Bess J. DuRant
South Carolina
Sowell & DuRant, LLC
1325 Park St, Suite 100
Columbia, SC 29201
United States
Tel: 803-722-1102
Email:
bdurant@sowelldurant.com
Web:
www.sowelldurant.com
Bess is a litigator engaged in complex business disputes on both the trial and appellate level. Her practice includes corporate governance issues, bet-the-company litigation, shareholder disputes, derivative actions, along with other business torts and contractual disputes.
Bess also focuses on Constitutional issues, Freedom of Information Act matters, and election disputes. Bess’ practice includes appellate work across many areas of the law. In addition to appeals involving the firm’s clients, Bess also handles appeals that have been tried by other counsel. She also advises trial counsel in preparation for appeals. Bess is a Supreme Court of South Carolina Certified Mediator and Arbitrator.
Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina
Education
- University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Washington and Lee University, B.A. in politics with special attainment in commerce, cum laude
Professional Memberships
- Member, Trial and Appellate Advocacy Section Council for SC Bar
- Member, Dispute Resolution Section for SC Bar
- Member, Commission on Alternative Dispute Resolution (appointed by SC Supreme Court)
- South Carolina Supreme Court Certified Mediator and Arbitrator
- American Bar Association
- Federal Bar Association
- South Carolina Federal Bar Association
- Richland County and Sumter County Bar Association
The members of this firm have handled approximately 75 appeals in one form or another, including direct appeals in state and federal courts, petitions for certiorari in the South Carolina Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. We have also filed and prosecuted petitions for writ of mandamus in both state and federal appeals courts.
We have orally argued over half of these appellate filings, to include oral arguments in the South Carolina Court of Appeals, South Carolina Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, and United States Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit. Our members belong to the bars of the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Federal Circuits and the United States Supreme Court.
The practice focuses on complex business disputes, corporate governance, probate and estate litigation, general commercial litigation, appeals, mediation, and arbitration.