South Carolina Attorneys | Howser, Newman, & Besley, LLC

We Are More Than Just Litigators

When a dispute threatens to disrupt your business, expose your assets, or compromise your professional reputation, you need a legal team that can protect you efficiently, effectively, and with a thorough understanding of your immediate and long-term priorities. You need a legal team that is willing to explore all available alternatives, and that has the ability to identify opportunities to resolve your case favorably. Most importantly, you need a legal team that will put your interests first, and that will keep you informed so that you can make strategic decisions at each stage of the process.

At Howser, Newman & Besley, LLC, we bring decades of experience to protecting our clients’ interests in litigation, appeals, mediation, and arbitration. Our practice is devoted to finding cost-effective solutions to our clients’ legal challenges. In addition to being experienced litigators, many of our attorneys are also certified mediators and arbitrators, and we use the insights gained from our ADR practice to offer creative, practical, and results-oriented solutions to our clients’ complex legal issues.

What We Do

The Firm provides effective legal services in a variety of areas including: casualty insurance coverage, negligence, products liability, workers’ compensation, commercial and contract law, professional malpractice defense, collections, civil rights defense, school district liability, government agency liability, and employment liability. HN&B is committed to effective and efficient representation of its clients. The Firm is founded on the principle that cost-effective, quality legal services, customized for each client’s needs, is the basis of successful legal representation.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation and arbitration of business and commercial disputes, as well as personal injury, workers’ compensation, and professional negligence claims

Appellate Practice

We handle state and federal appeals for both new and existing clients. We also represent employers at all stages of the workers’ compensation appeals process

Construction Litigation

Breaches of contract, construction defects, insurance coverage disputes, mechanic’s liens and payment disputes, professional negligence, and defense of personal injury and workers’ compensation claims

Insurance Coverage

Insurance coverage disputes involving claims for breach of contract, bad faith, and negligence. We have significant experience in declaratory judgment actions and examinations under oath (EUOs) statewide

Personal Injury

Auto accident, premises liability, and product liability claims

Professional Negligence

Representation of architects, accountants, attorneys, engineers, and real estate agents/brokers in civil litigation, ethics investigations, and licensing matters

Workers’ Compensation

Investigation and defense of workers’ compensation claims on behalf of employers throughout South Carolina. We also have attorneys who are certified mediators practicing exclusively in the workers’ compensation arena

Get to Know Howser, Newman & Besley, LLC

Our firm was founded in South Carolina in 1996. Our main office is located in downtown Columbia, and we have attorneys who work full-time out of our Charleston office location on Easy Bay Street.

Yes, we represent all types of businesses in litigation, appeals, mediation, and arbitration, and we represent individuals in defense of auto accident liability claims and allegations of professional negligence.

Yes, we represent clients in trial court proceedings (including court-mandated mediation) in all South Carolina counties, and we have significant experience in appellate matters before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of South Carolina.

Yes, several of our attorneys are admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Yes, we have attorneys who are certified in mediation and arbitration by the Supreme Court of South Carolina. Our mediators and arbitrators are available to serve as neutrals in cases within our core areas of practice, and we can also mediate disputes filed in the South Carolina Family Courts.

Yes, we represent both new and existing clients in state and federal appellate matters. We have significant experience in civil appellate practice, and we can act quickly to evaluate the merits of a potential appeal before the notice deadline expires.

Five Reasons To Choose Our Firm

Simple Communication

Offering practical solutions to complex legal issues

Outstanding Representation

Efficient, high-quality legal work is our goal

Legal Experience

Over 200 years of combined legal experience

We Understand Your Needs

We represent a diverse array of clients in the Carolinas

Client Relationships

We value trust and candor in our professional relationships and strive to work cooperatively with our clients to obtain cost-effective and successful results

Meet Our Attorneys

Kelley Cannon

Kelley Shull Cannon is a member of our firm’s litigation practice who focuses her practice on representing both plaintiffs and defendants in litigation. Kelley served as law clerk to the late Honorable Marc H. Westbrook prior to joining Howser, Newman & Besley, LLC. See Kelley’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page

George Hanna

George V. (“Geov”) Hanna, IV, is a member of our firm’s litigation practice and focuses his practice primarily in the areas of premises liability, construction, automobile insurance, professional liability, and products liability defense. Prior to joining Howser, Newman & Besley, Geov served as law clerk to the Honorable James C. Williams, Jr. See Geov’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Andrew Haselden

Located in our firm’s Charleston office, Andrew E. (“Andy”) Haselden practices in the areas of premises liability, construction, professional liability, insurance coverage, workers’ compensation, and civil appeals. See Andy’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Andrew Hethington

Andrew L. Hethington is an associate in our firm’s Charleston office practicing in the areas of automobile liability, premises liability, construction litigation, and contractual disputes. See Andrew’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

R. Davis Howser

R. Davis (“Dave”) Howser is member of our firm’s litigation practice and focuses his work in the areas of professional liability, product liability, business disputes, and insurance coverage litigation. He has extensive experience representing architects, engineers, attorneys and other professionals in malpractice and professional liability matters. See Dave’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Michal Jones

Michal Cooper Jones is a member of our firm’s litigation practice who practices primarily in the areas of construction litigation, workers’ compensation, products liability, premises liability, and automobile insurance. See Michal’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Kyliene Keesley

Kyliene L. (“Kylie”) Keesley’s practice includes alternative dispute resolution, premises liability, products liability, professional negligence, construction defect litigation and automobile liability. Prior to joining Howser, Newman & Besley, Kylie served as law clerk to the Honorable James R. Barber, III. See Kylie’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Benjamin McCoy

Our firm’s Managing Member since 1999, Benjamin D. (“Ben”) McCoy’s practice includes alternative dispute resolution, insurance coverage, business law, products liability, automobile liability, premises liability, and personal injury litigation, as well as school district, municipality, and county defense. See Ben’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

James Newman

James P. (“Jamie”) Newman, Jr., is a member of our firm’s litigation practice and focuses his work in the areas of workers’ compensation and insurance defense. Admitted to practice in South Carolina since 1983, Jamie served as an Assistant Solicitor of the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office prior to entering private practice. See Jamie’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

Albert Pierce

Albert Richard (“Rick’) Pierce, Jr., practice focuses on the areas of business and corporate litigation, professional liability, and automobile liability. Prior to joining Howser, Newman & Besley, Rick served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paula H. Thomas. See Rick’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

James Sullivan

Located in our firm’s Charleston office, James P. (“Jim”) Sullivan practices in the areas of construction defect litigation, personal injury defense, and insurance coverage disputes. See Jim’s full bio on the Attorney Profile page.

William Besley

(1964-2018)

See Bill’s full bio on the
Attorney Profile page.

Client Testimonials

“As general counsel of a business with operations in multiple states, I’ve had the opportunity to work with scores of litigation defense counsel over the years. Andy Haselden is at the top of my list in South Carolina. He is unfailingly responsive, and consistently delivers sound advice and focused representation in shepherding our interests there. Highly recommended.”
- Rob P.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your professionalism and dedication! Without your belief in us and our story, you could have easily settled this case a long time ago. All we ever wanted was the opportunity to tell our side of the story to a jury. We believe in the judicial system to do what is right thing and it did! Once again THANK YOU”
- Client

“Words are so inadequate to describe how happy I am, with the results that Geov got for us at trial. This was a very difficult case and he got an awesome result for us. I am just ecstatic about the result.”
- Client

“They hit one out of the park again - settled a complex regional pain syndrome case (where we have $26m in coverage) today for $450K. Great settlement considering the injury, boardable specials, and difficulties involving foreign manufacturers etc.”
- Client

“I have worked with Howser Newman and Besley for 20 years and consider the firm and all their attorneys to be knowledgeable, thoughtful and willing to help resolve cases in the most efficient manner. They provide a welcome atmosphere for their clients and are genuine and passionate about their work. I have a wonderful relationship with all the attorneys and have been blessed to work with them.”
- Client

Dedicated Attorneys
Serving All of South Carolina

We Are More Than Just Litigators

What We Do

Get to Know Howser, Newman & Besley, LLC