Government Law Section SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES by order of presentation Rep. Mandy Powers Norrell Norrell & Powers Norrell, LLC Lancaster, SC Mandy was born and raised in Lancaster County, was educated in Lancaster County public schools, and paid for college by working at Grace Bleachery. She graduated with honors from Furman University and USC School of Law. Mandy always knew that her calling was to represent the people of her hometown and surrounding areas and that is exactly what she has been doing since she finished law school in 1997. Mandy practices in the areas of Bankruptcy, Serious Injuries, and Wrongful Death. She also represents the southern portion of Lancaster County in the SC House of Representatives. Courtney M. Laster SC State Ethics Commission Columbia, SC Courtney Laster serves as General Counsel for the South Carolina State Ethics Commission. Courtney served as a Staff Attorney for the South Carolina Supreme Court from 2009-2011. From 2011-2016, she worked in private practice working primarily with labor/employment law, education law, and local government law. From 2016-2018, Courtney served as Assistant General Counsel at the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. Education: Charleston School of Law, J.D. 2009 Clemson University, B.A. 2004 Christine Gantt-Sorenson Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA Greenville, SC Christine Gantt-Sorenson has been defending employers in discrimination and harassment charges before the EEOC/SCHAC and subsequent federal court litigation for over 18 years. She also gives advice and counsel for Title VII compliance regularly as well as reviews and drafts all handbooks, policies, and other white paper applicable to Title VII compliance. She has been training employers on all matters related to Title VII compliance since 2000 and has been practicing law since 2001. Education: University of South Carolina School of Law, J.D. 1997 College of Charleston, B.A. 1987 J. Robert Turnbull, Jr. and Beth Padgett South Carolina Bar – Lawyers Helping Lawyers Columbia, SC No biographies submitted. Bradford “Brad” L. Love Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, PA Greenville, SC Course Planner Brad Love serves as co-leader of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd’s Public Finance Practice Group and is the administrative shareholder for Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd's Greenville office. He advises cities, counties, special-purpose districts and hospitals as they structure financings for their capital and operational needs through the issuance of various types of municipal bonds and other obligations. An asset to the team, Brad has an extensive background in all areas of public finance. Additionally, Brad serves as underwriter’s counsel to investment banks that sell publicly-offered municipal obligations and as bank counsel to banks that purchase privately placed municipal bonds. He advises his issuer clients and financial institution clients on the intricate structures of municipal finance, including installment purchase revenue bonds, special source revenue bonds, general obligation bonds, hospitality tax revenue bonds and water and sewer issues. Brad is also a writer, speaker and panelist on public finance and local government topics for a variety of events and publications, including annual conferences for the South Carolina Special Purpose District Association, Municipal Association of South Carolina, South Carolina Association of Counties and South Carolina Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurers. He has also spoken at the South Carolina Bar Government Law Section CLE Seminar. Education: University of Georgia, J.D., cum laude, 1999 Presbyterian College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1996 Robert “Rob” R. Smith, II Moore & Van Allen, PLLC Charlotte, NC Course Planner Rob Smith assists clients with regulatory and legislative matters in the energy, business, and environmental arenas. His experience includes serving in various capacities as staff in the South Carolina General Assembly and the United States Senate. After graduating law school, Smith served as law clerk to the Honorable Larry R. Patterson, Circuit Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina. Following his service with Judge Patterson, Smith served on the staff of the South Carolina House of Representatives as assistant staff counsel to the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, Counsel to the Speaker of the House, and as chief counsel, House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee. Additionally, Smith served as house counsel for the newly created State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee, which is charged with oversight of the South Carolina Public Service Commission and the newly created Office of Regulatory Staff. Prior to and during law school, Smith served as a staff assistant to the Honorable J. Strom Thurmond, United States Senator. .