L. Patricia  Wharton

L. Patricia Wharton

Shareholder
  • (803) 227-4330
Tricia Wharton concentrates her areas of practice in commercial business transactions, with an emphasis on commercial real estate transactions; assisting developers in land acquisitions, title work, survey and title issues, title insurance, and residential and commercial developments; condominium development; negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, leases, easements, restrictive covenants, condominium master deeds, establishing owner associations; negotiating loan documents for borrowers; drafting loan documents for banks; issuing loan opinion letters; and generally representing buyers, sellers, developers, and lenders.

Her practice areas also extend to the purchase and sale of businesses; entity formation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships; drafting buy-sell and shareholder agreements; title examinations; remediating title issues; issuing title insurance policies as an agent for several large title insurance companies; handling 1031 like-kind exchanges and drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and loan documents; negotiating large commercial loan workouts; preparation of wills and trusts; advising Personal Representatives; managing estate administrations; and negotiating mediations of family land distributions.

Tricia has always felt that her mission as a lawyer was to be responsive to her clients’ needs so that they would not be delayed in proceeding with their particular project, while providing a consistent quality work product, representation and value. She feels the strength of her practice has been built upon the close working relationships she has with her clients.
  • Represented a London bank in the $33mm refinance of two major sporting goods facilities in South Carolina
  • Represented a SC State agency in negotiations with the developer and $35mm acquisition of 115+ acres of land for an industrial development site
  • Represented owner in purchase, and later sale, of over 50,000 acres of timberland located in multiple southeastern states
  • Represented several national home builders in the acquisition and development of land for residential subdivisions, remediating title issues, drafting restrictive covenants
  • Coordinated numerous IRS Section 1031 like-kind exchanges of commercial property for multiple clients
  • Drafted commercial loan documents for construction, permanent and construction-permanent loans for several banks
  • Served as mediator for several families in dividing and distributing family lands
  • Managed estate administration for deceased owner of large retail company
  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1985
  • University of South Carolina, B.A.
  • South Carolina Bar, 1985
Professional or Industry Involvement
  • 1985 – present - SC Bar – Member
  • 1985 – present – Richland County,SC, Bar – Member
  • 1988-90 – Richland County Bar – Chairman of the Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court Committee
  • American Land Title Association - Member
  • Title Agent for Investors Title Insurance Company and Old Republic Title Insurance Company
  • Chicago Title Insurance Company - Approved Attorney
Community or Pro Bono Involvement
  • 2017-present - SC Independent Colleges & Universities – Trustee; Member, Finance Committee; 2019 – present – Chairman, Retirement Committee
  • 2012 – 2015 – Washington Street UMC – Trustee; Board Secretary
  • 2009-2014 – SC Independent Colleges & Universities – Trustee; 2012-2014- Chairman, Finance Committee
  • 1998 – 2000 – Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Pro-Am Golf Tournament – 1998-99 – Assistant Director of Volunteers; 2000- Director of Volunteers
  • Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, 2024
  • Midlands Legal Elite, Commercial & Residential Real Estate, 2011, 2016, 2018-2020
  • Corporate America News, Best in Commercial Real Estate Law – SC & Recognized Leader in Commercial Real Estate Finance- SC, 2016
  • U.S. News & World Report, Best Law Firms in South Carolina (First-Tier Firm Rankings), 2014
  • Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers – “AV” rated member
  • Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers – “AV” rated member

Presentations & Speaking Engagements

  • 2018 – SC Bar – Speech - “Easements and Surveys – Elements and Examples in Commercial Development, Including Curb Cuts and Access Issues”
  • 2016 – SC Bar – Speech - “Commercial Real Estate Workout Issues”
  • 2016 – Palmetto Land Title Association – Commercial Law Panel Discussion - “Just the Right Amount of Wrong”
  • 2007 – SC School of Law – Speech to Real Estate Transaction I – Fall Class - “1031 Like-Kind Exchanges”
  • 2000 – SC Savings & Loan League – Speech to Attorney and CEO Clinic – “Covering Your Assets – Protection for Bank Directors”
  • 1990-92 – SC Supreme Court – Bridge the Gap Speaker on Real Estate Law
  • 1990-present – SC Bar – Speaker - various Continuing Legal Education Seminars

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