Carlos Johnson

Experience

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  Sowell Gray Stepp & Laffitte, LLC

  Aug 2002 - Feb 2005

  Attorney
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  Lyles, Darr & Clark, LLC

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2018

  Attorney

  As a seasoned attorney, I provided sound legal counsel to a diverse range of profit and non-profit entities on all aspects of business law. This included offering guidance on entity formation, regulatory compliance, contract negotiation, and shareholder disputes.I also played the leading role in litigation efforts for clients facing tort liability and business dispute matters, ensuring that their interests were effectively represented and protected.In addition, I offered valuable support to public-school districts and charter schools on all facets of education law. This work involved advising on policy development, employment matters, statutory compliance, privacy responsibilities, and student disciplinary matters.Through my extensive legal knowledge and expertise, I was able to help my clients navigate complex legal issues and achieve their goals. I am proud to have made a positive impact on the organizations and individuals I served and look forward to continuing to provide exceptional legal counsel and business advice in the future.Some of my key achievements are:• Acted as the lead litigator for the firm, representing clients in a range of legal matters such as contract disputes, employment disputes, and tort liability cases.• Oversaw all aspects of litigation operations for clients in real estate, business, probate, construction, and personal injury cases, including conducting hearings, trials, and depositions.• Drafted pleadings, motions, and legal memoranda, responded to discovery requests, and developed and presented persuasive arguments on behalf of clients while generating and maintaining client relationships. Show less

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  Midlands Technical College

  Jan 2018 - Jan 2019

  General Counsel

  As a legal professional, I provided critical aid and support to the College's President, governing commission, Executive Council, and boards across all facets of the law, particularly in complex legal matters such as contractual, operational, employment, privacy, and student issues. My primary goal was to identify and mitigate legal risks while ensuring legal compliance for the College. I also represented the college in grievances and litigation matters before internal and external quasi-judicial bodies and managed external counsel engagements.In my role, I worked closely with management and staff to identify areas for improvement in overall performance and efficiency. To achieve this, I coordinated and conducted training sessions aimed at uplifting skills and knowledge, as needed.Overall, my expertise in providing legal counsel, coupled with my experience in staff and management training, made me a valuable asset to the College. I was passionate about advocating for the College's interests in complex legal matters and providing support to leadership to ensure smooth operations.A few of my selected contributions are:• As a key member of the team, I organized and chaired internal investigations and spearheaded government and external affairs, including strategic planning and analysis, policy development, and implementation on executive-level projects.• Through my exceptional negotiation skills, I was able to achieve an average of 20% financial savings for the college by negotiating and finalizing contracts with SaaS and other vendors.• I also secured new career and learning opportunities for students by settling partnership and affiliation agreements.• As part of the executive committee, I was jointly accountable for concluding the college's reaccreditation submission to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Show less

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  Coastal Carolina University

  Jan 2019 - Jan 2023

  Special Counsel to the President & Senior Vice President and University Counsel

  Senior Vice President and University Counsel, 2019 – 2023Special Counsel to President, February - August, 2023I provide strategic support and guidance to the University's President, Board of Trustees, and personnel on legal policies, procedures, and issues. My goal is to ensure the University's compliance with federal, state, and local laws for higher education entities. I take pride in playing an integral role in shaping the direction of the University to ensure the seamless execution of daily activities.As a leader and advisor, I share my vision and strategy with key stakeholders to ensure the University's continued success. My experience with formulating arguments and representing clients in transactional matters and all stages of litigation has given me a deep understanding of the legal and operational landscape of higher education. With that insight, I provide specialized training to management, analyze executive-level project plans, and implement policies.As a supervisor, I’ve led a division comprised of six key University areas notably including Human Resources, University Compliance, Protected Rights and Title IX, and Risk Management. I managed the engagement of outside counsel while directly handling employee grievance, policy violation, and administrative procedure matters before internal and external quasi-judicial bodies.Some of my selected contributions are:• Executed inaugural supervisor development program, enhancing employee performance and relations.• Consulted on operational strategies, privacy responsibilities, vendor partnerships, hiring, and promotion plans, optimizing financial and operational excellence.• Revamped Office of University Counsel, offering advice on legal and strategic matters and drafting over 1K annual contractual agreements.• Negotiated and finalized agreements for the Athletics Department's first ever multi-media rights partner and the University's largest single corporate gift and sponsor relationship. Show less