News

November 8, 2024

Bluestein Attorneys named to Best Law Firms for 15th time straight

Bluestein Attorneys has once again been listed in the top tier of Best Law Firms in the Columbia area – for the 15th year in a row. The firm received this recognition from Best Lawyers in America® for 2025 in three practice areas: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants A firm is not considered for this recognition unless it has at least one lawyer included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the same year. In August, four Bluestein Attorneys were honored with that distinction: Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein for her work in Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants; Clarke Newton for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; John Nichols for Appellate Practice; and Allison Sullivan for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants. The Best Lawyers in America bills itself as a […]
August 15, 2024

Best Lawyers in America honors five Bluestein Attorneys in 2025 edition

Best Lawyers in America has named four Bluestein Attorneys to its 2025 Best Lawyers list for Columbia, and another to its “Ones to Watch” list. The attorneys on the Best Lawyers list, and the practice areas in which they are cited, are as follows: Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein: Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants Clarke Newton: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs John Nichols: Appellate Practice Allison Sullivan: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, and Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants Additionally, Timothy Mercer was again named to the Ones to Watch list, dedicated to attorneys who are in their first decade of practice. He was recognized in the area of Administrative/Regulatory Law for his work representing veterans with disability claims before the Veterans Administration. “What matters to us most is serving our clients, and earning their appreciation,” said Founding Partner Marti Bluestein. “But to be recognized this […]
April 30, 2024

Bluestein, Newton and Sullivan all recognized again by SC Super Lawyers in 2024

COLUMBIA, S.C. – A tradition of excellence was again recognized this year by South Carolina Super Lawyers®, as three partners at Bluestein Attorneys made the rating service’s 2024 list. They are: Marti Bluestein, who practices in the area of workers’ compensation. This is her 10th year on the list. Clarke Newton, whose practice is focused on representing plaintiffs who sustained personal injury, made the list for the second time. Previously, he had been recognized for four straight years on the service’s Rising Stars list. Allison Sullivan was recognized for her work representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases. She has been recognized by Super Lawyers since 2013. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Its selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. The goal of […]
April 18, 2024

Sullivan named again to SC Lawyers Weekly’s Power List of personal injury attorneys

Allison Sullivan, a partner with Bluestein Attorneys, has been named to the 2024 South Carolina Power List for Personal Injury Attorneys, which was published in South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Feb. 21 edition. She was named to the list in 2023 as well. Power List honorees are selected by looking at a range of criteria, including whether an attorney is considered to be a subject matter authority in his or her field, well-versed in relevant case law, statutes and regulations; experienced, with a record of success in cases and/or transactions; a lawyer whom other attorneys respect and make referrals to; and a leader in the community, with a record of bar involvement and leadership. Allison fits all those criteria. Her career has been all about leveling the playing field for those who have been injured across the state of South Carolina, whether hurt at work or injured by the negligence of […]
April 18, 2024

Attorney Chris Schwartz joins Bluestein Attorneys

Attorney W. Christopher Schwartz has joined Bluestein Attorneys. He practices in the areas of personal injury, criminal defense, and construction litigation. He earned his Juris Doctor in 2023 from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he ranked in the top third of his class. He received the Konduros Public Service Fellowship and the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Criminal Law. He was chair of the Honor Council in his final year of law school. Before law school, he received a bachelor’s degree in political science, with a minor in philosophy, from Clemson University in 2020. He clerked for Bluestein Attorneys throughout his law school career. He drafted civil litigation motions, memoranda and proposed orders, and assisted in drafting appellate briefs. He is a member of Phi Delta Phi, Legal Honor Society, and the Humanist Law Society. “We’re very pleased to have Chris continuing with us […]
April 18, 2024

Attorney William Koontz joins Bluestein Attorneys

Attorney William Koontz has joined Bluestein Attorneys. His practice will be focused on family law, and he will also handle appellate and trial support matters.. He received his Juris Doctor in 2023 from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He attended law school after working for several years in Columbia as a paralegal. Before that, William earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Davidson College in 2012. While in law school, he clerked for Bluestein Attorneys, focusing on plaintiff’s litigation on the federal and state levels as well as appellate advocacy. He also helped with qui tam suits, COVID-19 liability actions, products liability, and workers’ compensation matters. He is a past vice president of Carolina Equality Alliance, and a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and the S.C. Association for Justice. “We’re proud to have William joining us,” said Bluestein Attorneys founding partner Margaret “Marti” Miles […]
November 28, 2023

Bluestein Attorneys named to Best Law Firms for 14th time in a row

For the 14th year in a row, Bluestein Attorneys has been listed in the top tier of Best Law Firms for the Columbia area. Here are the practice areas in which the firm is honored in the Best Lawyers in America® annual list of top firms for 2024: Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants A firm is not considered for this recognition unless it has at least one lawyer included in The Best Lawyers in America® in the same year. Bluestein Attorneys easily met that standard, since in August, three firm attorneys were honored with that distinction: Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein for her work in the area of Workers’ Compensation Law – Claimants; Clarke Newton for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs; and Allison Sullivan in the areas of Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Workers’ […]
August 10, 2023

John Nichols presented with SCAJ Founders Award

Attorney John S. Nichols of Bluestein Attorneys, was honored with the South Carolina Association for Justice (SCAJ) Founders Award at the organization’s annual convention on August 5, 2023. Since 1957, the SCAJ has upheld a reputation for leadership in South Carolina’s legal community. By providing continuing education, legislative monitoring and more, the Association has become an invaluable resource for its members and a well-respected professional association statewide. The Founders Award is one of the organization’s most revered recognitions. The SCAJ’s nomination committee presents attorneys for consideration who are advocates of “great skill and confidence.” Nomination criteria includes experience leading the trial bar and teaching trial advocacy, as well as having earned a reputation among peers for ethical, honest practice and character. “John is the lawyer we should all aspire to be. He is an exceptional lawyer who zealously advocates for his clients, but he has always taken time to mentor […]
March 23, 2023

John Nichols returns to Bluestein Attorneys

Bluestein Attorneys is proud to welcome back John S. Nichols, who together with Margaret Miles “Marti” Bluestein started the firm in 2000. “It is wonderful to be back to the firm Marti and I founded together more than two decades ago,” said John. “Our goal was to create a law firm in which everyone was committed to making a difference in the lives of our clients. I am proud to say that’s still who Bluestein Attorneys is today, and I am excited to be back to continue that mission.” He returns to the firm after five years as Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Supreme Court of South Carolina. His practice areas with the firm will include professional responsibility/ethics consulting, litigation and trial support, and appellate advocacy. John is admitted to practice in South Carolina’s state and federal courts as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Eleventh […]