
John B. Hagerty
Partner
151 Meeting Street
Suite 600
Charleston, SC 29401
John has an interdisciplinary practice that combines the areas of corporate and real estate law. He regularly counsels clients on corporate management, as well as contract development and drafting. He has represented start–up companies and innovators at every stage, from establishing a corporation to developing employment agreements, establishing employee stock option plans, and negotiating leases...
John has an interdisciplinary practice that combines the areas of corporate and real estate law. He regularly counsels clients on corporate management, as well as contract development and drafting. He has represented start–up companies and innovators at every stage, from establishing a corporation to developing employment agreements, establishing employee stock option plans, and negotiating leases and other contracts.
In his practice, John has used his background in litigation and experience in corporate and real estate matters to contribute to the negotiation of numerous companies’ agreements, offerings, and restructurings.
His broad representation experience spans throughout several industries including education, finance, real estate, and hospitality.

and other contracts.
In his practice, John has used his background in litigation and experience in corporate and real estate matters to contribute to the negotiation of numerous companies’ agreements, offerings, and restructurings.
His broad representation experience spans throughout several industries including education, finance, real estate, and hospitality.
Experience
Experience
- Worked on one of the largest land developments in South Carolina involving negotiations with Counties and School Districts and the establishment of a Form–Based Zoning Code
- Has negotiated tax assessment districts
- Created numerous development agreements
- Worked on joint ventures that have produced and sold industrial and commercial properties in excess of 1,000,000 square feet
- Represented a client's sale of timberland with tax advantages for more than a billion dollars
- Experience with private securities offerings, corporate restructurings, and employee option plans as well as corporate representation of companies in the restaurant chain business, fire protection and industrial gas, various roll–up businesses, and others
Previous Professional Experience
- Was a principal litigator in a very large bankruptcy case filed in the state and worked on other bankruptcy related cases both in South Carolina and in Delaware early in his career
Educational Activities
- Harvard University
- Played varsity football and lacrosse
- Recipient of the Burr Award as the outstanding student athlete of Harvard College
- University of Chicago
- Worked in the First Scholar Program at the First National Bank of Chicago
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1977)
- The University of Chicago, MBA (1975)
- Harvard University, BA, English, cum laude (1973)
Admissions
- South Carolina
Certifications
- Certified Commercial Investment Member, National Association of Realtors
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
- Worked on one of the largest land developments in South Carolina involving negotiations with Counties and School Districts and the establishment of a Form–Based Zoning Code
- Has negotiated tax assessment districts
- Created numerous development agreements
- Worked on joint ventures that have produced and sold industrial and commercial properties in excess of 1,000,000 square feet
- Represented a client's sale of timberland with tax advantages for more than a billion dollars
- Experience with private securities offerings, corporate restructurings, and employee option plans as well as corporate representation of companies in the restaurant chain business, fire protection and industrial gas, various roll–up businesses, and others
Previous Professional Experience
- Was a principal litigator in a very large bankruptcy case filed in the state and worked on other bankruptcy related cases both in South Carolina and in Delaware early in his career
Educational Activities
- Harvard University
- Played varsity football and lacrosse
- Recipient of the Burr Award as the outstanding student athlete of Harvard College
- University of Chicago
- Worked in the First Scholar Program at the First National Bank of Chicago
Media
Recognitions
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2009–2026)
- Spoleto Festival USA Mary Ramsay Civic Award (2020)
- Charleston Business Magazine's 50 Most Influential (2020)
- S.C. Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll (2019, 2020, 2021)
- Charleston Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Lowcountry"
- Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights (2017, 2020, 2022-2023)
- Bankruptcy and Debtors' Rights (2022-2023)
- Mergers and Acquisitions (2020)
- Commercial Finance (2019)
- Banking and Finance (2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Charleston, SC, Corporate Law (2016)
- AV Preeminent® peer review rating, Martindale-Hubbell®, Top Rated Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning (2013)
Professional Activities
- Member, Society of International Business Fellows (a group of business leaders throughout the Southeast and Southwest)
- Chair, Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA)
Community
- Serves as counsel; Member, Board of Directors, Spoleto Festival, USA
- Assists various other not–for–profit organizations
- Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Patriots Point Development Authority (which oversees development and operation of a golf course, hotels, the US Medal of Honor Museum and the Yorktown Aircraft Carrier in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
John has an interdisciplinary practice that combines the areas of corporate and real estate law. He regularly counsels clients on corporate management, as well as contract development and drafting. He has represented start–up companies and innovators at every stage, from establishing a corporation to developing employment agreements, establishing employee stock option plans, and negotiating leases... and other contracts.
In his practice, John has used his background in litigation and experience in corporate and real estate matters to contribute to the negotiation of numerous companies’ agreements, offerings, and restructurings.
His broad representation experience spans throughout several industries including education, finance, real estate, and hospitality.
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
- Worked on one of the largest land developments in South Carolina involving negotiations with Counties and School Districts and the establishment of a Form–Based Zoning Code
- Has negotiated tax assessment districts
- Created numerous development agreements
- Worked on joint ventures that have produced and sold industrial and commercial properties in excess of 1,000,000 square feet
- Represented a client's sale of timberland with tax advantages for more than a billion dollars
- Experience with private securities offerings, corporate restructurings, and employee option plans as well as corporate representation of companies in the restaurant chain business, fire protection and industrial gas, various roll–up businesses, and others
Previous Professional Experience
- Was a principal litigator in a very large bankruptcy case filed in the state and worked on other bankruptcy related cases both in South Carolina and in Delaware early in his career
Educational Activities
- Harvard University
- Played varsity football and lacrosse
- Recipient of the Burr Award as the outstanding student athlete of Harvard College
- University of Chicago
- Worked in the First Scholar Program at the First National Bank of Chicago
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, JD (1977)
- The University of Chicago, MBA (1975)
- Harvard University, BA, English, cum laude (1973)
Admissions
- South Carolina
Practice Areas
Industries
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law (2009–2026)
- Spoleto Festival USA Mary Ramsay Civic Award (2020)
- Charleston Business Magazine's 50 Most Influential (2020)
- S.C. Supreme Court Pro Bono Honor Roll (2019, 2020, 2021)
- Charleston Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Lowcountry"
- Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights (2017, 2020, 2022-2023)
- Bankruptcy and Debtors' Rights (2022-2023)
- Mergers and Acquisitions (2020)
- Commercial Finance (2019)
- Banking and Finance (2019)
- The Best Lawyers in America®, Lawyer of the Year, Charleston, SC, Corporate Law (2016)
- AV Preeminent® peer review rating, Martindale-Hubbell®, Top Rated Lawyer in Land Use and Zoning (2013)
- Member, Society of International Business Fellows (a group of business leaders throughout the Southeast and Southwest)
- Chair, Charleston Regional Development Alliance (CRDA)
- Serves as counsel; Member, Board of Directors, Spoleto Festival, USA
- Assists various other not–for–profit organizations
- Former Chairman, Board of Directors, Patriots Point Development Authority (which oversees development and operation of a golf course, hotels, the US Medal of Honor Museum and the Yorktown Aircraft Carrier in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina)
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