Nekki Shutt

Nekki Shutt

Member

1812 Lincoln Street
Columbia, South Carolina

Biography

A certified specialist in labor and employment law, Nekki Shutt has been involved in the employment / human resources field for more than 20 years, beginning with her work in the personnel department of a publicly-traded property and casualty insurance company.  While working for the company before and during her undergraduate studies at the University of South Carolina, Nekki eventually became the company's corporate recruiter, responsible for hiring approximately 225 employees on an annual basis as well as managing its temporary workforce.  After receiving her bachelor's degree in communications in 1988, Nekki went on to attend law school at the University of South Carolina.  During her studies, Nekki worked as a graduate assistant in what is now the Master's in Human Resources Program at the USC Darla Moore School of Business.  She also clerked for the law firm that represented the insurer where she had previously been employed. After receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the USC School of Law in 1995, Nekki built on her human resources experience and developed a civil litigation practice with an emphasis on employee benefits (ERISA) and employment law.  Nekki joined Callison Tighe in 2000 and became a partner in January 2002.  From 2000 to 2005, she served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law, teaching a course for third year law students entitled "Diversity and the Law," emphasizing social justice issues involving race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and the poor. 

In 2005, Nekki was honored for her professional excellence when the University of South Carolina awarded her the James Petigru Compleat Lawyer Award, Silver Medallion.  Most recently, Nekki authored the ERISA chapters in the Labor and Employment Law for South Carolina Lawyer 2007 and 2011 editions.  Nekki also is the author of a chapter on employment law for Paralegal Survival Guide, to be published by South Carolina Bar Association in 2010. Additionally, she was selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2010 through 2012 editions in the field of labor and employment law. 

Honors and Awards:

  • Included in The Best Lawyers in America 2010 and 2011 editions in the field of labor and employment law
  • University of South Carolina James Petigru Compleat Lawyer Award for Professional Excellence (2005)
  • USC School of Law Honor Council
    • Chair (1994-95)
    • Elected Member (1992-1995)
  • Recipient, John C. Holland Scholarship (1995)
  • Inducted into Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity
  • Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award, USC School of Law (1994-95)
  • YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) Award (1991)
  • Rookie of the Year, Public Relations Society of America (1991)
  • Mentor of the Year, USC Public Relations Student Society (1990-91)
  • Winning Team Coordinator, Seibels Bruce Employee Suggestion Program (1990)
  • Seibels Bruce Pick & Shovel Award (1988)
  • USC President’s Scholar (1986-1988)

Reported Cases:

DISCLAIMER:  THE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES ARE INTENDED ONLY TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF MS. SHUTT’S PRACTICE.  MS. SHUTT IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CONTENT.  THESE EXAMPLES ARE NOT INTENDED TO, AND CANNOT BE RELIED UPON TO PREDICT THE RESULTS IN ANY OTHER CASE.

  • Champion v. Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., 550 F.3d 353 (4 Cir. 2008).
  • Snavely v. AMISUB of South Carolina, Inc., 379 S.C. 386, 665 S.E.2d 222 (Ct. App. 2008) (NO.4413), rehearing denied, petition for certiorari denied.
  • Shaw v. Atlantic Coast Life Ins. Co., 322 S.C. 139, 470 S.E.2d 382 (Ct. App. 1996), rehearing denied (May 23, 1996), certiorari denied by Atlantic Coast Life Ins. Co. v. Shaw, 520 U.S. 1167, 117 S.Ct. 1429, 137 L.Ed.2d 537, 65 USLW 3689, 65 USLW 3692 (U.S.S.C. Apr 14, 1997).

Published Works:
  • Authored chapter on employee benefits law (ERISA) for book entitled Labor and Employment Law for South Carolina Lawyers, Third Edition, 2007 and Fourth Edition, 2010.
  • Authored chapter on employment law and employee benefits law (ERISA) for a book published by the South Carolina Bar entitled A Paralegal's Guide to Survival, 2010.
  • Chaired the South Carolina Bar YLD committee that revised the Landlord, Tenant and the Law brochure, 2000 as revised. Distributed to the general public through the Bar and through the magistrate judge system.
  • Authored "The Legal Aspects of Hiring and Firing: An Overview of Employment Practices in South Carolina 1999." Published originally by the South Carolina Broadcasters Association and reproduced in whole in the Legal Guide for South Carolina Broadcasters, 1999.
  • Authored "Owners' Guide to Evictions and Abandoned Property in the Manufactured Housing Community, 1998." Published by the Manufactured Housing Institute of South Carolina, 1998.
  • Authored "Outline: The Law of Comparative Negligence and Exceptions Thereto, 1996." Published for The Seibels Bruce Insurance Group, 1996.

Classes/Seminars:
  • Adjunct Professor, University of South Carolina, 2000-2005
  • Presenter at "Personnel Law Update 2001," sponsored by the Council on Education in Management
  • Presenter at 2001 "Does a Difference Make a Difference," CLE sponsored by the SC Young Lawyers Division, Columbia Lawyers Association, Richland County Bar, and SC Bar
  • Program Presenter at the ABA YLD Denver meeting May 2002 on "Plugging In: YLD on the Web"
  • Presenter "State and Federal Personnel Laws in South Carolina," June 2002, sponsored by Lorman Education Services
  • Presenter at the Council on Education in Management's "Personnel Law Update" on September 26, 2002
  • Presenter at the Council on Education Management's "Personnel Law Update" on February 27, 2004
  • Presenter at the South Carolina Bar Convention in January 2005 on "Recent Employment Law Developments"
  • Co-facilitator, CLE on "Protecting Our Elderly: Assessing Nursing Home Malpractice Accountability in South Carolina," hosted by National Business Institute on June 1, 2005 in Charleston
  • Presenter at "The Latest Labor and Employment Law Developments: an Update for Human Resources Professional," sponsored by Columbia Society of Human Resources Professionals on May 18, 2006
  • Presenter at the 22nd Annual NC/SC Labor and Employment Law Program and Annual Meeting on October 27-28, 2006 (Asheville), South Carolina Law, "Year in Review"
  • Presenter at "The Complete Survival Guide to SC Workers' Comp" on January 31, 2007, on "An overview of how state workers' compensation and other employment laws like HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, OSHA, ADA, and FMLA fit together"
  • Presenter at "The Latest Labor and Employment Law Developments: an Update for Human Resources Professionals," sponsored by Columbia Society of Human Resources Professionals on April 19, 2007, on Workers'-compensation Related Leave - Issues which HR must address
  • Presenter at the Association of South Carolina Claimant Attorneys for Workers' Compensation on May 11, 2007, on "How Workers' Compensation Laws Impact HIPAA, ERISA, COBRA, ADA, and FMLA"
  • Course planner and presenter at the 2007 South Carolina Labor & Employment Law Mid-year Update on June 29, 2007
  • Course planner for the 23rd Annual North Carolina/South Carolina Labor and Employment Law Program and Annual Meeting, November 3-2, 2007
  • Course planner for the 2008 South Carolina Bar Convention, Labor and Employment Law Program, January 24-27, 2008
  • Presenter at the 2009 South Carolina Labor and Employment Law Mid-Year Update on May 7, 2009
  • Presenter NBI Seminars on "Litigating ERISA Claims," February 25, 2008 and February 11, 2009
  • Co-Presenter at the 25th Annual North Carolina/South Carolina Labor and Employment Law Program and Annual Meeting, October 23, 2009, on "Ethical Issues Facing Employment Lawyers"
  • Presenter at “The Latest Labor and Employment Law Developments: an Update for Human Resources Professional,” sponsored by Columbia Society of Human Resources Professionals on April 16, 2009, on lunch panel and “Five tips from your ex-employee’s soon-to-be lawyer.”
  • Presenter at the Association of South Carolina Claimant Attorneys for Workers’ Compensation on May 8, 2009, on Employment Release Issues.
  • Presenter at “The Latest Labor and Employment Law Developments: an Update for Human Resources Professional,” sponsored by Columbia Society of Human Resources Professionals on April 15, 2010, on “Ask a Lawyer” lunch panel.
  • Presenter at Palmetto Paralegal Association’s 20th Annual Seminar for Paralegals, Attorneys, and legal staff on Oct. 15, 2010, on the subject of employment law.

Upcoming speaking engagements:
  • Presenter at Continuing Legal Education seminar for Social Security attorneys on the employment law, ERISA, and workers’ compensation aspects of what they do.
Practice Areas
Admissions
  • South Carolina, 1995
  • U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, 1995
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1995
Education
  • University of South Carolina School of Law (J.D. 1995)
  • University of South Carolina (B.A. 1988, Communications)
  • Stetson University (1984-86)
Associations
  • South Carolina Bar 
    • Chair of Labor and Employment Sections (2010)
    • Executive Committee of Labor and Employment Sections (2006 to present)
    • Young Lawyers Division of South Carolina Bar, Executive Committee (1998 to 2002)
  • SC Equality Coalition and SC Equality Foundation
    • Chair (2002-2003) 
    • Board Member (2002 to present)
  • SC Bar Young Lawyers Division Technology Committee
    • Co-chair (2001-2002)
    • Chair of committee which revised the Landlord, Tenant and the Law brochure, 2000 as revised. Distributed to the general public through the Bar and through the magistrate courts
  • Palmetto Tree Project Auction Ticket Sales, Co-chair (2000)
  • Class of ‘95 USC Law School, Chair of 5-year Reunion (2000)
  • Victory Fund
    • National Board of Directors Co-chair (1997 to 1999) 
    • Board Member (1995-2000)
  • AIDS Benefit Foundation, Dining with Friends Co-chair (1997)
  • USC School of Law
    • Honor Council Chair (1994-95)
    • Elected Member (1992-1995)
    • Dean’s Advisory Committee (1993-1995)
  • Cultural Council of Richland and Lexington Counties
    • Chair, Volunteer Professionals Committee (1991 - 1992) 
  • March of Dimes Columbia, SC, Executive Committee of WalkAmerica (1991)
  • Keep America Beautiful of the Midlands, Publicity Committee (1990)
  • Kappa Alpha Theta House Corporation, President (1990-1993)
  • Rho Chi, USC Rush (1987)