John R. Thomas | Retired

Founding partner John R. Thomas served his clients faithfully until his retirement on January 31, 2016. John, as a Certified Specialist in Taxation Law and a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law, concentrated his practice on taxation, business law, estate planning, estate administration, and employee benefit plans. Best Lawyers in America® recognized John for his work in Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and Employee Benefits Law. At the time of his retirement, John was listed in the following 10 categories by Best Lawyers: Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, Corporate Law, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Litigation and Controversy – Tax, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Nonprofit/Charities Law, Tax Law, Trusts and Estates, and ERISA. He was named Lawyer of the Year for his work in Corporate Law (2012) and ERISA (2014). In 2014, John was likewise ranked on the South Carolina Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers ®, and Greenville Business Magazine named him one of the Legal Elite of the Upstate in 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Throughout his career, John played key leadership roles in the South Carolina Bar Association. He served as delegate for the Southeast Region Special Liaison Tax Committee, Chair of the Tax Law Section and Chair of the Lawyer-Accountant Relationship Committee. John also participated in the Greenville County Bar Association and served as President of the Tax Section of the Greenville County Bar Association from 1981-1982. He served as President of the Greenville Estate Planning Council from 1991-92. Additionally, he is a former Chair of the South Carolina Estate Planning and Probate Law Specialization Advisory Board and member of the South Carolina Taxation Law Specialization Advisory Board. John was a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and the American College of Tax Counsel. SC Lawyer published John in 2002, and he co-authored Estate Planning in South Carolina, South Carolina Bar, CLE Division. He was a member of the editorial board of Local, State and Federal Tax Incentives for Conservation Easements. John taught corporate formations for the South Carolina Supreme Court mandated course Bridge the Gap. Additionally, he was also a certified public accountant and is a lifetime member of the South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. John served in the United States Army Reserves.

John was a member of the Greenville Tech Foundation Board of Directors and the Furman University Planned Giving Advisory Council. He served as Chair of the Greenville YMCA Endowment Board in 2005. John currently serves as a member of the Greenville Salvation Army Advisory Board.