J. Preston "Pete" Strom, Jr.
Recognized since 2010
Columbia, South Carolina
Practice Areas
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Joseph Preston “Pete” Strom, Jr., the managing partner at Strom Law Firm, LLC, has been fighting for justice since 1984.
Born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1959, Pete attended the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts. While attending the University of South Carolina, Pete served as President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Pete attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he graduated with a J.D. in 1984.
After graduating from law school, Pete served as law clerk to the Honorable Frank Eppes, a South Carolina State Trial Court Judge.In 1985, Pete joined the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office as an Assistant Solicitor. While serving as Assistant Solicitor, Pete handled over 200 drug cases, prosecuting the largest heroin trafficking case in South Carolina at that time, a case involving over 100 grams of heroin.
After a stint in private practice, practicing as a partner in three law firms, Pete was named United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina in 1993. At the time he was appointed by Attorney General Janet Reno, Pete was the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country.
As the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Pete created the Violent Crimes Task Force in South Carolina, which Attorney General Reno referred to as “a national model for the country through a provocative violent crime initiative”. During his service as U.S. Attorney, Pete served on Justice Department committees relating to organized crime, white collar crime, sentencing guidelines, and juvenile justice. Pete also attended the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
Pete returned to private practice in 1996, founding the law firm of Strom Law Firm. For over 15 years, Pete has dedicated his life to protecting the rights of individuals and small businesses.
Pete is recognized as an AV peer review rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for very high to preeminent legal ability and ethical standards. Pete routinely participates in roundtable ethical discussions for the South Carolina Bar Association. Pete is also routinely contacted by the Associated Press for guidance on legal topics in the media.
In addition to his trial practice, Pete is actively involved in many community endeavors. Pete is a past president of the South Carolina Association for Justice and currently serves as a South Carolina State Delegate for the American Association for Justice, a Board Member for the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and a Board Member for Heathwood Hall Episcopal School.
Honors and Awards:
Born in Columbia, South Carolina in 1959, Pete attended the University of South Carolina and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts. While attending the University of South Carolina, Pete served as President of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After graduating from the University of South Carolina, Pete attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he graduated with a J.D. in 1984.
After graduating from law school, Pete served as law clerk to the Honorable Frank Eppes, a South Carolina State Trial Court Judge.In 1985, Pete joined the Fifth Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office as an Assistant Solicitor. While serving as Assistant Solicitor, Pete handled over 200 drug cases, prosecuting the largest heroin trafficking case in South Carolina at that time, a case involving over 100 grams of heroin.
After a stint in private practice, practicing as a partner in three law firms, Pete was named United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina in 1993. At the time he was appointed by Attorney General Janet Reno, Pete was the youngest U.S. Attorney in the country.
As the U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina, Pete created the Violent Crimes Task Force in South Carolina, which Attorney General Reno referred to as “a national model for the country through a provocative violent crime initiative”. During his service as U.S. Attorney, Pete served on Justice Department committees relating to organized crime, white collar crime, sentencing guidelines, and juvenile justice. Pete also attended the Harvard University Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government.
Pete returned to private practice in 1996, founding the law firm of Strom Law Firm. For over 15 years, Pete has dedicated his life to protecting the rights of individuals and small businesses.
Pete is recognized as an AV peer review rated attorney by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for very high to preeminent legal ability and ethical standards. Pete routinely participates in roundtable ethical discussions for the South Carolina Bar Association. Pete is also routinely contacted by the Associated Press for guidance on legal topics in the media.
In addition to his trial practice, Pete is actively involved in many community endeavors. Pete is a past president of the South Carolina Association for Justice and currently serves as a South Carolina State Delegate for the American Association for Justice, a Board Member for the South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center and a Board Member for Heathwood Hall Episcopal School.
Honors and Awards:
- AV Peer Review Rated from Martindale-Hubbell
- Past President, South Carolina Association for Justice
- South Carolina State Delegate for the American Association for Justice
- Board Member, Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
- Board Member, South Carolina Appleseed Legal Justice Center
- Editor, Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board
- Bar Admissions:
- South Carolina, 1984
- U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 1986
- U.S. District Court District of South Carolina, 1986
- The Northern District of Florida
- The Southern District of Florida
- The Middle District of North Carolina
- The District of Connecticut
- The District of New Jersey
- The Southern District of California
- The Central District of California, and
- The Northern District of California.
- Pete has also been admitted pro hac vice in numerous federal courts, including:
Contact & Links
- Lawyer Page: https://www.stromlaw.com
Location
- 6923 North Trenholm Road
Columbia, SC 29206-1707
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Education
- The University of South Carolina, JD, graduated 1984
Bar Admissions
- South Carolina, South Carolina Bar
Affiliations
- American Association for Justice - Board of Governors
- Appleseed Legal Justice - Board Member
- Best Law Firms in The U.S. - Member
- Former United States Attorney Association - Member
- Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference - Member
- John Belton O'Neal Inns of Court - Member
- Melvin Belli Society - Member
- South Carolina Association of Justice - Past President
- South Carolina Bar Association - Board of Governors
- Souther Trial Lawyers Association - Member
State Clerkships
- South Carolina - Trial Courts
Headquarters:
Columbia, South Carolina
1 The Best Lawyers in America® award
1 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America award
![Best Law Firms Best Law Firms Badge](https://cdn.blrankings.com/best-lawyers/badge-images/national-small-generic-us.png)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for work in:
- Commercial Litigation
- Criminal Defense: White-Collar
- Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
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