Amy Armstrong

Amy Armstrong, President and General Counsel, started working for SCELP in September, 2002, after receiving a competitive two year fellowship from Equal Justice Works, formerly the National Association of Public Interest Law. Once her fellowship ended, she become a staff attorney at SCELP, a position she held for over eight years. She graduated from University of South Carolina in May, 2002, with a Juris Doctor and Master´s in Earth and Environmental Resource Management. She currently serves on the League of Women Voters of Georgetown County and the Keep Georgetown Beautiful boards.

Amy received her B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1992. Before attending law school, she worked with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, managing a population of federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. She grew up in Columbia and now lives in Pawleys Island with her dog, Rufus, and cat, Mack. She enjoys painting, birding, playing the piano, cooking, and reading on the beach.

Michael Corley

Michael Corley began working as a staff attorney for SCELP in August 2010. Since graduating magna cum laude from USC School of Law in 2007, he has completed a two-year clerkship with United States District Judge Terry Wooten in Florence and has worked one year at Simmons Law Firm in Columbia. Michael first worked for SCELP in 2006 as a summer associate following his second year of law school.

Michael is from Clinton, South Carolina and a 2004 graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering. These days, he can often be found paddling around local creeks and rivers.

Phyllis Anne Nisoff

Phyllis Anne Nisoff, Office Manager and Paralegal, started working for SCELP in July, 2011. She moved from Atlanta, Georgia and has been in the legal industry for over 25 years to include not only legal expertise, but also marketing, recruiting and business development. She obtained her Associates Degree in Paralegal studies in 1999 from NCPT in Atlanta, Georgia. She served on many charities in Atlanta to include Shepherds Spinal Auxiliary, Atlanta Heart Association, Pulse of Atlanta, Atlanta Symphony, Hands on Atlanta and Juvenile Diabetes Association. She enjoys spending time with her children, Christopher and Anna, cooking, tennis, friends and enjoying the beach.

Board Members

Frances Close, Chair of the SCELP Board, lives in Columbia. Francie was the Board Chair of Energy Research Foundation, the major player in the effort to force the U.S. Department of Energy to clean up environmental problems at the Savannah River Nuclear Weapons facility, and the organization which helped create SCELP.

Amy Armstrong, is SCELP's President/General Counsel.

Daryl Hawkins is an attorney in private practice living in Columbia and has performed numerous pro bono services in environmental cases. Daryl was born in Charleston, South Carolina and received his B.A. from Wofford College in 1976. He received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina in 1983.

Daryl has taught in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program at the University of South Carolina School of Law and been a guest lecturer. He has presented, spoken and appeared in other roles in numerous Continuing Legal Education seminars as part of the South Carolina Bar Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Program and the John Belton O’Neal Inn of Court. He is also the author of numerous articles written on various legal topics.

He was recognized as a "Super Lawyer" in South Carolina for 2008 and 2009 and The American Trial Lawyers Association also honored Daryl by including him in the 2008 “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” for South Carolina.

Wendy Zara lives in Sheldon and works in Beaufort for A. G. Edwards & Sons. Wendy is active in local environmental and land use planning issues and a leader of the Northern Beaufort County Committee, the Beaufort Chamber of Commerce, and other community committees and task forces.

David J. Harmon lives in Charleston and is an attorney with Carlock, Copeland, Semlar & Stair. David has long been interested in environmental issues. David was born in New Albany, Indiana, and received his B.S. from the University of South Carolina in 1999. He went on to receive his master's degree in oceanography with a concentration in wetland science and management and received his J.D. there in 2004. David has practiced law in Charleston since graduating with honors and has been successful in both jury trials and appellate work.

David has also authored and contributed to several published articles and a book in the field of environmental law, detailing the role and tax incentives of conservation easements in South Carolina.

Margaret Fabri is an attorney in private practice in Charleston. She has been a long time advocate for environmental protection and served on the Coastal Council (now the Appellate Panel of the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management) from 1993 to 1997.

Gary W. Poliakoff is an attorney in Spartanburg, S.C., who, in environmental cases, represents only victims of toxic exposure and property contamination. He has also represented a number of citizens groups and environmental groups, and has handled many cases Pro Bono for such groups. He has served on the Boards of numerous environmental groups.

Gary graduated from Washington and Lee University and the University of South Carolina School of Law, has been practicing law since 1977 and has received many awards and honors during his career including the Public Citizen Award from the south Carolina Trial Lawyers Association in 1996 and the Victims Voice Award from the South Carolina Jury Trial Foundation in 1995. He was the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 1988. Currently, Gary serves as a Commissioner for the South Carolina Forestry Commission as appointed by the governor.

Gary has also served on the board of the Citizens Local Environmental Action Network, the chairman of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party; and the boards of the Sertoma Club, Piedmont Conservancy Inc. and Safe Homes/Rape Crisis Coalition.

Josh Eagle is a Professor at the University of South Carolina, School of Law where he teaches property, environmental and natural resources law. He has published in the past on a range of issues, including fishery management and endangered species. His current research focuses on ocean zoning, marine protected areas, and on improving public participation in resource decision-making.

Prior to joining the faculty at the USC in 2004, Professor Eagle was Director of the Stanford Fisheries Policy Project, an interdisciplinary research project aimed at improving fishery management through better integration of marine science and law. While at Stanford, Professor Eagle taught law school and undergraduate courses in environmental and ocean law and policy. He also wrote several case studies that are now used to teach environmental and natural resources law in classrooms around the country.

From 1990 to 1995, Professor Eagle served as a trial attorney for the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. From 1997 to 1998, he was wildlife counsel in the policy office of the National Audubon Society in Washington, D.C. Professor Eagle is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University (B.A.), Colorado State University (M.S., Forest Sciences), and Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.).

Leon Rice was born in Winston-Salem, NC, and practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia, for 30 years, dealing mainly in real estate law and transactions. Ten years ago he retired to Murrells Inlet, SC, where his family  has owned a creek house for the last 90 years.  He was a board member of Murrells Inlet 2007 (now Murrells Inlet 2020), and he is now a director and secretary of Preserve Murrells Inlet, Inc., a group dedicated to preservation of the creek, and to preserving the  low density use of the water shed on the Waccamaw Neck. He is a member of Bike the Neck, a cycling advocacy group, and a member of Belin United Methodist Church. Leon is married to Jan, and they have 3 children and 3 grandchildren who live in Charleston.

Leon enjoys all  outdoor activity, including fishing, hunting, golf, biking and boats of all types. He is a graduate of Duke University and Emory University Law School, and is a former arbitrator American Arbitration Administration. Leon says he is passionate about the goals of SCELP, and  the conservation of our wonderful natural resources

John Mark Dean is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Marine Science and Biological Sciences and Senior Fellow in Science and Ocean Policy at the University of South Carolina. John’s research focused on Age and Growth of Fishes, Estuarine Ecology and Fisheries Management. He has taught numerous graduate and undergraduate courses and has more than 100 publications in the scientific literature. John received his MS and PhD in Aquatic Ecology from Purdue University and was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Cornell College of Iowa, where he also received his BA.

John’s service on numerous advisory committees dealing with natural resource issues, and the role of science in the development and implementation of natural resources policies at the domestic and international level enables him to bring a unique perspective to students, policy makers and SCELP. John was a critical expert witness in our Captain Sam’s Spit case. His company performed an exhaustive environmental inventory of the natural resources on Kiawah Island entitled “Environmental Inventory of Kiawah Island,” which recommended that the Spit remain undeveloped because of its instability as a land formation. That document continues to be nationally and internationally recognized as a background document for sustainable environmental planning in the coastal zone and it specifically

John helped form and is currently a member of the Steering Committee of the South Carolina Sustainable Seafood Initiative. He lives in Columbia with his wife Robin, and we are very excited to welcome both John and Leon to SCELP’s Board of Directors.

Jimmy Chandler

James S. (Jimmy) Chandler, Jr., (December 4, 1949 - August 7, 2010) former President and General Counsel, founded SCELP in 1987. For over 15 years, he was SCELP's sole staff attorney. Jimmy represented national, state, and local organizations in environmental cases before state and federal courts and agencies. His cases involved a variety of issues, including wetlands, coastal management, water quality, air quality, solid and hazardous waste landfills and incinerators, and mining. Prior to forming SCELP, Jimmy practiced law in Columbia for 10 years. His environmental work has been recognized by several state and national awards, including the Sierra Club's William O. Douglas Award, the South Carolina General Assembly's Environmental Awareness Award, and the South Carolina Wildlife Federation's Conservationist of the Year Award.

Jimmy grew up in Georgetown and resided in Pawleys Island. He received a B.A. in Economics from Davidson College in 1972, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina in 1973, and a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1977.

Jimmy was married to Rebecca McCarthy Chandler and had one daughter, Leigh, who was born in 1994. When not working, Jimmy spent his time watching his daughter play softball and enjoyed getting out on the water and playing rhythm guitar for Three Way, an oldies rock & roll, blues and party band.

Sadly, Jimmy lost his battle with cancer on August 7, 2010. His death represents a tremendous loss to South Carolina and those that knew him, yet gives cause for reflection on a life and career well lived. The impact he made on our state's environment is immeasurable. He was the trailblazer in environmental law in South Carolina and he left an amazing legacy that SCELP is proud and determined to carry on, in his honor.

Some of Jimmy's most significant cases included:

Jim Smiley vs. DHEC - This case was significant because it ensured that citizens have the right to challenge environmental permitting decisions through the administrative and legal systems;

Dewey Wise - Because this was the first case establishing that citizens can bring enforcement actions for violations of the Coastal Zone Management Act;

Debidue Dredging & Beach Nourishment Project -
Because this case set the precedent that is still utilized today in dredging permits - you must stay 10 feet away from marsh grass and oyster beds to prevent sloughing of the marsh and damage to the oyster beds;

Willbrook Dredging Case - The SC Supreme Court ruled in this case that economic benefits alone were not enough to establish an overriding public interest necessary for dredging. The court denied a permit for the dredging of a canal and the creation of waterfront lots;

Project DP (Spectre) -
This was an extremely significant case because it removed the cloud over isolated freshwater wetlands in the coastal zone and affirming that the Coastal Management Program is a binding and enforceable law.