Audra M. Byrd

Audra has an active commercial and business torts litigation practice.

Initially, to gain as much courtroom experience as possible, Audra worked with insurance companies, defending personal injury and premises liability claims. Over time, her practice evolved, and today, her litigation clients are large corporations, small businesses and individuals. While still exploring all facets of litigation, she focuses primarily on business disputes and probate litigation. In addition to her legal practice, Audra serves on the firm’s business development and mentoring committees.

In her commercial litigation practice, Audra has learned that there is no such thing as a “typical” case, and she has worked on matters ranging from shareholder oppression to business defamation and civil onspiracy. She routinely assists her corporate clients with debt collection and contract disputes. In addition, Audra regularly works in the Probate Court, litigating disputes involving Trusts and Estates.

Audra has a strong commitment to her community and has served as the coach of the Forestbrook and Socastee Middle School Mock Trial Teams in Myrtle Beach since 2013. Mock Trial is a program instituted and operated by the South Carolina Bar Association, Law Related Education Division. Students make up the Mock Trial team, and they each have a role, playing attorneys, witnesses and timekeepers, practicing several times a week to prepare for competition. The Mock Trial teams have consistently won state and regional championships, as well as consecutive "Battle of the Carolinas" championships, defeating the top seven teams from North and South Carolina. She is currently working with students at the high school level as a Mock Trial coach at Socastee High School.

Represented a small business owner being defamed in online postings and obtained a $1.6 million judgment in favor of the business owner.
Represented an individual in a partnership dispute involving allegations of fraud and breach of fiduciary duty, receiving a verdict in excess of $500,000.
Obtained dismissals of a landowner in a series of premises liability cases where the plaintiff-motorists claimed the condition of the roadway adjoining the landowner’s property was in disrepair and caused serious and fatal accidents.
Obtained a directed verdict in excess of $7 million in favor of commercial lender in a case involving counterclaims alleging fraud, conspiracy and breach of fiduciary duty against lender.

University of South Carolina, J.D., 2007
University of Georgia, B.B.A., B.I.B., 2003

South Carolina Bar, 2007
United States District Court, District of South Carolina, 2007

American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Trial Practice Committee (Co-Chairperson of Diversity & Young Lawyers Subcommittee, 2015-present)
South Carolina Bar Association (Young Lawyers Division, 2007-present)
Horry County Bar Association (Member, 2007-present)
South Carolina Women Lawyers Association (Member, 2007-present)
Coastal Inn of Court (Member, 2015-present)
Lakewood Elementary School Improvement Council, Chairperson (2017-2022), Secretary (2011-2017)
Socastee High School School Improvement Council, Chairperson (2023-present)
Forestbrook Middle School Mock Trial Coach (2013-2017)
Socastee Middle School Mock Trial Coach (2017-2021)
Socastee High School Mock Trial Coach (2024-present)
Horry County Parent Advisory Council (2017-present)
Horry County School Board Parent Cabinet (2024-present)

Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation, 2024
Super Lawyers, South Carolina Rising Star, Business Litigation, 2013-2020
Super Lawyers, South Carolina Rising Star, Civil Litigation Defense, 2017-2018
Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award, Advanced Legal Research, 2007
Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award, Trusts and Estates, 2006
Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award, Environmental Law of Natural Resources, 2006
Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award, Property II, 2005

Articles

"How I Made Partner: 'I Showed My Tenacity and Drive to Do Whatever Was Necessary When Asked,' Says Audra Byrd of Turner Padget," Law.com

"Consumer Law and Debt Collection," Legal Lessons: A Series for the Public, Presented by the South Carolina Bar Association, October 25, 2011
"Defining and Limiting Accountants' Liability to Third Parties," Professional Liability Defense Federation, Fall Newsletter 2010

Presentations & Speaking Engagements

Associate Mentoring and Advancement - How to Do and How to Get

"Associate Mentoring and Advancement - How to Do and How to Get," Presenter at Roundtable Discussion for the ABA Section of Litigation, Trial Practice Committee (January 2016)
"Handling Claims Against the Estate," The Probate Process from Start to Finish -- National Business Institute (November 2015)
"Navigating the Magistrate's Court," South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers, Litter Control Association Annual Meeting and Seminar (February 2011)

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