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Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is joining Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C., a labor and employment law firm. His appointment is effective Sunday. Prior to being elected mayor in May, Benjamin was a partner at the Benjamin Law Firm LLC where his practice emphasized governmental strategic planning, administrative and regulatory work, municipal finance and general business matters.
Staff Report
Published July 28, 2010
Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin is joining Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C., a labor and employment law firm. His appointment is effective Sunday.
Prior to being elected mayor in May, Benjamin was a partner at the Benjamin Law Firm LLC where his practice emphasized governmental strategic planning, administrative and regulatory work, municipal finance and general business matters.
“Having Mayor Benjamin join us is a major boon to the firm and businesses in the state,” said Charles “Ted” Speth II, managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins’ Columbia office. “His qualifications and reputation are simply outstanding. Steve’s business acumen and experience in public office and in the private sector make him a very unique and sought after talent.”
Benjamin has served in senior management and executive roles in government and corporate settings. He was director of the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services where he led the 950-employee, $43 million state agency.
In the private sector, Benjamin’s experience includes managing legislative and public affairs activities as regional manager of public affairs for International Paper Co. He also served as manager of corporate affairs at Carolina Power & Light Co. He began his career as an associate in the administrative and regulatory practice with the McNair Law Firm in Columbia.
Beyond his professional achievements, Benjamin has served on boards of numerous charities. He sits on the board of the University of South Carolina Development Foundation, the University of South Carolina School of Law Partnership board, the boards of directors of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of South Carolina, Habitat for Humanity of the Midlands, the University of South Carolina Children’s Center, and the Columbia Urban League where he previously served as the Chairman of the Equal Opportunity Day Committee, among others. He is a former member of the board of directors of NBSC.
Benjamin received his bachelors degree in political science from the University of South Carolina in 1991, and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1994.
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