L. Patricia Wharton
ShareholderTricia Wharton concentrates her areas of practice in commercial business transactions, with an emphasis on commercial real estate transactions; assisting developers in land acquisitions, title work, survey and title issues, title insurance, and residential and commercial developments; condominium development; negotiating and drafting commercial contracts, leases, easements, restrictive covenants, condominium master deeds, establishing owner associations; negotiating loan documents for borrowers; drafting loan documents for banks; issuing loan opinion letters; and generally representing buyers, sellers, developers, and lenders.
Her practice areas also extend to the purchase and sale of businesses; entity formation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships; drafting buy-sell and shareholder agreements; title examinations; remediating title issues; issuing title insurance policies as an agent for several large title insurance companies; handling 1031 like-kind exchanges and drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and loan documents; negotiating large commercial loan workouts; preparation of wills and trusts; advising Personal Representatives; managing estate administrations; and negotiating mediations of family land distributions.
Tricia has always felt that her mission as a lawyer was to be responsive to her clients’ needs so that they would not be delayed in proceeding with their particular project, while providing a consistent quality work product, representation and value. She feels the strength of her practice has been built upon the close working relationships she has with her clients.
Her practice areas also extend to the purchase and sale of businesses; entity formation of limited liability companies, corporations, partnerships; drafting buy-sell and shareholder agreements; title examinations; remediating title issues; issuing title insurance policies as an agent for several large title insurance companies; handling 1031 like-kind exchanges and drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and loan documents; negotiating large commercial loan workouts; preparation of wills and trusts; advising Personal Representatives; managing estate administrations; and negotiating mediations of family land distributions.
Tricia has always felt that her mission as a lawyer was to be responsive to her clients’ needs so that they would not be delayed in proceeding with their particular project, while providing a consistent quality work product, representation and value. She feels the strength of her practice has been built upon the close working relationships she has with her clients.
- Represented a London bank in the $33mm refinance of two major sporting goods facilities in South Carolina
- Represented a SC State agency in negotiations with the developer and $35mm acquisition of 115+ acres of land for an industrial development site
- Represented owner in purchase, and later sale, of over 50,000 acres of timberland located in multiple southeastern states
- Represented several national home builders in the acquisition and development of land for residential subdivisions, remediating title issues, drafting restrictive covenants
- Coordinated numerous IRS Section 1031 like-kind exchanges of commercial property for multiple clients
- Drafted commercial loan documents for construction, permanent and construction-permanent loans for several banks
- Served as mediator for several families in dividing and distributing family lands
- Managed estate administration for deceased owner of large retail company
- University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1985
- University of South Carolina, B.A.
- South Carolina Bar, 1985
Professional or Industry Involvement
- 1985 – present - SC Bar – Member
- 1985 – present – Richland County,SC, Bar – Member
- 1988-90 – Richland County Bar – Chairman of the Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court Committee
- American Land Title Association - Member
- Title Agent for Investors Title Insurance Company and Old Republic Title Insurance Company
- Chicago Title Insurance Company - Approved Attorney
- 2017-present - SC Independent Colleges & Universities – Trustee; Member, Finance Committee; 2019 – present – Chairman, Retirement Committee
- 2012 – 2015 – Washington Street UMC – Trustee; Board Secretary
- 2009-2014 – SC Independent Colleges & Universities – Trustee; 2012-2014- Chairman, Finance Committee
- 1998 – 2000 – Hootie & The Blowfish Monday After the Masters Pro-Am Golf Tournament – 1998-99 – Assistant Director of Volunteers; 2000- Director of Volunteers
- Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law (2024)
- U.S. News & World Report, Best Law Firms in South Carolina (First-Tier Firm Rankings) (2014)
- Corporate America News, Best in Commercial Real Estate Law – SC & Recognized Leader in Commercial Real Estate Finance- SC (2016)
- Midlands Legal Elite, Commercial & Residential Real Estate (2011, 2016, 2018-2020)
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers – “AV” rated member
- Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers – “AV” rated member
Presentations & Speaking Engagements
- 2018 – SC Bar – Speech - “Easements and Surveys – Elements and Examples in Commercial Development, Including Curb Cuts and Access Issues”
- 2016 – SC Bar – Speech - “Commercial Real Estate Workout Issues”
- 2016 – Palmetto Land Title Association – Commercial Law Panel Discussion - “Just the Right Amount of Wrong”
- 2007 – SC School of Law – Speech to Real Estate Transaction I – Fall Class - “1031 Like-Kind Exchanges”
- 2000 – SC Savings & Loan League – Speech to Attorney and CEO Clinic – “Covering Your Assets – Protection for Bank Directors”
- 1990-92 – SC Supreme Court – Bridge the Gap Speaker on Real Estate Law
- 1990-present – SC Bar – Speaker - various Continuing Legal Education Seminars
