Thornwell F. "Biff" Sowell

Biff is an experienced litigator in both trial and appellate venues and has argued approximately twenty cases in the United States Court of Appeals. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. An honoree for the 2016 South Carolina Leadership in Law Awards, Biff has been consistently recognized by Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. He is a certified Circuit Court Mediator and in the last 30 years has mediated approximately 950 cases. He was the 2014-2015 Chairman of the Dispute Resolution Section of the South Carolina Bar.

EDUCATION

• Clemson University, B.A., 1973
• University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1976
  - President of the Student Bar Association
  - South Carolina Law Review

ASSOCIATIONS

• American Bar Association
• Richland County Bar Association
• Former member, South Carolina Bar House of Delegates
• Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel
• Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
• South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
• Certified South Carolina Circuit Court Mediator

MEMBERSHIPS

• Panelist-American Arbitration Association National Roster of Arbitrators
• American Bar Association
• Fellow, American Bar Foundation
• American Board of Trial Advocates
• Senior Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America- Member, Diversity Law Institute- Member, Trial Law Institute
• Richland County Bar Association
• South Carolina Bar- Former Chair, Dispute Resolution Section- Former Member, House of Delegates
• South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
• Supreme Court of South Carolina Certified Mediator and Arbitrator
  

AWARDS

• South Carolina Bar Trial and Appellate Advocacy Section Award (2021)
• South Carolina Bar C.C. "Cotton" Harness III Peace Award (2017)
• South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law Honoree (2016)
• Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2001-2024)
• Best Lawyers in America, Bet-the-Company Litigation (2009-2024), Bet-the-Company Lawyer of the Year (2021 and 2013)
• Best Lawyers in America, Appellate Practice (2022-2024)
• Chambers U.S.A. America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2003-2024)
• South Carolina “Super Lawyer” (2008-2024)
• South Carolina “Super Lawyer” Top 25 List (2010 and 2011)
• Benchmark Litigation, Local Litigation Star (2009-2014)
• Benchmark Appellate, Local Star (2012)
• Selected as a Top Rated Lawyer in Commercial Litigation by Litigation Special Report (2012)
• Columbia Business Monthly Legal Elite of the Midlands - Business Litigation and Insurance (2020-2022), Labor and Employment and Corporate Investigations (2021-2023), Mediations (2023)
• Charleston Business Magazine and Greenville Business Magazine- Business Litigation (2021)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• University of South Carolina School of Law Adjust Professor, Spring 2021
• Former Commissioner, Midlands Technical College
• Former Member, Midlands Technical College Foundation
• Former Member, Board of Directors of Communities in Schools-Columbia