South Carolina Lawyers

Civil Litigation

28 Bridgeside Blvd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA

Robert Haefele has spent more than 30 years practicing in complex civil litigation, including asbestos, tobacco, mesh, and other mass tort and product liability litigation. His area of primary emphasis involves anti-terrorism and human rights, analyzing and litigating complex, domestic and international matters to meet clients’ goals of justice and accountability while simultaneously achieving positive social change. Robert’s current focus is on aiding the more than 6,500 family members and survivors of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks Motley Rice represents. He is co-liaison counsel and an active member of the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee for Personal Injury and Death Claims in In re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001, U.S.D.C., S.D.N.Y., MDL 1570, lawsuits filed by Motley Rice’s clients and others seeking to expose and bankrupt the alleged financiers and other supporters of al Qaeda terrorist activity. Robert also played a central role in In re September 11th Litigation, Case No. 21-MC-97-AKH (S.D.N.Y.), involving more than 50 personal injury and wrongful death clients against the aviation and aviation security industries for their alleged failure to detect and prevent the terrorist attacks. For both the multidistrict terrorist financing litigation and mass consolidations of the aviation security liability cases, Robert has appeared before the court for multiple hearings and oral arguments, directed and engaged in complex formal discovery, and managed informal investigative efforts involving, among other things, aviation security, designation of foreign terrorist individuals and entities, and elaborate webs of financial transactions. In addition to traditional litigation efforts, Robert has provided substantial pro bono and other support to the survivors and families of those killed in the September 11th attacks. From 2001-2004, he provided pro bono representation for more than 30 individuals, preparing and presenting their claims to the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Working with Motley Rice clients, legislators and leading experts in various industries, Robert also works to encourage legislative changes to help meet clients’ goals of justice, accountability and positive social change. He has represented victims of other terrorist attacks and human rights violations in litigation including Oran Almog v. Arab Bank, a landmark lawsuit filed by victims of terrorist bombings in Israel against Arab Bank for its alleged role in financing Hamas and other Israeli terrorist organizations and Krishanti v. Rajaratnum et al., 09-cv-5395 (D. N.J.), litigation against alleged financiers of the Tamil Tigers terrorist organization in Sri Lanka. He was also part of the litigation filed for non-U.S. citizens, Jesner v. Arab Bank. The litigation was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court under the Alien Tort Statute regarding violations of customary international law by foreign corporations. Representing Motley Rice clients in an array of other complex litigation matters, Robert worked on World Holdings LLC, v. The Federal Republic of Germany, a suit filed to collect unpaid pre-WWII German bonds. He has collaborated with members of the firm’s securities team, litigating such cases as In re MBNA Corp. Sec. Litig., No. 05-272 (D. Del.), and with the toxic exposure team to litigate cases brought by individuals and businesses suffering as a result of the BP oil spill in In re Oil Spill by the Oil Rig “Deepwater Horizon” in the Gulf of Mexico, on April 20, 2010. Prior to joining Motley Rice in 2003, Robert developed a strong co-counsel relationship with Motley Rice attorneys through complex litigation involving corporate wrongdoing, including the State of New Jersey’s tobacco lawsuit and other tobacco, asbestos and occupational disease and injury cases. Practicing product liability, toxic and mass tort, and occupational injury law, he represented individuals and union members injured by defective products or toxic substances and authored “The Hidden Truth About Asbestos Disease” in the New Jersey Law Journal (December 2002). He clerked with Judge Neil F. Deighan of the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey in 1990.

Family and Divorce Law

106 E Main St, Lexington, SC 29072, USA

Robin R. McLean earned a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, from Georgia State University in 1992. She earned a Juris Doctor from Georgia State University College of Law in 1995. Robin is admitted to practice in both South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, she is admitted in the United States District Court District of South Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Prior to forming McCutchen McLean & VanSyckel, LLC, Robin worked in a small firm in Lexington County, serving local and state-wide clients, in addition to serving clients with matters in Georgia. During that time, she litigated numerous civil and family court cases to conclusion. In addition to her family court cases before a trial judge, many of her other civil cases involved jury trials. In 2011, she opened her own law firm, continuing to serve clients in both South Carolina and Georgia with various legal matters. Robin enjoyed balancing her challenging work life with raising her son. Robin has practiced law in many areas including domestic and family law (separation, divorce, child custody, visitation and child support, spousal support, property division, adult and minor names changes), employment and discrimination matters, workers’ compensation, estate planning, probate, and personal injury matters. Although she continues to practice in these areas, the majority of her current cases involve family law. Moreover, Robin has been certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a mediator in Family and Probate Law. Volunteering her time is also a passion. Robin has given free seminars in the area of family law on behalf of the State Bar of South Carolina; she is a constant volunteer for the South Carolina Bar Ask-a-Lawyer drive featured on WLTX where she answers legal questions for callers; she has volunteered her time as an attorney coach for the mock trial team at River Bluff High School; she has judged mock trial competitions at the high school and college levels; and she enjoys serving on several South Carolina Bar committees and sub-committees. Robin has attended Christian Life Assembly Church for over twenty years. Her deep love for the Lord, the law, and the people she serves are the driving forces behind her decades of legal practice. She is eager to assist her clients in vigorous, impassioned, and knowledgeable representation.

Appellate Law

15 Middle Atlantic Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401

Thomas grew up in Wilmington, N.C., and attended the North Carolina State University before graduating magna cum laude from Charleston School of Law, where he served on the editorial board for the Federal Courts Law Review. After law school, Thomas served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paula H. Thomas of the South Carolina Court of Appeals in Columbia where he gained experience in a wide array of legal issues. Thomas began his career in private practice with a boutique firm in Charleston where he practiced in the areas of complex criminal defense and personal injury, and he joined Thurmond Kirchner & Timbes, P.A., in 2013. As part of the firm’s appellate practice group, many of Thomas’s clients are other lawyers who seek assistance with the unique and nuanced aspects of appellate practice. In addition to his varied appellate practice, Thomas also represents clients in both state and federal trial courts on a variety of business and contract disputes, including mechanic’s liens and construction-related litigation. His practice also includes insurance coverage and bad faith claims as well as property disputes, condemnation proceedings, and electronic surveillance/wiretapping claims. Thomas is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Charleston County Bar Association and has also served as an adjunct professor at the Charleston School of Law. Thomas is admitted to practice in all trial and appellate courts in South Carolina, the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, and the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Thomas is married to Julie Moore Rode, a fellow Charleston lawyer, and they live in West Ashley with their son Charlie, daughter Finola, and their two wire-haired dachshunds, Howie and Omar.

Civil Litigation

2801 Devine St suite 30, Columbia, SC 29205, USA

Family and Divorce Law

1700 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia, SC 29169, USA

Bill is a frequent speaker on family law issues for the National Business Institute seminars as well as the Continuing Legal Education program at the South Carolina Bar. He recently spoke on Divorce Procedure & Settlement Agreements: A Quick Guide to Navigating Family Court Rules and Procedures. A native of Syracuse, NY, William (Bill) Fortino practices family law, including divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, property division, adoption, and other domestic cases. ? Bill was named a 2022 Platinum Client Champion by Martindale-Hubbell. Bill was also named as the best Family Law Attorney in Lexington County for 2024 and Midlands Legal Elite in 2024.