Turner Padget's New Executive Committee Takes the Helm

Posted On Feb 11, 2015

Myrtle Beach, S.C., Feb. 11, 2015 – Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A. is pleased to announce the election of the firm’s new Executive Committee. The South Carolina law firm will now be led by Myrtle Beach-based chief executive officer R. Wayne Byrd, and rounding out the four-member committee are R. Hawthorne “Thorne” Barrett, J. Kenneth “Ken” Carter, Jr. and Lanneau “Lanny” Wm. Lambert, Jr., all from Turner Padget’s Columbia office. Former chief executive officer Edward “Eddie” W. Laney, IV, completes his six-year term, and continues with the firm in an of counsel capacity. Byrd is the first firmwide leader outside of Columbia, reflecting Turner Padget’s expansion over the years as a leading South Carolina law firm.                                                         

“Following our celebration last year of 85 years of serving businesses in South Carolina, we are excited about the next phase in our firm’s history and how we can respond to the rapidly changing market in our state,” said Byrd, who started his career as a South Carolina lawyer in 1975. “The legal landscape here has shifted dramatically over the last five years, with larger, regional law firms entering the state, which led to shuffling in the legal community that has impacted all firms. These changes call for us to continually evolve our approach to client service, and our new Executive Committee is dedicated to helping our lawyers serve as trusted business partners to our clients. Much of that effort includes identifying new practice areas and industry focuses that respond to the critical needs of South Carolina businesses. Our new Executive Committee brings a cross-disciplinary approach that will benefit our business clients, attorneys and staff alike.”  

Byrd is an experienced litigator serving clients with his diverse background of legal experience, which includes transactional and tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, and complex commercial cases. He currently serves as managing director of the American Bar Association’s Section of Litigation. During his more than two decades of leadership in the ABA, Byrd has served in various positions, developing skills and relationships that serve him well in his practice and now as chief executive officer.

Barrett is a civil litigator with a substantial portion of his practice devoted to appellate work. He has argued more than 25 cases before South Carolina’s appellate courts, and several before the state’s Supreme Court. His appeals span a number of practice areas, including professional, premises and product liability, insurance issues, business disputes and questions of constitutional law. Barrett is an active leader in his church, Washington Street United Methodist.

Carter leads Turner Padget’s Product Liability, Construction Defect, and Trucking & Transportation practice groups. He concentrates on complex litigation and trial work, defending the most severe and high-exposure cases for manufacturers of all types. Carter is a lifelong resident of South Carolina, and is recognized by his peers with a number of accolades related to client service, including honors from Benchmark Litigation, Best Lawyers in America and Chambers USA. 

Lambert previously served as Turner Padget’s managing partner. He is a business transactions lawyer, who focuses on commercial real estate finance and development, and corporate matters impacting small and mid-sized businesses. An active supporter of the community and the legal profession, Lambert has served in many leadership capacities over the years. He is currently the president-elect of the National Conference of Bar Presidents, a past president of the South Carolina Bar, and he has served on many community boards, including as past chairman of Junior Achievement. 

Turner Padget recently celebrated its 85th anniversary as one of South Carolina’s leading law firms, providing straightforward, practical advice to meet clients’ legal needs. With offices strategically located in Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, the firm’s attorneys have a deep understanding of South Carolina’s laws and what it takes to do business in the Palmetto State. For more information, please visit Turner Padget online at www.turnerpadget.com.