Barnes Alford Sponsors Columbia Medical Society's Inaugural Member/Guest Sporting Clay Tournament – 10/5/2011

Barnes Alford will be a sponsor of the Columbia Medical Society's inaugural Member/Guest Sporting Clay Tournament. The tournament will be held October 29, 2011, at Hermitage Farm Shooting Sports in Camden, South Carolina. Proceeds benefit the Society's Grant-in-Aid Fund, which provides scholarships to medical students enrolled at the USC School of Medicine.

Alan J. Reyner Selected as a Midlands Legal Elite - 10/1/2011

Alan J. Reyner has been selected by Greater Columbia Business Monthly as a Midlands Legal Elite in the tax law category. Mr. Reyner's selection was published in the magazine's October 2011 issue.

Barnes Alford Welcomes Catherine A. Kopiec - 9/9/2011

Barnes Alford is pleased to welcome Catherine A. Kopiec as a law clerk with the firm. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Ms. Kopiec graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she studied Journalism & Mass Communication and Sociology. Ms. Kopiec is currently in her third year of law school at the University of South Carolina and is the President of the GOP Law Society, Senior Articles Editor for the American Bar Association Real Property, Trust, and Estate Law Journal, and Alumni Relations Co-Chair of the Law School Ambassadors organization.

Barnes Alford Selected for Membership in the International Society of Primerus Law Firms - 8/25/2011

Barnes Alford is pleased to announce its selection for membership in the International Society of Primerus Law Firms. Primerus is a society of independent, small to mid-size law firms which was created to uphold the the highest ideals of the legal profession. Its member firms are committed to the pillars of integrity, excellent work product, reasonable fees, continuing legal education, civility, and community service.

South Carolina General Assembly Passes Tort Reform Legislation - 6/28/2011

On June 14, 2011, Governor Nikki Haley signed the South Carolina Fairness in Civil Justice Act of 2011 into law. The Act takes effect on January 1, 2012, and applies to all actions accruing on or after that date. The Act establishes a new regime for awarding punitive damages and imposes tiered limits on punitive damages awards based on the severity of the defendant’s conduct. For a more detailed summary of the Act, click here.

Barnes Alford Attorneys Named to South Carolina “Super Lawyers” - 3/7/2011

Barnes Alford attorneys Weldon R. Johnson and Robert T. Strickland have been selected to the 2011 list of South Carolina “Super Lawyers.” Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.

Mr. Johnson is listed in the Medical Malpractice practice area, while Mr. Strickland is recognized in the Civil Litigation Defense category.

Brian E. Sopp Becomes Barnes Alford Associate - 11/29/2010

Barnes Alford is pleased to announce that Brian E. Sopp has joined the firm as an associate upon being sworn in to the South Carolina Bar on November 29, 2010. He has clerked for Barnes Alford since 2008.

Mr. Sopp earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law in May 2010 where he was a member of the South Carolina Law Review. Mr. Sopp is an honors graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science. He will practice primarily in the areas of civil litigation, appellate practice, and workers’ compensation law.

Kay Gaffney Crowe Re-Appointed to Chief Justice's Commission on the Profession - 1/12/2010

Kay Gaffney Crowe has been re-appointed to the Chief Justice's Commission on the Profession. The Commission, which was created in recognition of the need for the emphasis upon and encouragement of professionalism in the practice of law, ensures that the practice of law remains a high calling which serves clients and the public good. Commission members are nominated by the Board of Governors of the South Carolina Bar and appointed by the Chief Justice. Ms. Crowe's new term will run through December 31, 2012.

Weldon R. Johnson Selected to South Carolina Super Lawyers 2009 - 8/11/2009

Weldon R. Johnson has been selected to South Carolina Super Lawyers 2009 in the area of medical malpractice defense. Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

Sixth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium to be Held at the University of South Carolina School of Law - 3/6/2009

The Sixth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium will be held March 26-27, 2009 in the Auditorium of the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, South Carolina. The event is free and open to the public, and will be webcast live.

This year’s Barnes Symposium, entitled “Theory and Application of A Common Word,” addresses how Muslims and Christians can engage in interfaith dialogue without compromising their religious integrity on the one hand, and simply reducing dialogue to polite diplomacy on the other. For more information, visit the Barnes Symposium Web Site at www.barnessymposium.org.

The Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium honors his interests and engagement through an annual program examining problems of law and morality understood in the broadest sense. Mr. Barnes practiced law in Columbia for over forty years, and was active in a number of charitable and religious organizations. He was founder and Chairman of the Bank of Commerce of Prosperity, Chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and General Counsel for the South Carolina Bankers Association for more than thirty years. In 1993, he received the Compleat Lawyer Award from the USC Law School Alumni Association for his significant contribution to the legal profession and embodiment of the highest standard of professional competence, ethics and integrity. The Barnes family has made the Barnes Symposium possible through a generous endowment in his memory.

Robert T. Strickland and Matthew G. Gerrald Publish Church Incorporation Article – 11/05/2008

Robert T. Strickland and Matthew G. Gerrald have published an article, entitled “Why Should a Church Incorporate?”, discussing the risks facing unincorporated churches and emphasizing the benefits of incorporation. The article appears in the inaugural issue (December 2008) of Experience Kingdom Life FOCUS magazine, a new quarterly publication of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. The magazine may be viewed here.

Barnes Alford Sponsors Greater Columbia Disabilities Foundation’s Fourth Annual Golf Tournament – 9/08/2008

Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP will be a Silver Sponsor of the Greater Columbia Disabilities Foundation’s Fourth Annual Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held at the Golden Hills Golf Club in Lexington, South Carolina on October 9, 2008. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s efforts to assist people with disabilities in the Greater Columbia area. Barnes Alford has been a sponsor of this event since its inception.

Robert T. Strickland to Serve as Chairman of Richland-Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board - 7/21/2008

Robert T. Strickland has been named Chairman of the Richland-Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board for 2008-2009. The Board is the primary administrative, planning, coordinating, and service delivery body for Richland and Lexington County citizens with autism, mental retardation, head and spinal cord injuries, and similar disabilities. Board members are nominated by their legislative delegation and appointed by the Governor.

Barnes Alford Welcomes Brian E. Sopp - 5/12/2008

Barnes Alford is pleased to welcome Brian E. Sopp as a summer associate with the firm. Mr. Sopp recently completed his first year at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Mr. Sopp holds a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Mr. Sopp also boasts having worked for Michael Barone, Senior Writer at U.S. News and World Report.

S.C. Lawyers Weekly Recognizes Barnes Alford Web Site - 3/24/2008

Barnes Alford’s web site placed second in the Medium Firms category (6-25 lawyers) of South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s “Best Law Firm Web Sites” contest for 2008. The web sites of 70 South Carolina law firms were judged on the following criteria: opening screen, design style, quality vs. quantity, user friendliness, bells and whistles, contacts, and web visibility. Regarding Barnes Alford’s site, the judges commented: “The firm’s Web site shows that you don't have to be fancy to be good. Its home page introduction clearly tells the visitor the firm's focus, goals, and philosophy. Its client services section references both its e-newsletter and seminar opportunities with contact information. It has done a good job of personalizing the attorney profiles to provide the visitor a good introduction to each attorney. Its site is very easy to navigate and is linked very well to Internet search engines.”

James W. Alford, Founding Partner of Barnes Alford, Dies at Age 78 - 2/24/2008

James W. Alford, a founding partner of Barnes Alford, died Sunday, February 24, 2008 at the age of 78 at Presbyterian Home in Lexington, South Carolina. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 11:00 AM at Shandon Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Alford was born January 7, 1930 in Walterboro, South Carolina. He was the son of L.W. and Grace Gipson Alford. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served on the South Carolina Law Review. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity, the Clariosophic Library Society, and the debating team.

Mr. Alford was a founding partner of Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP, which was established in 1983 upon the merger of Barnes, Stork, Wolff & Reyner and the firm of Alford, Johnson & Salane. He was well known for his courtroom presence and his sense of humor as a defense trial attorney. His name appears in the 1993, 1994, and 1995 editions of the reference work, “The Best Lawyers in America.” He retired from the practice of law in 2000.

Mr. Alford was active in numerous organizations, including the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, the Defense Research Institute, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, the American Board of Trial Attorneys, and the Richland County Bar Association. He served as President of both the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (1974-1975) and the Richland County Bar Association (1993-1994). He was a member of Shandon Presbyterian Church.

Memorials may be given to Shandon Presbyterian Church, 607 Woodrow Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29205; Presbyterian Home, 700 DaVega Drive, Lexington, South Carolina 29073; or the University of South Carolina School of Law, 701 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208. Please sign the online guest book at www.dunbarfunerals.com.

Fifth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium to be Held at the University of South Carolina School of Law - 1/17/2008

The Fifth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium will be held January 25-26, 2008 in the Auditorium of the University of South Carolina School of Law in Columbia, South Carolina. The event is free and open to the public, and will be webcast live.

This year’s Barnes Symposium, entitled “Legitimacy, Economic Development & Change,” addresses issues associated with emerging (Asian) multinational enterprises, private and quasi-private sector driven development, business and human rights, and, on the religion side, the extent to which behavior and law is actually influenced by religious doctrine as opposed to social custom. For more information, visit the Barnes Symposium Web Site at www.barnessymposium.org.

The Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium honors his interests and engagement through an annual program examining problems of law and morality understood in the broadest sense. Mr. Barnes practiced law in Columbia for over forty years, and was active in a number of charitable and religious organizations. He was founder and Chairman of the Bank of Commerce of Prosperity, Chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, and General Counsel for the South Carolina Bankers Association for more than thirty years. In 1993, he received the Compleat Lawyer Award from the USC Law School Alumni Association for his significant contribution to the legal profession and embodiment of the highest standard of professional competence, ethics and integrity. The Barnes family has made the Barnes Symposium possible through a generous endowment in his memory.

Justice Alito Administers Attorney’s Oath to J. Todd Kincannon & Matthew G. Gerrald - 12/3/2007

Barnes Alford associates J. Todd Kincannon and Matthew G. Gerrald were ceremonially administered the South Carolina Attorney’s Oath by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. on December 3, 2007. The ceremony took place in the West Conference Room of the U.S. Supreme Court building.

J. Todd Kincannon and Matthew G. Gerrald Become Barnes Alford Associates - 11/13/2007

Barnes Alford is pleased to announce that J. Todd Kincannon and Matthew G. Gerrald have joined the firm as associates upon being sworn in to the South Carolina Bar on November 13, 2007.  Both have clerked for Barnes Alford since 2005.

Mr. Kincannon earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law in May 2007.  Mr. Kincannon was a member of the South Carolina Law Review, the Moot Court Bar, the Order of the Barristers, and served as Captain of the South Carolina ABA Moot Court Team.  While in law school, he also earned the CALI (American Jurisprudence) Award, the Court of Appeals Award for appellate advocacy, and one of ten Best Advocate Awards from the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition.  Mr. Kincannon holds a B.S. with a triple major in chemistry, physics, and mathematics from Erskine College and conducted graduate research in nanotechnology at Clemson University.  Mr. Kincannon will primarily practice in the areas of civil litigation, appellate practice, professional malpractice, products liability, and election law.

Mr. Gerrald graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina School of Law in May 2007 where he was the recipient of several honors and awards, including the CALI (American Jurisprudence) Award, and was a member of the South Carolina Law Review, the Order of the Wig and Robe, and the Order of the Coif. He also holds a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina and a B.A. with a double major in political science and religious studies. He has been commissioned as a Blackstone Fellow by the Alliance Defense Fund and is the author of “Strengthening Marriage,” published in 2005.  He will practice primarily in the fields of real estate, construction law, insurance coverage, and church law.

Barnes Alford Sponsors Carolina Children’s Home Charity Golf Tournament - 9/7/2007

Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP will be a Platinum Sponsor of the Carolina Children’s Home Charity Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held at Charwood Golf Club in West Columbia, South Carolina on Thursday, September 13, 2007. Tee time is 8:00 a.m. Proceeds benefit Carolina Children’s Home, an accredited residential treatment facility dedicated to the care and needs of children, including those that may have been the victim of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.

Robert T. Strickland Re-Appointed to Richland-Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board - 7/1/2007

Robert T. Strickland has been re-appointed to a second four-year term on the Richland-Lexington Disabilities and Special Needs Board. The Board is the primary administrative, planning, coordinating, and service delivery body for Richland and Lexington County citizens with autism, mental retardation, head and spinal cord injuries, and similar disabilities. Board members are nominated by their legislative delegation and appointed by the Governor. Mr. Strickland currently serves as the Board’s Vice-Chairman.

Barnes Alford Sponsors Greater Columbia Disabilities Foundation’s Third Annual Golf Tournament - 4/25/2007

Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP will be a Silver Sponsor of the Greater Columbia Disabilities Foundation’s Third Annual Golf Tournament. The tournament will be held at Charwood Golf Club in West Columbia, South Carolina on June 11, 2007. Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s efforts to assist people with disabilities in the Greater Columbia area. Barnes Alford has helped sponsor this event since its inception.

Fourth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium to be Held at the University of South Carolina School of Law - 1/22/2007

The Fourth Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium will be held at the University of South Carolina School of Law on February 2-3, 2007. The Symposium is free and open to the public. This year’s Barnes Symposium, Legitimacy, Legal Development & Change, will discuss and examine the challenges inherent in establishing legal systems in developing countries, including armed conflict areas such as Afghanistan.

The faculty is a distinguished group of academic and military lawyers, religion and social science scholars, and legal development practitioners with experience in the Islamic world. Among the dignitaries expected to attend is Justice Albie Sachs of the South African Constitutional Court, appointed to that post by President Nelson Mandela. Justice Sachs was among the early leaders of the movement that eventually ended apartheid.

For more information, visit the Barnes Symposium Web Site at www.law.sc.edu/barnes. The Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium honors his interests and engagement through an annual program examining problems of law and morality understood in the broadest sense. The Barnes family has made the event possible through a generous endowment in his memory.

Jeff Barham Becomes Partner in Barnes Alford - 1/2/2007

Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP announces that R. Jeffords Barham has become a partner in the firm. Mr. Barham joined Barnes Alford as an associate in 2001. He previously served as an officer in the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps and retired from active military service in 2001. Mr. Barham has served as the Chancellor of the South Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2004. He practices in the areas of business law, church law, civil litigation, insurance defense, commercial collection, construction law, and military law.

Richard C. Thomas Elected Advocate to the American Board of Trial Advocates - 10/6/2006

Richard C. Thomas has been elected an Advocate to the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). Founded in 1958, ABOTA is a national association of trial lawyers that promotes elevating the standards of integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession; educating and training trial lawyers; preserving the jury system; and advancing the skill of its members as trial attorneys. To be elected as an Advocate, an individual must have at least eight (8) years of active experience as a trial lawyer as a member of the state bar in which he or she practices, and shall have tried a minimum of fifty (50) civil jury trials to a verdict in a court of general jurisdiction or a federal court. The nominee must receive an affirmative vote of 75% of the Executive Board of the local chapter, an affirmative vote of 75% of the membership of the local chapter, and an affirmative vote of 75% of the National Board.

City of Columbia Dedicates Barnes Park in Downtown Columbia - 10/2/2006

The City of Columbia dedicated the Rudolph C. Barnes Memorial Park on October 2, 2006. Speakers included Columbia Mayor Bob Coble, Columbia City Councilman E. W. Cromartie, Rudolph C. Barnes, Jr., and David G. Wolff, Managing Partner of Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP. Barnes Park honors the memory of Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. (1917-1995), a prominent member of the South Carolina Bar and the Columbia community. He was active in area charitable and religious organizations for over forty years. Mr. Barnes served as chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, United Way of the Midlands, Epworth Children’s Home Board of Directors, and Greenwood Methodist Home. He also served for many years as Chancellor of the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, and the National Association of Health and Welfare Ministries of the United Methodist Church named him Trustee of the Year. The University of South Carolina School of Law honored him in 1993 with the prestigious Compleat Lawyer Award.

Kay Gaffney Crowe Elected to Membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) - 8/3/2006

Kay Gaffney Crowe has been elected to membership in the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC).  The FDCC is composed of leaders in the legal community. Federation members have been judged by their peers to have achieved professional distinction, and are committed to promoting knowledge, fellowship, professionalism and the course of justice.  FDCC members are experienced attorneys in private practice as well as general counsel and insurance claims executives from throughout the world.

Andrea Pope Roche Appointed to Worker’s Compensation Commission - 6/1/2006

Andrea Pope Roche has withdrawn as a partner in Barnes, Alford, Stork & Johnson, LLP to accept an appointment as a South Carolina Worker’s Compensation Commissioner. The Commission is comprised of seven commissioners appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Third Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium Held at the University of South Carolina School of Law - 2/3/2006

The Third Annual Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium was held at the University of South Carolina School of Law on February 3-4, 2006. This year’s Symposium, Legitimacy and Western & Non-Western Views of Human Rights, examined the overlap between religious and human rights views in Western and other societies, including general theoretical differences as well as regional characteristics (Asia, Africa, America and the Islamic world).

The Rudolph C. Barnes, Sr. Symposium honors his interests and engagement through an annual program examining problems of law and morality understood in the broadest sense. The Barnes family has made this annual event possible through a generous endowment in his memory.