Stafford J. McQuillin III

Shareholder  |  Charleston

Meet Mac

A versatile trial attorney with deep ties to his native Charleston, South Carolina, Mac McQuillin blends an established litigation and local government practice with a growing mediation practice as a certified Circuit Court Mediator. He advises individuals, local businesses and government entities in complex matters, and has extensive experience with both jury and non-jury trials. 

Mac's law practice is well-rounded in that he serves as trial counsel on both sides of the aisle - he prosecutes cases on behalf of clients and also defends clients when they are sued. Mac is an accomplished litigator with wide-ranging experience in complex business and contract disputes, personal injury and construction cases, LLC and partnership disputes, property tax appeals, and probate, trust and estate litigation.

Mac also provides general counsel and litigation services to municipalities, school districts and counties across the state. In the Lowcountry, he currently represents the following municipalities as lead city/town attorney: City of Hanahan; City of Isle of Palms; Town of Awendaw; Town of Kiawah Island; and Town of Seabrook Island. He regularly advises governmental entities on a host of specialized issues faced by local governments, litigates zoning and land use matters, drafts ordinances and attends local government meetings throughout the Lowcountry.

In 2014, Mac was elected to serve on the Berkeley County School District Board (the fourth largest school district in South Carolina). He was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. Mac currently serves as the Chairman of the Board.

Prior to Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, Mac served as a law clerk to the Governor of South Carolina, where he researched existing and proposed legislation and its impact on the state. He also advised the Governor’s Chief Legal Counsel on various legal matters involving the Executive Office.

Education
  • University of South Carolina, J.D., cum laude, 2009
  • University of South Carolina, B.A., magna cum laude, 2005
Admissions
  • South Carolina, 2009
  • U.S. District Court, South Carolina, 2010
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2011
Honors and Awards
  • The Best Lawyers in America© Commercial Litigation (2020-2025)
  • South Carolina Super Lawyers® “Rising Stars” Business Litigation (2014-2022)
  • South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law Award (2017)
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent® Rating, High Ethical Standing
  • Charleston Regional Business Journal 2021 "Forty Under 40"
  • Charleston Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Lowcountry Top Vote Getter” Education (2023)
  • Charleston Business Magazine "Legal Elite of the Lowcountry" Education (2022-2023) and Government Affairs (2017)
  • Order of the Coif
  • Order of the Wig and Robe
  • Order of Barristers
Professional and Civic Activities
  • Berkeley County School Board, Board Member (2014-Present)
  • SC Municipal Attorneys Association, Member (2019-Present)
  • Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust, Board Member (2014-Present)
  • Beresford Hall, Board of Governors (2018-Present)
  • Junior Achievement Greater South Carolina - Coastal Area, Board Member (2016-2018)
  • Berkeley County Bar Association
  • Charleston County Bar Association
Presentations and Publications
  • “Managing Legal Liability,” South Carolina Driver and Traffic Safety Association Conference, Columbia, SC, December 6, 2024
  • “Case Law Update,” South Carolina Bar CLE Webinar: South Carolina Limited Liability Companies, September 18, 2020
  • “Public Records Issues,” National Business Institute, Ensuring Local Governments Comply with the Law Seminar, Columbia, SC, January 30, 2020
  • “Managing Your Liability When Clients Breach Their Fiduciary Duties,” HSB 2019 Corporate Law for Accountants Seminar Series
  • “Local Government Litigation Update – Impact Fee Litigation, Opioid Litigation (State and Federal) and FOIA," South Carolina Association of County Attorneys Annual Meeting, Hilton Head Island, SC, August 5, 2018
  • "Legal Issues Affecting Local Government and Municipalities," National Business Institute CLE Live Seminar, February 2017
  • "How to Get Your Social Media, Email and Text Evidence Admitted (and Keep Theirs Out)," National Business Institute CLE Live Seminar, February 2017
  • "Recent Developments Under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)," Greene, Finney & Horton CPE Seminar, May 2016
  • "Irreconcilable Differences - LLC Disputes - Business Divorce Cases," HSB 2014 Corporate Law for Accountants Seminars