Attorneys

Mitchell Willoughby

PARTNER

Office Phone: 803.252.3300

Direct Phone: 803.771.2121

Fax: 803.256.8062

Office Location: Columbia, SC

attorney practice areas

Biography

Originally from Green Sea – Floyds in Horry County, South Carolina, Mitch has practiced law for more than 40 years. Mitch began his practice as an attorney with the Public Service Commission of South Carolina, where he was engaged in facets of rate, compliance, safety and operational regulation of regulated utilities, telecommunications companies, and transportation carriers. Since entering private practice in 1977, Mitch has assisted clients in matters involving litigation of business and contractual disputes; class action litigation from both the plaintiff’s and defendant’s perspective; litigation and arbitration on behalf of investors who have lost money in their securities, trust and financial accounts due to mismanagement or fraud; business transactions; acquisition of and disputes related to utility rights of way, easements, and other real property interests; administrative law cases involving health care licensing issues; and regulatory cases for companies providing gas, electric, telecommunications, water, sewer and common carrier services. Mitch is a certified arbitrator by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the American Arbitration Association.

Admissions

  • South Carolina Bar
  • United States District Court, District of South Carolina
  • United States Court of Appeals: Fourth and Eleventh Circuits
  • United States Court of Federal Claims
  • United States Supreme Court

Education

  • University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D.
  • Clemson University, B.S.
  • United States Army War College

Associations

  • Richland County Bar Association
  • South Carolina Bar Association (currently serving as an elected representative to the House of Delegates from the Fifth Judicial Circuit)
  • Public Investors Advocates Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Member
  • First Community Bank, a Founding Shareholder and formerly Chairman of the Board
  • S.C. Baptist Hospital, Former Board Member
  • Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Former Board Member, Former General Counsel
  • Midlands Business Leadership Group
  • Greater Columbia Community Relations Council; former Chair of Board of Directors and currently chair of Development Committee

Military

  • Retired as a Brigadier General from the South Carolina Army National Guard with a total of 36 years of military service (3 years active duty with the U.S. Army, 33 years with the SCANG)

Honors

  • Best Lawyers in America, 2015-present (Administrative/Regulatory Law)
  • Best Lawyers in America 2015, 2018 Administrative/Regulatory Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Columbia
  • Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent in Martindale-Hubbell (designation held for over 30 years)
  • 2017 Pro Patria Award presented on behalf of America’s Reserve Forces for Outstanding Service to the National Defense through Continuing Support of the National Guard and Reserve
  • 2022 Admiral of the Year Award presented by the University of South Carolina Naval ROTC Alumni Association and the Gamecock Battalion of the University of South Carolina Naval ROTC Unit
  • 2023 Milton Kimpson Community Service Award presented by Greater Columbia Community Relations Council (“CRC”) and the family of Milton Kimpson, Sr., a founder of CRC and its first Executive Director
  • 2024 Platinum Compleat Lawyer Award presented by the Joseph F. Rice School of Law at the University of South Carolina