In private practice for almost 30 years, Tara represents clients in all aspects of the financial services arena, including restructuring and workouts, bankruptcy, and financial services litigation. Tara is a certified mediator, and has been certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a specialist in Bankruptcy/Debtor-Creditor law since 1998. She is listed in The Best Lawyers in America in the fields of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Bankruptcy Litigation, and she holds Martindale-Hubbell’s highest (AV) rating for ethical standards and legal ability.
In addition to her practice, Tara is a frequent author and speaker on bankruptcy and legal ethics.
Bar and Court Admissions
South Carolina (1992)
North Carolina (2015)
Georgia (2015)
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States District Court for the District of South Carolina
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. (1992)
Associate Editor, ABA Real Property, Probate & Trust Journal
Order of Wig and Robe
University of Virginia, B.A., Psychology (1989)
Specializations
Certified Specialist, Bankruptcy-Debtor/Creditor Law, Supreme Court of South Carolina (1998–present)
Certified Mediator, Supreme Court of South Carolina (2014–present)
Honors, Awards, and Recognition
2020 Recipient of the William E.S. Robinson Public Service Award, given by the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association
South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Spotlight (October 15, 2020; April 19, 2022)
Recognized by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service as a “Pro Bono Leader” for providing extraordinary pro bono services through ABA Free Legal Answers (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
Martindale-Hubbell, AV Peer Review Rated
Best Lawyers®: Recognized in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Litigation – Bankruptcy (2011–13, 2015, 2020–24)
2024 Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Charleston, South Carolina
2023 Lawyer of the Year, Litigation - Bankruptcy, Columbia, South Carolina
2022 Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Columbia, South Carolina
2015 Lawyer of the Year, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Charleston, South Carolina
2013 Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Charleston, South Carolina
2012 Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Charleston, South Carolina
South Carolina Legal Elite, Columbia Business Monthly, Greenville Business Magazine, and Charleston Business Magazine (2021)
South Carolina Super Lawyers - Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law: 2009, 2011–16
Fellow, The Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative, Midlands Spring XXI Class (2016)
ABI/St. John University School of Law 40-hour mediation training
Leadership South Carolina, Class of 2013
Professional Memberships/Committees
American Bankruptcy Institute
Associate Editor, ABI Journal (2022–present)
Ethics and Professional Compensation Committee: Co-Chair March 2018 - 2020; Education Director: March, 2017 - March/2018; Newsletter Editor: May, 2015 - March, 2017
South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association, Member (President (2002))
South Carolina Bar
North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
Georgia State Bar
Carolina’s Chapter International Women’s Restructuring and Insolvency Confederation, Member (2003–present), Board Member (2019–present)
At Large Board Member – IWIRC International Board (2022–present)
J. Bratton Davis Inn of Court, Member