GREENVILLE, S.C. – James (Jim) Bannister and Bruce Bannister of Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC, have been named 2019 Super Lawyers in South Carolina, in the practice areas of criminal law and family law, respectively.
Super Lawyers is a rating service comprised of lawyers from 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process for Super Lawyers includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.
James W. (Jim) Bannister
Jim Bannister serves as a managing partner of Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC, and has been honored as a S.C. Super Lawyer for nine years since 2010. He is committed to providing his clients with experienced, insightful and well-prepared criminal defense representation in a broad range of cases.
Mr. Bannister graduated from the University of South Carolina honors program in 1992 as a Phi Beta Kappa. He received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1995, after which he served for two years as clerk to US Federal Judge Henry M. Herlong. Since then, he has been with Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar, Federal Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, South Carolina Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and National Board of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Bannister has been honored among Greenville’s Legal Elite for criminal defense each year the award has been offered.
In 2007, Mr. Bannister earned his Criminal Trial Advocacy Certification from the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has tried numerous felony cases in both Federal and State Courts and holds notable experience in cases involving Drugs and Narcotics, RICO, Internet Crimes, White Collar Crime, Security Fraud, Tax Evasion, Murder, Criminal Sexual Conduct, Criminal Domestic Violence, and DUI.
On a national level, Mr. Bannister has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2007 for Criminal Defense and DUI Defense. In 2016, Mr. Bannister became one of only three members of the South Carolina Bar to be named as a fellow to the American Board of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In 2018, he was named “Lawyer of the Year” in Greenville, SC in the practice area of Criminal Defense: White Collar and has recently be honored with SC Lawyers Weekly “2019 Leadership in Law” award.
In addition to his private practice, Mr. Bannister serves on the Board of Governors for the South Carolina Bar and was recently elected as Commissioner for Greenville Water. Mr. Bannister formerly served on two criminal law task forces, as appointed by the South Carolina Supreme Court, and as a Commissioner on the Commission on Indigent Defense, a commission appointed by Governor Haley.
Bruce Wyche Bannister
Bruce Wyche Bannister is a partner of Bannister, Wyatt, & Stalvey, LLC and a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives. Mr. Bannister has been honored as a S.C. Super Lawyer for six years and focuses his experience on Family Law, Eminent Domain, and Complex Civil Litigation. He has tried cases involving bank fraud, condemnation, personal injury, premises liability, residential and commercial real estate, zoning, planning and land use.
Mr. Bannister graduated from Davidson College in 1995 and went on to earn his law degree from the University of South Carolina in 1998 where he was a member of the Wig and Robe. Admitted to the practice of law in South Carolina in 1998, he was elected as the SC House District 24 Representative in 2005 and currently serves on the Ways and Means Committee as Chairman of the Constitutional Subcommittee. Mr. Bannister was elected by his peers to serve as the Assistant Majority leader for the S.C. House Republican Caucus from 2008-2012 and as Majority Leader for the Caucus from 2013 – 2016. Former House Majority Leader, Mr. Bannister now serves as a member of the Ways and Means Committee. He also serves as the Co-Chairman of the South Carolina Bar Lawyer Legislator Task Force. He was recently named among the Best Lawyers in America in the practice area of Governmental Relations for Greenville, SC.
Mr. Bannister is a lifelong resident of Greenville, where he serves as a member of Christ Church, the South Carolina Bar and the Better Business Bureau. He is a LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated lawyer and has also taught as an adjunct professor at Greenville Technical College. He holds previous experience as a law clerk to the Honorable Larry R. Patterson, Circuit Court Judge.
As an active member within the community, Mr. Bannister is a graduate of Leadership Greenville Class XXVI and a member of Liberty Fellowship’s Class of 2014. He currently serves as a board member for the Children’s Museum of the Upstate and the Andrews Society of Greenville. He is a past Board Member for the Greenville Peace Center and a Child’s Haven. In 2011, Mr. Bannister received the Children’s Hospital Legislative Advocacy Award for his efforts on behalf of the S.C. Institute for Child Success. He was also awarded the 2018 F. Ben Haskew Collaboration Award from the Greenville Chamber.
About Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC
Since 1976, the award-winning attorneys of Bannister, Wyatt & Stalvey, LLC, have provided skilled, professional, and tailored legal advice in the areas of criminal law, family law and real estate law in Greenville, S.C. Learn more at bannisterandwyatt.com.
