Pawleys Island, SC

Benjamin A. Baroody

Benjamin A. Baroody is a shareholder and experienced trial lawyer in the firm’s litigation department, specializing in business, commercial, employment, real estate, and probate disputes. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator in South Carolina.

Gene Palmer Vaught III

Gene P. Vaught, III is a native of Horry County, South Carolina, where he graduated from Conway High School. Gene graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He later graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1991. While in law school, Gene served as a Senate Page for the late J. M. Long, Jr. (former Horry County Solicitor). After practicing for two years with the law firm of Williams & Brink in Lexington, South Carolina, Gene returned home to the Myrtle Beach area in 1993 and joined the law firm of McCutchen, Mumford & Diggs. In 1996, Gene became a partner and shareholder in the firm and the firm name was changed to McCutchen, Mumford & Vaught. Gene became a managing partner of the firm, now known as McCutchen, Vaught & Geddie, P.A. in 2010. Gene’s practice is concentrated in the areas of personal injury, wrongful death, and worker’s compensation law. Additionally, Gene is heavily involved in defective product cases. Gene also has significant experience in criminal law. He is a member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers’ Association, the Horry County Bar, and the Injured Workers’ Advocates. He has served on various committees pertaining to worker’s compensation law, and has spoken at seminars on various issues pertaining to worker’s compensation and ethics. Gene is heavily involved with the South Carolina Law Related Education program, and served for many years as an Attorney Coach for both middle and high school mock trial teams. Gene’s mock trial teams garnered 8 Regional Championships and three State Championships. In 2012, Gene was named by the South Carolina Bar as Law Related Education Lawyer of the Year. Gene is married and he and his wife Dawn have four children: Lauren, Clay, Josh and Caleb. Gene continues to be heavily involved with local schools in the Myrtle Beach area and is a frequent volunteer and speaker at Career Day functions.

Bill Hopkins

Bill brings more than 30 years of courtroom experience to Hopkins Law Firm, where he represents individuals, businesses, and communities across South Carolina. Known for his relentless advocacy, strategic litigation skills, and deep commitment to justice, Bill has built a career handling complex, high-stakes cases in state and federal courts. Born and raised in Bishopville, South Carolina, Bill learned the value of hard work at a young age while working on his grandparents’ family farm and roadside produce stand. During high school, he worked on local cotton farms - lessons that shaped his grit and determination. Thanks to an academic scholarship, Bill attended North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Chemistry. He later worked at the Grace Bleachery Mill in Lancaster, rising to third shift supervisor. That job helped him save enough to attend law school. Bill has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict in state and federal courts. In 1993, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and began practicing law with the prestigious Columbia firm of McCutchen Blanton Rhodes & Johnson. In 2010, after almost 20 years of experience working on complex national litigation where he was often appointed by federal judges to coordinate major cases, Bill joined Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., an nationally recognized law firm, where he led or co-led several landmark cases that resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements: $1.18 Million Business Fraud Verdict - Bill secured a jury verdict in favor of a client who was wrongfully excluded from a business opportunity he developed. $2.3 Million Environmental Verdict - Bill obtained a jury verdict for residents harmed by noxious odors from landfill operations in Lee County, South Carolina.$70 Million TD Bank Overdraft Fee Settlement - Bill was appointed by a federal judge as class action liaison counsel in the In re TD Bank, N.A. Debit Card Overdraft Fee Litigation, where Bill played a key role in achieving a $70 million settlement on behalf of consumers improperly charged excessive overdraft fees. $338 Million Pharmaceutical Average Wholesale Price (AWP) Litigation - Selected by former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster (now-Governor) lead counsel for the State of South Carolina, Bill helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies that overcharged Medicaid and health plans through inflated drug pricing. Landfill Cleanup in Bishopville - Bill has led the charge against Republic Industries, an Arizona-based waste company dumping out-of-state waste - including human waste and chemical sludge - into a local landfill. His litigation has forced the company to invest more than $13 million into site cleanup and environmental remediation. These lawsuits are ongoing. Life Insurance Race Discrimination - On behalf of more than 400 African-American South Carolinians, Bill helped expose and end racially discriminatory practices by life insurance companies that charged higher premiums based solely on race. Workplace Sexual Harassment Protections - In the landmark case Ocheltree v. Scollon Productions, Bill successfully argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to strengthen the legal standards used to prove gender-based harassment. In 2013, Bill opened the Hopkins Law Firm, where he has continued to focus on civil litigation, personal injury, commercial disputes, and helping individuals with complex divorce and child custody matters. He brings a depth of trial experience and a tireless commitment to seeking justice for those who have been wronged. His clients appreciate his thorough preparation, direct communication, and tenacity in court - qualities he’s honed from his days on the farm to the courtroom. Bill remains closely connected to his hometown of Bishopville and takes pride in serving clients throughout South Carolina. When he isn’t practicing law, he enjoys spending time golfing, hunting, and spending with his family, including his four grandchildren.

Clay Hopkins

Clay Hopkins grew up in the Midlands of South Carolina, in Columbia and Camden. He majored in Bioengineering at Clemson University and worked for Pall Corporation on IV in-line filtration devices. He earned a law degree from the University of Alabama. Clay is motivated by solving problems and fighting for those who are injured, including victims of catastrophic personal injuries, corporate harm, and discriminatory workplaces. He has successfully tried almost 30 civil and criminal cases to verdict and has argued before the South Carolina Court of Appeals and the South Carolina Supreme Court. He is an attorney who cares about his clients and community, providing full-service representation from minor traffic offenses to appeals.

Harry A. Oxner

Mr. Oxner has practiced law in South Carolina since 1992. A large percentage of his caseload is helping injured workers recover workers’ compensation benefits and representing injured parties in personal injury lawsuits. He is a tough litigator who is always prepared to go to trial when a fair agreement cannot be reached through negotiations. Mr. Oxner also represents individuals who have had claims for Social Security Disability benefits denied, as well as those who face drunk driving and other criminal charges, or construction disputes.

Howell V. Bellamy, III

Howell Bellamy, III focuses on General Litigation, including Personal Injury, Condominium Law, Tort and Contract Law, Construction Defect Cases, Civil Appellate Practice, and Criminal Defense. He has successfully litigated and resolved numerous civil and criminal cases.

Hayes K. Stanton

Hayes K. Stanton is a shareholder focusing on domestic/family law, general civil litigation (including personal injury and contract disputes), and criminal defense (DUI and traffic offenses). He is certified as a guardian ad litem and a South Carolina Family Court Mediator.