Tommy Lavender has been with of Maynard Nexsen, PC (formerly Nexsen Pruet, LLC) in its Columbia office since 1994 and is the senior member of the firm’s Environmental Practice. He has a mechanical engineering degree from Clemson University and law degree from UofSC. He began his career as an environmental engineer at DHEC, now the Department of Environmental Services, then later as an Assistant General Counsel. After DHEC, he was in-house counsel to several local corporations before entering private practice in 1983.

He is a Fellow in the American College of Environmental Lawyers, named by Chambers & Partners USA as a Star Individual, and named by Best Lawyers® since 1995. He chairs the SC Chamber’s Environmental Affairs Committee and serves on the Chamber’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and Legislative Affairs Committee. He has served on the South Carolina Conservation Bank Board since 2016 and also served as the Environmental Protection Committee Chair for SHaPESC.

Tommy has practiced for over 40 years assisting clients with environmental litigation and regulatory compliance issues and has deep experience in the areas of energy and natural resources, agribusiness, life sciences, and economic development. As a leader of the firm’s environmental group, Tommy is able to contribute his experience to ensure the firm’s clients receive high quality legal services.