4 Turner Padget Attorneys in 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers: Women in Law

Posted On June 6, 2023

Turner Padget is pleased to announce that Catherine Kennedy, Kristen Nichols, Hannah Stetson and Nickisha Woodward have been included in the 2023 Edition of Best Lawyers® “Women in the Law.”

This Business Edition celebrates the accomplishments of women in the legal industry and includes every female lawyer recognized in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. The publication further promotes women’s voices with editorial content written by predominantly female contributors focusing largely on their experiences in law, taking monumental leaps in their professions and inspiring future generations. 

Catherine Kennedy
Kennedy is recognized throughout South Carolina for her extensive experience in probate and trust matters. She has served on both sides of the bench. She was a probate court judge in Columbia, one of the largest probate courts in the state, and now she uses those skills in representing individuals and fiduciaries in complex probate and trust matters. Unlike many probate practitioners, Kennedy assists in both uncontested and contested estates. Knowing how litigation can damage relationships, she served on a task force to implement mediation in the probate courts and assisted in drafting the rule for probate court mediation. Kennedy earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from University of South Carolina School of Law.

Kristen Nichols
Nichols practices in bankruptcy, commercial law and litigation, foreclosure, real property litigation, HOA litigation, commercial real estate, debtor/creditor law, landlord/tenant law and creditors’ rights. She implemented and chairs the firm’s Women’s Committee and co-chairs the firm’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. Nichols is dedicated to enhancing the status, influence, and effectiveness of women lawyers in South Carolina, not only through her leadership and work at Turner Padget, but also through her position on the board of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, where she served as president in 2022. She serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and as the firm’s Business Development and Client Services Leader. Additionally, Nichols is a Supreme Court of South Carolina Certified Mediator and is active with the Mediation and Meeting Center of Charleston’s Pro Bono volunteer program. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from Michigan State University College of Law.

Hannah Stetson
Stetson dedicates her practice to counseling, training and defending businesses and employers, including startups and small to midsize businesses. In addition to advising employers throughout the Carolinas, Stetson has leveraged her employment law experience to champion Columbia’s small business community. She was part of a team of Turner Padget lawyers who developed the firm’s Palmetto Propeller initiative to provide pro bono assistance to startups and small businesses in the Southeast. Since its implementation, Stetson has counseled startup and small business owners on policies and best practices that help their companies grow and thrive in Columbia’s marketplace. Within the firm, she cultivates the development of young lawyers’ careers and previously co-chaired the firm’s Associate Committee. Stetson earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Nickisha Woodward
Woodward represents international and regional clients in litigation, ranging from insurance and bad faith matters, business and contract disputes, employment and labor disputes to products and person liability cases. She has secured numerous favorable outcomes for her clients in those cases, of which more than half resulted in complete defense verdicts. A leader among her peers, Woodward became the first Black woman president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association’s Young Lawyer Division in 2020, after serving two years as vice president. Following her term as president, she was then elected as a board member in 2021. Woodward is a Charleston Business Magazine’s SC Women in Business award recipient, which honors business women across South Carolina based on career achievements, contributions to their company and community involvement. Woodward was also recently named to the 2023 SC Lawyers Weekly Power List Business Defense, this elite recognition is limited to only 10 attorneys across the state that are considered experts in their field, known for their expertise and accomplishments. Woodward is also recognized as a Martindale-Hubbell- AV Rating; Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 rated attorney. Woodward is a member of the American Board of Trial Attorneys, Charleston County Bar Association, the Defense Research Institute, the Loss Executives Association, the James L. Petigru Inn of Court, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance and the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association. Woodward earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University and her law degree from Charleston School of Law.