2026 Annual Convention
Thu, August 6, 2026
8:00 AM to
Sat, August 8, 2026
2:30 PM ET
2026 Annual Convention: August 6-8, 2026
Each year in August, SCAJ members gather together for three exciting days at the Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa on Hilton Head Island. Featuring more than a dozen seminars delivered by leading legal experts, the convention provides members a chance to qualify for 12 CLE credits which includes a minimum of two ethics credits. Seminar topics range from ethics, torts and negligence, workers compensation, employment law, social security, criminal law to environmental law. The convention is also an excellent networking opportunity, allowing you to meet with leaders in your areas of practice and join the lively exchanges that take place during dozens of various events, including a welcoming reception on Thursday, dinner and drinks by the beach on Friday, a live band party on Friday evening, and culminating with the Judicial Portrait presentation at the Saturday morning breakfast.
To obtain the SCAJ room rate, you must be a registrant of the 2026 Annual Convention.
Pre-registration will be open through Monday, July 27.
Schedule
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
SCAJ Board of Governors Meeting
6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Registration
Thursday, August 6, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
9:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
CONCURRENT SEMINARS
Legal Tech Seminar
Liam D. Duffy, Esq., Chairperson
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Netradyne & Fleet Management Technology: How Advanced Driver Surveillance Can Reveal Basic System Failures
Alexandra N. Heaton, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
AI Masterclass for Lawyers
S. Randall Hood, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
Employment Law Seminar
Julius W. Babb, IV, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. – 11:35 a.m.
Clock In, Cash Out: Successful Intake and Issue-Spotting in Wage & Hour Cases
Ashley L. Falls, Esq., Charleston, SC
Joseph S. Falls, Esq., Charleston, SC
11:35 a.m. – 12:05 p.m.
Teacher Employment and Dismissal Act (TEDA)
Emmanuel J. Ferguson, Esq., Charleston, SC
12:05 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
Lessons from an Employment Trial
Shannon Polvi, Esq., Columbia, SC
Chance Sturup, Esq., Columbia, SC
9:45 a.m.
Coffee Break
Social Security Seminar
Stacy E. Thompson, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m.
From Infant to Approaching Retirement — Handling Child and Adult Cases at All Levels of Review
Stacy E. Thompson, Esq., Columbia, SC
Criminal Law Seminar
Judah N. VanSyckel, Esq., Chairperson
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Statehouse Update
Rep. Micajah Pickett Caskey, IV, West Columbia, SC
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Caselaw / Judicial Update
The Honorable Frank R. Addy, Jr., S.C. Circuit Court, Greenwood, SC
12:00 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Interplay Between State and Federal Sentencing
The Honorable Christopher Dolan Taylor, Columbia, SC
12:20 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.
It’s Not Like Riding a Bicycle – A Refresher on Evidence for Practitioners
The Honorable Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., U.S. District Court, Columbia, SC
Medical Negligence Seminar
William C. Lewis, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Lessons from Recent Med Mal Trials (Panel Discussion)
The Honorable Daniel M. Coble, Columbia, SC
James B. “Boo” Moore III, Esq., Georgetown, SC
Francis M. “Brink” Hinson IV, Esq., Columbia, SC
2:35 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
The FTCA: What Is There Not to Love About Federal Court, No Juries and Government Lawyers?
Brewster Rawls, Esq., Richmond, VA
3:25 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Med Mal Mediations — Persuade, Don’t Regurgitate
William B. “Kip” Darwin Jr., Esq., Spartanburg, SC
Karl A. Folkens, Esq., Florence, SC
Darren K. Sanders, Esq., Mt. Pleasant, SC
Family Law Seminar
Bryan W. Braddock, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
Is the Tide Changing with Respect to Alimony?
The Honorable C. Vance Stricklin, Jr., S.C. Family Court, Columbia, SC
Pete Currence, Esq., Columbia, SC
2:20 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Case Law Update
Greg R. Steele, Esq., Anderson, SC
2:35 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Parental Alienation in Family Court: Warning Signs and Evidence-Informed Interventions
Davis Henderson, PhD, Mt. Pleasant, SC
3:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Family Law Issues Under the Copper Dome
Representative Cody T. Mitchell, Hartsville, SC
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Family Court Update: Where We Are and Where We Are Heading
The Honorable Letitia H. Verdin, SC Supreme Court, Columbia, SC
Workers’ Compensation Seminar
Gerald E. Reardon, Esq., Chairperson
1:45 p.m. – 2:10 p.m.
Third-Party Cases and Workers' Compensation Liens
William Thomas “Tom” Bacon IV, Esq., Beaufort, SC
2:10 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
Dependency Investigations — When Are They Needed and What to Expect
Andrew N. Poliakoff, Esq., Spartanburg, SC
2:35 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
SC Motions Practice — Change is Here!
Peter P. Leventis IV, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:00 p.m. – 3:25 p.m.
IMEs — Pros, Cons, and How to Persuade the Commission
Nicholas Skorzewski, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:25 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.
Insider Tips From the Dark Side
Kelly F. Morrow, Esq., Columbia, SC
3:50 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Workers’ Compensation Commissioners Roundtable
Young Lawyers Seminar
Jamie Rutkoski, Esq., Chairperson
4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Tobacco to TikTok: Designed to Addict
Jade Haileselassie, Esq., Charleston, SC
Marlon Kimpson, Esq., Charleston, SC
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
SCAJ Annual Business Meeting
5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Minority Caucus / First-Time Attendee Reception
9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Ashley W. Creech, Esq., President
Kevin R. Dean, Esq., President-Elect
Welcoming Reception
Friday, August 7, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Registration
8:00 a.m.
Coffee and Danish – Compliments of The Hilton
Litigation at Sunrise – A One Day Seminar in One Hour
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Moderator
7:45 a.m. – 7:55 a.m.
New 50/100 NC Auto Law
Tom A. Killoren, Jr., Esq., Spartanburg, SC
7:55 a.m. – 8:05 a.m.
TBD
Robert V. Phillips, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
8:05 a.m. – 8:15 a.m.
Don’t Get Burned on the Way Out: Ethical Withdrawal and Post-Withdrawal Disclosure Duties
Thomas A. Pendarvis, Esq., Beaufort, SC
8:15 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
Five Favorite Deposition Questions
Wes B. Allison, Esq., Charleston, SC
8:25 a.m. – 8:35 a.m.
Serving Justice, Not Power
Ellis I. Kahn, Esq., Charleston, SC
8:35 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.
Rules Update
Justin S. Kahn, Esq., Charleston, SC
10:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
Torts & Negligence Seminar
Mark J. Bringardner, Esq., Chairperson
8:50 a.m. – 9:20 a.m.
Credibility Wins: Authenticity, Connection, and What TikTok Teaches About Persuasion
Ashley W. Creech, Esq., Rock Hill, SC
9:20 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.
Trial Ready Systems and Processes
Kyle J. White, Esq., Anderson, SC
9:50 a.m. – 10:20 a.m.
TBD
TBD
10:20 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.
Tying Bad Conduct to Big Damages
Kenneth E. Berger, Esq., Columbia, SC
10:50 a.m. – 11:20 a.m.
Effective Ways to Obtain and Present Vehicle Data at Trial
Ronnie L. Crosby, Esq., Hampton, SC
11:20 a.m.
Coffee Break
Ethics Seminar
Brian M. Barnwell, Esq., Chairperson
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
AI in the Courtroom
The Honorable Daniel M. Coble, Columbia, SC
12:00 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Advertising
Robert F. Goings, Esq., Columbia, SC
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Mental Health/Drug and Alcohol CLE Talk
Frances Anderson
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Beach Games
8:30 p.m. – Midnight
BAND PARTY – LIVE BAND • FINESSE BAND
Saturday, August 8, 2026
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Coffee with the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commissioners
South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commissioners
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
SCAJ Gala Breakfast – Enjoy the camaraderie of fellow attendees at this casual hearty breakfast that has become a true highlight of the Annual Convention. Compliments of our Diamond, Platinum, Gold, and Silver Sponsors
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Awards and Portrait Presentation
1:30 p.m.
Pickleball Tournament – Compliments of KD Trial Lawyer
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Judicial Reception honoring all members of the Judiciary
7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Family Cookout – Compliments of Knie | Beatty | Holloway
A special “thank you” to Frank L. Eppes, Convention Chair
and Pamela R. Mullis CLE Chair, for all of their hard work.
QUALIFYING FOR 12 CLE CREDITS
INCLUDING 2 ETHICS HOURS
Please call the SCAJ office at (803) 799-5097 for assistance with registration.
One Hotel Circle, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928
NOTE: The SCAJ Room Block is only available to 2026 Convention registrants.
The following registration cancellation policy will apply:
Written cancellations received prior to Wednesday, July 8, 2026 will be refunded in their entirety.
Written cancellations received from Wednesday, July 8, 2026 through Wednesday, July 15, 2026 will be refunded less a $25.00 service charge.
After Wednesday, July 15, 2026, no refunds will be given.
Upon written notice received by the SCAJ by Monday, August 24, 2026, any registrant who does not attend the seminar may receive hand-out materials.
(1).jpg)
