REGINA HOLLINS LEWIS, Esq.
Mediator
Real-Time Availability Calendar
Mediation Experience
Regina has over 35 years of litigation experience and prides herself on being an evaluative mediator who is able to connect with all parties in a matter. She engages the parties and their counsel to discuss and weigh the likelihood of success from each party’s perspective and addresses potential strengths and challenges with each side. Her effective communication style and ability to develop a rapport with each of the parties helps keep the process moving forward toward resolution. Her approach to mediation has led to requests from both defense and plaintiff’s counsel to mediate their cases.
Regina is certified by South Carolina Supreme Court (2008) in mediation and can mediate Federal and State cases in South Carolina. She has vast experience mediating employment and personal injury cases including:
- Negligence and Gross Negligence including Vehicle Accidents, Slips Trips and Falls,
- Negligent Hiring/Supervision/Retention
- Race Gender and Other Title VII Discrimination
- Wrongful Termination
- Defamation
- Breach of Contract
- Negligence/Gross Negligence
Regina’s experience mediating hundreds of cases has allowed her to enhance her acumen and effectiveness as a neutral. Regina’s ability to work effectively with all parties to assess and evaluate all sides of a dispute provides a setting conducive for resolution. Her approach has garnered her recognition throughout the state and has resulted in a large majority of her mediated disputes reaching a resolution.
In both her litigation and mediation practice, Regina’s areas of emphasis are tort and employment disputes. Regina also has experience as a neutral decisionmaker, having served as a commissioner on the South Carolina Ethics Commission, which oversees the enforcement of the state’s ethics laws. She also spent several semesters as an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law teaching Trial Advocacy and is an active participant in her legal community. She has presented at a number of Continuing Legal Education programs over the years, including a Trial Superstars Program, Recent Developments in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and a trial advocacy program co-sponsored by the South Carolina Bar and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE – Psychology, Business Administration
University of South Carolina, 1984
JURIS DOCTOR DEGREE
University of Maryland School of Law 1987
Regina was recognized by Best Lawyers in America for 2023 for her work in Mediation. She has also been recognized by Super Lawyers and Legal Elite of the Midlands of South Carolina. She has been a certified mediator for nearly 15 years and is a member of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals. Regina has over 35 years of civil litigation and appellate experience and is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. Regina has an AV Peer Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
What is it like working with you?
” Our attorneys and staff tell me that working with me can be a bit intense but also fun and exciting. I enjoy the team approach and involve the whole team in which the development of legal theories and strategies. The effect of the team approach is to invite meaningful feedback and facilitate more productive and effective advocacy on behalf of our clients. “
What do you consider to be some of your unique strengths?
” Connecting with People. One of my unique strengths is my ability to quickly develop a rapport with people through effective communication, primarily in the mediation context but also with clients, opposing counsel and judges.
Knowledge of the law. Another unique strength is my ability to recall particular legal principles that may be pertinent to a factual scenario. For some odd reason, I will recall a principle that I’ve not applied in years when it is applicable to a set of facts in a current case. I generally say “I think the rules require …” and most of the time, luckily, I get it right. “
Are there any special achievements or qualifications that enhance your contribution to your practice areas?
” I had the opportunity to teach Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor for several semesters at the University of South Carolina School of Law. The experience of training student lawyers has enhanced my contribution to my litigation practice because it reminded me of how important it is to keep the fundamentals of good, solid advocacy at the forefront of my practice because those skills are critical in developing a theory of a case, the foundation upon which all trial strategy is built.
My certification as a mediator and the experience of having conducted over 200 mediations in recent years has greatly enhanced my effectiveness as a neutral, third-party facilitator by enabling me to develop the skill of assessing both sides of a case as a neutral rather than an advocate, which has allowed me to assist numerous parties to reach resolution of disputes. “
In general, would you say that you are highly devoted to your career?
” Very much so. My mother used to tell me that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I’ve always approached the practice of law with that attitude and in that vein, I am committed to doing whatever is required to be the very best litigator and mediator that I can be. In so doing, I constantly work to perfect my advocacy and mediation skills through practice and availing myself of educational resources. I am also active in the legal community and have presented at a number of Continuing Legal Education programs over the years, including a Trial Superstars Program, Recent Developments in Alternative Dispute Resolution, and a trial advocacy program co-sponsored by the South Carolina Bar and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. “
