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Idea Exchange
Carmen Harper Thomas
Partner
Meridian
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
1320 Main Street
17th Floor
Columbia, SC 29201
carmen.thomas@nelsonmullins.com
Carmen Harper Thomas is a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP who practices in Columbia in business litigation, focusing on disputes involving financial services, innovative business models, and technology and legal services.
Carmen Harper Thomas is a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP who practices in Columbia in business litigation, focusing on disputes involving financial services, innovative business models, and technology and legal services.
Experience
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
- Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial services issues, including the following:
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- Truth in Lending Act
- South Carolina Consumer Protection Code, including the Attorney and Insurance Preference Statute
- Uniform Commercial Code and negotiable instruments
- Federal and South Carolina SAFE Acts
- Federal and state loss mitigation programs
- Mortgage foreclosure and documentation issues
- Taxation and cancellation of indebtedness
- Creditor issues in bankruptcy
- Representing businesses in protecting trade secrets and proprietary information especially involving technology
- Defending innovative businesses in matters addressing conflicts between their business models and current legal and regulatory frameworks
- Defending entities in cases regarding the scope of the practice of law, including the intersection of legal services and technology
- Negotiating and representing clients with disputes involving the public sector, including state regulatory agencies
- Resolving disputes regarding utility rates and other energy issues
- Defending businesses in state- and nation-wide class actions in state and federal courts
Previous Professional Experience
- Law clerk, S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee
- Planning Manager, S.C. Department of Commerce
- Developed annual plans for federal funding used for statewide economic development, infrastructure, community facilities, and housing development and rehabilitation projects
- State Planner, South Carolina Energy Office within the S.C. State Budget and Control Board
- Coordinated the annual Strategic Energy Action Plan and researched and implemented energy use and renewable energy policies for South Carolina, including solar, fuel cell, biomass, and transportation efficiency projects
- Legislative Aide and Page, S.C. House of Representatives
Educational Activities
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Member, Pro Bono Board
- Member, Phi Delta Phi, Calhoun Inn
Education
-
University of South Carolina School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(2007)
- Editor in Chief of the South Carolina Law Review
- CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Securities Regulation and Media Law
- Order of the Wig and Robe
- Student Member, John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court
- University of South Carolina, MPA (2002)
- University of South Carolina, Honors College, BA, Journalism and Mass Communications, cum laude (1999)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
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
- Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial services issues, including the following:
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- Truth in Lending Act
- South Carolina Consumer Protection Code, including the Attorney and Insurance Preference Statute
- Uniform Commercial Code and negotiable instruments
- Federal and South Carolina SAFE Acts
- Federal and state loss mitigation programs
- Mortgage foreclosure and documentation issues
- Taxation and cancellation of indebtedness
- Creditor issues in bankruptcy
- Representing businesses in protecting trade secrets and proprietary information especially involving technology
- Defending innovative businesses in matters addressing conflicts between their business models and current legal and regulatory frameworks
- Defending entities in cases regarding the scope of the practice of law, including the intersection of legal services and technology
- Negotiating and representing clients with disputes involving the public sector, including state regulatory agencies
- Resolving disputes regarding utility rates and other energy issues
- Defending businesses in state- and nation-wide class actions in state and federal courts
Previous Professional Experience
- Law clerk, S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee
- Planning Manager, S.C. Department of Commerce
- Developed annual plans for federal funding used for statewide economic development, infrastructure, community facilities, and housing development and rehabilitation projects
- State Planner, South Carolina Energy Office within the S.C. State Budget and Control Board
- Coordinated the annual Strategic Energy Action Plan and researched and implemented energy use and renewable energy policies for South Carolina, including solar, fuel cell, biomass, and transportation efficiency projects
- Legislative Aide and Page, S.C. House of Representatives
Educational Activities
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Member, Pro Bono Board
- Member, Phi Delta Phi, Calhoun Inn
Articles & Speeches
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.
- South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star, Banking (2013-2017)
- Riley Institute, Diversity Leaders Initiative, Midlands Class 2016
- South Carolina Law Review Alumni Award (2012-2013)
- South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy (2012)
Professional Activities
- American Bar Association
- Commission on the Future of Legal Services (2015)
- Business Law Section Subcommittee on Business Courts, Vice Chair
- Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, Young Lawyer Liaison to Task Force on Small Dollar Lending
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Permanent Member
- SC Bar
- House of Delegates (2015-2016)
- Committee on the Future of the Profession (2015-present)
- Task Force on Diversity
- Task Force on Limited Scope Representation
- Consumer Law Section Council (2012-present)
- John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court, President (2016-17), Executive Committee (2014-present)
- Defense Research Institute
- SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association
- South Carolina Women Lawyers' Association
- Richland County Bar Association, Public Service Committee (2008-2014)
Community
- Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands Board Member (2016-present)
- University of South Carolina Board of Visitors (2015-present)
- University of South Carolina, University Associates
- Homeless Experience Legal Protection Project, Volunteer Coordinator and Volunteer (2008-2014)
- Habitat for Humanity, Richland County Bar Buildable Hours Volunteer (2013)
Carmen Harper Thomas is a partner of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP who practices in Columbia in business litigation, focusing on disputes involving financial services, innovative business models, and technology and legal services.
Experience
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
- Litigation and client projects addressing a variety of financial services issues, including the following:
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Telephone Consumer Protection Act
- Fair Credit Reporting Act
- Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act
- Truth in Lending Act
- South Carolina Consumer Protection Code, including the Attorney and Insurance Preference Statute
- Uniform Commercial Code and negotiable instruments
- Federal and South Carolina SAFE Acts
- Federal and state loss mitigation programs
- Mortgage foreclosure and documentation issues
- Taxation and cancellation of indebtedness
- Creditor issues in bankruptcy
- Representing businesses in protecting trade secrets and proprietary information especially involving technology
- Defending innovative businesses in matters addressing conflicts between their business models and current legal and regulatory frameworks
- Defending entities in cases regarding the scope of the practice of law, including the intersection of legal services and technology
- Negotiating and representing clients with disputes involving the public sector, including state regulatory agencies
- Resolving disputes regarding utility rates and other energy issues
- Defending businesses in state- and nation-wide class actions in state and federal courts
Previous Professional Experience
- Law clerk, S.C. Senate Judiciary Committee
- Planning Manager, S.C. Department of Commerce
- Developed annual plans for federal funding used for statewide economic development, infrastructure, community facilities, and housing development and rehabilitation projects
- State Planner, South Carolina Energy Office within the S.C. State Budget and Control Board
- Coordinated the annual Strategic Energy Action Plan and researched and implemented energy use and renewable energy policies for South Carolina, including solar, fuel cell, biomass, and transportation efficiency projects
- Legislative Aide and Page, S.C. House of Representatives
Educational Activities
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Member, Pro Bono Board
- Member, Phi Delta Phi, Calhoun Inn
Education
-
University of South Carolina School of Law,
JD,
cum laude
(2007)
- Editor in Chief of the South Carolina Law Review
- CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Securities Regulation and Media Law
- Order of the Wig and Robe
- Student Member, John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court
- University of South Carolina, MPA (2002)
- University of South Carolina, Honors College, BA, Journalism and Mass Communications, cum laude (1999)
Admissions
- South Carolina
- Supreme Court of the United States
- U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Banking & Financial Services
- Commercial Litigation & Business Torts
- Consumer Financial Services
- Energy
- Financial Services Advisory
- FinTech
- Multi-Claim & Class Action Litigation
- Professional Liability
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.
- South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star, Banking (2013-2017)
- Riley Institute, Diversity Leaders Initiative, Midlands Class 2016
- South Carolina Law Review Alumni Award (2012-2013)
- South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy (2012)
- American Bar Association
- Commission on the Future of Legal Services (2015)
- Business Law Section Subcommittee on Business Courts, Vice Chair
- Business Law Section, Consumer Financial Services Committee, Young Lawyer Liaison to Task Force on Small Dollar Lending
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Permanent Member
- SC Bar
- House of Delegates (2015-2016)
- Committee on the Future of the Profession (2015-present)
- Task Force on Diversity
- Task Force on Limited Scope Representation
- Consumer Law Section Council (2012-present)
- John Belton O’Neall Inn of Court, President (2016-17), Executive Committee (2014-present)
- Defense Research Institute
- SC Defense Trial Attorneys Association
- South Carolina Women Lawyers' Association
- Richland County Bar Association, Public Service Committee (2008-2014)
- Boys and Girls Club of the Midlands Board Member (2016-present)
- University of South Carolina Board of Visitors (2015-present)
- University of South Carolina, University Associates
- Homeless Experience Legal Protection Project, Volunteer Coordinator and Volunteer (2008-2014)
- Habitat for Humanity, Richland County Bar Buildable Hours Volunteer (2013)
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
Dear Scrivener
July 2018
International Law Bulletin - Vol. 22, No. 6
July 10, 2018
