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Richard W. Riley
Partner
Greenville ONE
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
2 W. Washington Street
Suite 400
Greenville, SC 29601
101 Constitution Avenue, NW
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
dick.riley@nelsonmullins.com
Dick is a senior partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and EducationCounsel LLC. A former U.S. Secretary of Education (1993–2001) and a former Governor of South Carolina (1979–1987), Dick, with full support of the firm, remains an ambassador for improving education in the state, nation, and abroad.
Dick is a senior partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and EducationCounsel LLC. A former U.S. Secretary of Education (1993–2001) and a former Governor of South Carolina (1979–1987), Dick, with full support of the firm, remains an ambassador for improving education in the state, nation, and abroad.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has counseled clients on business, governance, financial matters, government processes and education law, policy, strategy and advocacy
- Works with partners to develop strategy in complex business, legal, and education matters
Previous Professional Experience
- As U.S. Secretary of Education, helped launch initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental involvement in education; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; and prepare young people in America for the world of work
- As Governor of South Carolina, initiated the Education Improvement Act, the Employment Revitalization Act, the S.C. Research Authority, regional nuclear waste compacts, merit selection of public service commissioners, greater openness in government, and a constitutional amendment creating a state reserve fund
- As S.C. State Legislator, advocated for Home Rule for local governments, judicial reform, legislative transparency, revision of the State Constitution, and modernization of state government
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1959)
- Furman University, BA, Political Science, cum laude (1954)
Admissions
- South Carolina
Practice Areas
Industries
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.
Experience
- Has counseled clients on business, governance, financial matters, government processes and education law, policy, strategy and advocacy
- Works with partners to develop strategy in complex business, legal, and education matters
Previous Professional Experience
- As U.S. Secretary of Education, helped launch initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental involvement in education; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; and prepare young people in America for the world of work
- As Governor of South Carolina, initiated the Education Improvement Act, the Employment Revitalization Act, the S.C. Research Authority, regional nuclear waste compacts, merit selection of public service commissioners, greater openness in government, and a constitutional amendment creating a state reserve fund
- As S.C. State Legislator, advocated for Home Rule for local governments, judicial reform, legislative transparency, revision of the State Constitution, and modernization of state government
Media
Insights
Events / Speaking Engagements
| Fifty Years Later: Dick Riley's Standing Impact on the S.C. Constitution, The University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, Speaker (March 1, 2024) |
| City of Greenville Honors Nelson Mullins’ Dick Riley (Monday, November 12, 2018) |
| Remarks by Richard W. Riley at the first meeting of the S.C. Education Reform Task Force, Speaker (February 23, 2015) |
| Richard Riley Speech at James F. Byrnes Scholarship Luncheon, Speaker (June 14, 2014) |
News
Recognitions
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- TALK Greenville Magazine's Top Lawyers List, Education (2023)
- Greenville Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Upstate", Education (2022-2024)
- Inducted into South Carolina Hall of Fame
- Named by TIME Magazine among Top Ten Best Cabinet Members in USA history
- Recipient of national and local awards from education and public service organizations
- Recipient of honorary degrees from higher education institutions in the United States and abroad
- College of Education at Winthrop University and College of Education and Leadership, Walden University, bear his name
Professional Activities
- South Carolina Bar
- American Bar Association
- Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of South Carolina
- Advisory Board Chair of Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University
- ABA Commissions on Rule of Law and Civics in our Nation's Schools
Dick is a senior partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and EducationCounsel LLC. A former U.S. Secretary of Education (1993–2001) and a former Governor of South Carolina (1979–1987), Dick, with full support of the firm, remains an ambassador for improving education in the state, nation, and abroad.
Experience
The following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.Experience
- Has counseled clients on business, governance, financial matters, government processes and education law, policy, strategy and advocacy
- Works with partners to develop strategy in complex business, legal, and education matters
Previous Professional Experience
- As U.S. Secretary of Education, helped launch initiatives to raise academic standards; improve instruction for the poor and disadvantaged; increase parental involvement in education; expand grants and loans to help more students attend college; and prepare young people in America for the world of work
- As Governor of South Carolina, initiated the Education Improvement Act, the Employment Revitalization Act, the S.C. Research Authority, regional nuclear waste compacts, merit selection of public service commissioners, greater openness in government, and a constitutional amendment creating a state reserve fund
- As S.C. State Legislator, advocated for Home Rule for local governments, judicial reform, legislative transparency, revision of the State Constitution, and modernization of state government
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1959)
- Furman University, BA, Political Science, cum laude (1954)
Admissions
- South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Corporate Governance
- Economic Development EducationCounsel LLC
- Government Relations Strategies
- Higher Education
- State & Local Government Relations
Industries
The bar rules of some states require that the standards for an attorney's inclusion in certain public accolades or recognitions be provided. When such accolades or recognitions are listed, a hyperlink is provided that leads to a description of the respective selection methodology.
- TALK Greenville Magazine's Top Lawyers List, Education (2023)
- Greenville Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Upstate", Education (2022-2024)
- Inducted into South Carolina Hall of Fame
- Named by TIME Magazine among Top Ten Best Cabinet Members in USA history
- Recipient of national and local awards from education and public service organizations
- Recipient of honorary degrees from higher education institutions in the United States and abroad
- College of Education at Winthrop University and College of Education and Leadership, Walden University, bear his name
- South Carolina Bar
- American Bar Association
- Distinguished Professor of Education at the University of South Carolina
- Advisory Board Chair of Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership at Furman University
- ABA Commissions on Rule of Law and Civics in our Nation's Schools
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