Lugoff, SC

John W. Wells

John Wells joined Baxley, Wells & Benson in 1981 and is a Partner. He focuses on personal injury litigation, estate administration, estate planning, and real estate transactions. He has practiced in civil and criminal trial courts in South Carolina for over forty years and currently serves as Chairman of the South Carolina Election Commission and Town Attorney for the Town of Elgin.

J. Benjamin Connell

J. Benjamin Connell has previous professional experience as an Associate attorney with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP and Summer Associate at King & Spalding LLP and Bland Richter LLP. He handled a federal jury trial, obtained summary judgment for a luxury home builder, and has experience defending a multinational recreational vehicle manufacturer. He also has business experience. He served as a judicial extern for the Honorable W. Earl Britt. He is involved in community activities such as Kershaw County Councilman, Past President of Kershaw County Bar Association, and Board Member of Kershaw County Public Facilities Corporation. He was an Adjunct Professor at Charleston School of Law and performs solo patriotic pieces. He served as a missionary in Boston, Massachusetts.

Charles B. Baxley

Charles Baxley, who passed away on March 30, 2024, founded and practiced law at Baxley, Pratt & Wells, P. A., for forty-five years. He was a pillar of the community, a former Judge for the City of Camden, and an Adjunct Professor of Law. He received the Silver Beaver award and the Order of the Palmetto.

Joe Connell

Joe Connell is a native of Camden, South Carolina and has been practicing law throughout the state for over 22 years. He graduated from Camden High School and then served a two-year full-time mission in Merida, Mexico for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joe then received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of South Carolina and his Law degree from the University of South Carolina school of Law. He originally came back to his hometown and worked in Camden for a local law firm for two years and then decided to venture out and open his own law practice. Since that time, Joe has been practicing law in state and federal courts in South Carolina. Joe has been appointed to the Criminal Justice Act Panel for South Carolina and regularly represents criminal clients in Federal District Court. Joe is fluent in Spanish and uses his language skills to facilitate his representation of Spanish speakers in all areas of his practice.

Derek A. Shoemake

Derek A. Shoemake is a former federal prosecutor and an experienced litigator. He represents clients in state and federal courts, focusing on complex criminal and civil issues. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of South Carolina, handling violent crime, narcotics, and white-collar cases. His successes include leading a large criminal tax operation and a significant healthcare fraud case. He was also the state's Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he worked at a large law firm in South Carolina and was a partner at a small firm, representing clients in False Claims Act cases, class action matters, and appellate matters. He served as special counsel to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Derek has authored legal articles, taught CLE courses, and clerked for two federal judges. He also taught Civil Litigation and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina’s School of Law. He was elected to Kershaw County Council and serves on its Finance Committee. Before law, he was an editor for The Item, a defense contractor for General Dynamics, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps.