PARHAM SMITH & ARCHENHOLD - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Dedicated Staff Member
- Litigation Paralegal
After earning a Bachelors Degree from Wofford College, Alison joined the law firm of Michael E. Spears, PA in January of 1993 as a litigation paralegal. With the addition of Grey Wicker into what became Spears & Wicker, PA, she remained in the position of litigation paralegal. In 2017, Alison was delighted to bring her years of knowledge and experience, both inside and out of the courtroom, to the Spartanburg office of Parham Smith & Archenhold, LLC. She and Grey Wicker are pleased to be the sole employees in the Spartanburg office and feel like this affords them an exclusive opportunity to advocate for their clients.
While Alison's main focus has been in medical malpractice and fighting for justice for her injured clients, she has vast experience in other areas of civil litigation, including general personal injury, trucking accident litigation and class actions.
Alison resides in Spartanburg, where she acts as an ambassador of Backpack Buddies, addressing the issue of weekend and holiday hunger for elementary school children in the community. Since surviving a battle with breast cancer in 2005, she has logged hundreds of miles and raised tens of thousands of dollars promoting awareness of the importance of early detection and the relentless search for a cure.
A native of Hampton, South Carolina, Ashlee attended The University of South Carolina in Aiken where she graduated Cum Laude and received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a Criminal Justice concentration. During her undergraduate career, she was inducted into the Thomas Hallman Hall of Fame, an award that is given to one graduating senior each year that excels in leadership and served as the President of Phi Mu Fraternity, a Greek organization that she remains involved with today.
Ashlee went on to receive her law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan. During her law school career she was involved with the Criminal Law Society, Women's Law Association, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, and Moot Court. She worked as a law clerk intern for the Honorable Judge John J. McDonald at the Oakland County Circuit Court and interned at the Michigan State Appellate Defender's Office.
Once she returned to South Carolina, Ashlee interned here at Parham Smith and Archenhold and, upon admission to the South Carolina Bar in May, 2013, she made the decision to remain at the office she loved - working her way up to becoming a named partner in 2021.
Ashlee focuses on a wide range of personal injury cases, with a particular fondness of medical malpractice and product liability. She assisted as a member of the Sorin 3T Heater-Cooler Multi District Litigation ("MDL") plaintiffs steering subcommittee that, through the combined efforts of the entire committee, were able to reach settlement in March, 2019, for a total of $225 million for those that were seriously injured.
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Auburn Hills, Michigan
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner of Parham
Blake is the managing partner of Parham, Smith, and Archenhold. Starting his 25th year of the practice, Blake has focused on medical malpractice, products liability, and significant personal injury cases. Blake Acted as lead counsel on the train rollover cases and as lead counsel on the infection outbreaks at hospitals across S.C. and the nation. He continues to grow the firm and practice in a way that would make the founding members proud. Blake is married to his wife, Aloma, and thy have 3 Children together.
Job Titles:
- Legal Research and Writing Teaching Fellow, August 1996 - May 1997
Born in Greenville and raised in Columbia, Cori returned to the upstate in 2015 to attend Clemson University. While in Clemson, Cori made the Dean's List, was a member of the William T. Howell Pre-Law society, and traveled extensively. Cori graduated Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Legal Studies in 2018. Immediately after graduating, Cori attended the University of South Carolina School of Law. During her law school career, Cori was on the Pro Bono Board, was the Coordinator for the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund, and was heavily involved in the My Will Project, which provided estate planning documents for under-served communities. Cori was awarded the UofSC School of Law 2020 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award and made the Dean's List. During her tenure at law school, Cori clerked at a personal injury firm in Columbia and upon graduating in 2021, returned as an Associate to Parham Smith and Archenhold, where she clerked during the summer.
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
J.D. - 2021
Job Titles:
- Dedicated Staff Member
- Intake Coordinator
Diana was born and raised in Miami, FL but has called Greenville home for almost 30 years. Diana has spent her career serving the public of South Carolina including the last decade as a victim service provider within a Government agency. Diana is no stranger to customer service, confidentiality, and professionalism and her passion for helping those that cannot help themselves is evident by her empathy and compassion.
Diana is active in the community including co-chair of the Upstate Human Trafficking Taskforce since 2017 helping to bring awareness of human trafficking to the Upstate.
On her free time Diana & her husband enjoy riding their Harley or hiking with her puppy, Lulu.
Diana is of Cuban descent and fluent in Spanish.
It is with heavy hearts, and deep sadness, that we announce the passing of Attorney Edwin "Grey" Wicker.
Job Titles:
- Philanthropist of the Year Award, Mobile Meals of Spartanburg County, 2016
Jamie DeMint was born and raised in Greenville, SC. After graduating from the College of Charleston and the University of South Carolina School of Law, she returned to Greenville where she has practiced in the area of personal injury for over 15 years. Jamie has extensive experience at all stages of litigation. She is admitted to the United States District Court, the South Carolina Bar, and is a member of the Greenville County Bar Association.
Jamie is honored to have been selected as one of South Carolina's Super Lawyers Rising Stars for ten years, Greenville Business Magazine's Legal Elite in the areas of personal injury and litigation, and has been included in The Best Lawyers in America in the field of Plaintiffs Personal Injury.
Jamie is also honored to serve as the United States Tennis Association's South Carolina volunteer attorney.
Jamie, her husband, and their children are involved members of the community and are proud supporters of Greenville's thriving fine arts scene. When Jamie is not practicing law, she enjoys playing tennis, golf, and the violin.
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
Lauren was raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After receiving her undergraduate degree from Wofford College, she attended Charleston School of Law and has resided in Charleston ever since. During law school, she was active in the Charleston County Student Bar Association, Phi Delta Phi, Women and Law, and she received the CALI Award for highest grade in Health Care Law.
Following law school, Lauren spent over ten years at a large insurance defense firm where she focused her practice on medical malpractice litigation, dental malpractice, and professional negligence. Lauren has also handled regulatory and compliance matters with State licensing boards and Administrative Law Court. Lauren has tried cases involving a wide variety of medical malpractice claims ranging from negligent treatment and diagnosis to birth trauma and wrongful death. Lauren joined Parham Smith & Archenhold in 2023; working in our Charleston and Spartanburg locations, she is available to provide representation to clients throughout South Carolina and Georgia.
Lauren has been named a South Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2020, and Legal Elite 2022 and 2023. She is admitted to practice in South Carolina, United States District Court for South Carolina, and Georgia State and Superior Courts.
Education
Charleston School of Law, Charleston, South Carolina
Brooke (Garrison) Archenhold was raised in the Upstate of South Carolina. After graduating from Clemson University, she attended Cumberland School of Law-Samford University. She returned home to South Carolina, after graduating in 2002, and began her career with what was then Parham & Smith. She has been with the firm for nearing 20 years. Her primary focus of practice is Medical Malpractice.
She has been named Super Lawyers Honoree-2021, Super Lawyers- since 2017, Legal Elite, Nationally Ranked Top 10 under 40, The Best Lawyer's in America, and National Trail Attorneys- top 40 under 40. She is admitted to the South Carolina Bar and the United States District Court. She is also a member of the Greenville Bar, Women Lawyers, and the local chapter of the Junior League.
Education
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
J.D. - 2002
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
B.A. - 1999
Mr. Spears is a 1972 graduate of the University of South Carolina where he served as Vice President of the Student Body in 1970 and President of the Student Body in 1971. After graduation, he served as an administrative assistant to President Thomas F. Jones and helped develop South Carolina's second medical school in Columbia, S.C. He entered the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1974 and graduated in 1977 after which he was admitted to practice in all South Carolina state courts as well as the Federal District Courts of South Carolina, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of The United States of America. He is rated "AV" by Martindale-Hubbell and is rated among the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America. He has been named to the "Best Lawyers in America" for over 20 years and "Best Lawyers in the Upstate" for as long. His prior law firm, prior to merging with Parham, Smith and Archenhold, was rated as of one of the "Best Law Firms in America" and he has received numerous honors in the field of Medical Malpractice law and litigation. He also received his Education for Ministry from The University of the South in 2002.
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Education
Cumberland School of Law, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
J.D. - 1997
Job Titles:
- Member of the South Carolina Association of Justice
Bill Dodson has been a trial lawyer for over 40 years, and has successfully represented clients who have suffered serious injury and death in all types of cases, including medical malpractice, traffic accidents and industrial accidents. He believes that there is no substitute for experience and personal attention to his clients' needs.
A lifelong resident of South Carolina, Bill grew up in Ware Shoals. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of South Carolina and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Bill was admitted to the United States District Court in 1981 and to the United States Court of Appeals in 1988. He is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and the Greenville County Bar Association.
Bill is a member of the South Carolina Association of Justice and the American Board of Trial Advocates. He has been awarded the AV Preeminent rating by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards. He received the Super Lawyers designation in 2012.
Bill and his wife, Susan, have been married for 38 years and have two children and two grandchildren. He is a member of First Baptist Greenville and sings in the Sanctuary Choir. When he is not practicing law, Bill enjoys golf and fishing.
Education
University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina
J.D. Degree - 1977
University of South Carolina
B.A. - 1974
Job Titles:
- Professional Associations / Greenville County Bar Association, Member, 2003 to 2021