. After high school, he attended the University of South Carolina and received his degree in Political Science in 2008. After receiving his undergraduate degree, Jim attended the University of Cincinnati College of Law where he was the president of the student bar association and the managing editor of the Immigration and Nationality Law Review. He graduated in 2011 and was admitted to the bar the same year. After graduation, Jim returned to Columbia where he found his love in the courtroom, focusing his practice in...

M. Rita Metts is a Social Security and VA Accredited Veteran Disability Attorney. For more than 20 years she has helped those whose lives have been disrupted by injuries and medical conditions that affect their ability to work and take care of their families. She offers free question and answer sessions with small groups who have questions about the Social Security Disability and/or Veteran Disability application process.

Ryan focuses his practice in business transactions, commercial real estate development, commercial leasing and commercial lending. Ryan is capable of handling all aspects of commercial real estate transactions representing clients in their capacities as lenders, purchasers, sellers, developers, landlords and tenants. His familiarity with the aspects of a complex real estate transaction allows him to focus on the details necessary to complete the transaction efficiently and confidently. Ryan began his career at a large firm headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina before joining Graybill, Lansche & Vinzani, LLC at the end of 2010.

Mark T. Arden is a partner of Chappell, Smith & Arden. His practice concentrates in the areas of workers’ compensation, complex litigation, personal injury and administrative law. Mark graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1986. In his years of practice, Mark has handled thousands of cases seeking justice for each client.

Wesley concentrates his practice in commercial real estate development. He advises developers, buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, lenders, and investors with regard to real estate development, sales, acquisitions, financing, leasing, construction, land use and zoning, and title insurance matters. Wesley initially served as outside counsel to a commercial real estate development company which focused on large shopping center and free standing drugstore development. He continued his practice at a large firm headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina before co-founding Graybill, Lansche & Vinzani, LLC.

Andrew Fajardo is an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who has argued cases and handled appellate work before the State Workers’ Compensation Commission and the appellate courts. He has focused his legal career almost exclusively in the field of workers’ compensation. Andrew joined Chappell, Smith & Arden in July of 2015. He brought with him innumerable skills and diverse experiences that have aided the firm in helping protect and compensate workers. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing classical piano. He also appreciates most anything associated with motor sports and spending time on outdoor activities such as hunting and...

After practicing for over 30 years as a member of a firm, in January 2016, I went solo! I am proud to continue to provide knowledgeable and experienced representation to injured workers in South Carolina Workers' Compensation claims. There's never a fee just to talk to me and see if I can help!