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Idea Exchange
David H. Wilkins
Partner
104 South Main Street
Suite 900
Greenville, SC 29601
Suite 900
Washington, D.C., 20001
Ambassador David Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group with a special focus on U.S.- Canada interests. He proudly served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush. Since returning home from...
Ambassador David Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group with a special focus on U.S.- Canada interests. He proudly served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush. Since returning home from Canada, Ambassador Wilkins spent six years chairing the Clemson University Board of Trustees and remains an active member of that board.
He also sits on the boards of Porter Airlines and Mattamy Homes. In 2010, then South Carolina's Governor-elect Nikki Haley tapped Wilkins to chair her government transition team. First elected in 1980, Ambassador Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected speaker in 1994 – a position he held for 11 years until he resigned for his ambassadorship post. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the state's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto. Ambassador Wilkins is married to Susan Wilkins, and they have two grown sons and two grandchildren.
Canada, Ambassador Wilkins spent six years chairing the Clemson University Board of Trustees and remains an active member of that board.
He also sits on the boards of Porter Airlines and Mattamy Homes. In 2010, then South Carolina's Governor-elect Nikki Haley tapped Wilkins to chair her government transition team. First elected in 1980, Ambassador Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected speaker in 1994 – a position he held for 11 years until he resigned for his ambassadorship post. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the state's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto. Ambassador Wilkins is married to Susan Wilkins, and they have two grown sons and two grandchildren.
Experience
- As ambassador, helped resolve issues between Canada and the United States, including the decades-old softwood lumber trade dispute
- Worked on issues such as energy, national security, the environment, trade, and travel
- Practiced law for 34 years in Greenville, South Carolina, before assuming ambassadorship and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate law
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Clemson University
Admissions
- South Carolina
Practice Areas
Industries
- As ambassador, helped resolve issues between Canada and the United States, including the decades-old softwood lumber trade dispute
- Worked on issues such as energy, national security, the environment, trade, and travel
- Practiced law for 34 years in Greenville, South Carolina, before assuming ambassadorship and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate law
Articles & Speeches
Recognitions
- Canada Governor General’s Medallion for service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-U.S. relationship (2016)
- Greenville Business Magazine "Legal Elite" - Government Relations (2013-2017)
Leadership
- Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980 and served there for 25 years
- Served six years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and two years as Speaker Pro Tem before being elected Speaker of the House, a post he held for 11 years
- First Republican elected Speaker of any legislative body in the South since the 1880s and retired as one of the longest serving speakers in the country
- Served as President of the National Speakers’ Association in 2001 and retains a permanent seat on the NSA board
- State Chairman of the Bush-Cheney ‘04 campaign and as Co-Chair of the campaign in 2000
- Appointed by the President to the Board of Visitors to the United States Academy at West Point in 2002 and served for three years
- Member, Clemson University Board of Trustees (2007-present, Chairman of the Board 2009-2015)
- Board of Directors, Porter Airlines
- Board of Directors, Mattamy Homes
- Board of Directors, Greenville Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors, United Community Banks, Inc.
- General Counsel for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc.
- Served as Governor Nikki Haley's government transition team chair in 2010
- Senior Advisor, Global Public Affairs of Canada
Military
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Army Reserves
Ambassador David Wilkins is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and chairs the Public Policy and International Law practice group with a special focus on U.S.- Canada interests. He proudly served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush. Since returning home from... Canada, Ambassador Wilkins spent six years chairing the Clemson University Board of Trustees and remains an active member of that board.
He also sits on the boards of Porter Airlines and Mattamy Homes. In 2010, then South Carolina's Governor-elect Nikki Haley tapped Wilkins to chair her government transition team. First elected in 1980, Ambassador Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected speaker in 1994 – a position he held for 11 years until he resigned for his ambassadorship post. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the state's highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto. Ambassador Wilkins is married to Susan Wilkins, and they have two grown sons and two grandchildren.
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.- As ambassador, helped resolve issues between Canada and the United States, including the decades-old softwood lumber trade dispute
- Worked on issues such as energy, national security, the environment, trade, and travel
- Practiced law for 34 years in Greenville, South Carolina, before assuming ambassadorship and has extensive experience in civil litigation and appellate law
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Clemson University
Admissions
- South Carolina
Practice Areas
- Federal Government Strategies
- Government Relations
- International Relations & Sovereign Government Advocacy
- State & Local Government Relations
Industries
- Canada Governor General’s Medallion for service in promoting and enhancing the Canada-U.S. relationship (2016)
- Greenville Business Magazine "Legal Elite" - Government Relations (2013-2017)
- Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980 and served there for 25 years
- Served six years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and two years as Speaker Pro Tem before being elected Speaker of the House, a post he held for 11 years
- First Republican elected Speaker of any legislative body in the South since the 1880s and retired as one of the longest serving speakers in the country
- Served as President of the National Speakers’ Association in 2001 and retains a permanent seat on the NSA board
- State Chairman of the Bush-Cheney ‘04 campaign and as Co-Chair of the campaign in 2000
- Appointed by the President to the Board of Visitors to the United States Academy at West Point in 2002 and served for three years
- Member, Clemson University Board of Trustees (2007-present, Chairman of the Board 2009-2015)
- Board of Directors, Porter Airlines
- Board of Directors, Mattamy Homes
- Board of Directors, Greenville Chamber of Commerce
- Board of Directors, United Community Banks, Inc.
- General Counsel for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities, Inc.
- Served as Governor Nikki Haley's government transition team chair in 2010
- Senior Advisor, Global Public Affairs of Canada
- U.S. Army
- U.S. Army Reserves
Highlights from the Firm’s Idea Exchange
