Attorneys

J. Lewis Cromer
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803.799.9530

2019 marks Lewis' 60th year of actively practicing law. Widely recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in the Southeast, Lewis Cromer has handled hundreds of jury trials and held state and national leadership positions in many of the distinguished associations and organizations of his profession during his 60-year career. He practices law in Columbia, where he has spent his entire career representing clients in the areas of employment law, governmental law, and communications law.

Over the years, Lewis’ work on behalf of clients has earned him dozens of awards and recognitions, especially in the area of employment law, where he has successfully sued state agencies, large corporations and others, winning six-figure verdicts for clients in a number of cases. Lewis has worked on cases that have received local, state, and national media attention. Lewis' representation of government workers particularly has cast light on government corruption and injustice.  

In February 2009, as a tribute to Lewis' precedent-setting work in the past and his ongoing efforts on behalf of the legal profession, the public’s right to jury trial and his clients, the Southern Trial Lawyers Association presented Cromer with its prestigious War Horse Award. The award recognizes Cromer as a top courtroom advocate, leader in the trial bar, a contributor to the teaching of trial advocacy through seminars and educational programs and a true character of his time.

Lewis first attended Clemson University, graduated from the University of South Carolina's School of Law in 1959, and was admitted to the South Carolina Bar that same year. 

Lewis is the managing partner at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. Lewis has served at the helm of several successful predecessor law firms including J. Lewis Cromer & Associates, LLC and Cromer and Mabry, LLC.  

He is married to his college sweetheart, Carolyn. They have a son, Bubba Cromer, who served in the S.C. Legislature for many years and is presently Reading Clerk of the House of Representatives, and a daughter, Chelle Epps, who retired as the Deputy Registrar in the Richland County Voter Registration Office. Lewis and Carolyn also have two grandchildren who he works hard to convince to become Clemson Tigers.

Lewis, in his spare time, is an avid bridge player and has participated in competitive bridge throughout his lifetime. He is the present Ethics Chairman for the Columbia Bridge Center and was recently awarded the rank of Silver Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League indicating that he has received over 1000 master points in local, state, and national competitions. 

Julius W. Babb, IV
email
803.799.9530

Jay Babb is a member/partner at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. Jay has been practicing employment law for 10 years. 

Jay is a well-known member of the employment law bar who has successfully represented public and private employees, including federal government employees, in employment law cases throughout the state of South Carolina. Jay has tried federal, state, and EEO cases to a jury or bench verdict. Jay has also argued appeals before the South Carolina Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and South Carolina Supreme Court.

Originally from Orangeburg, Jay is married to his grade school and college classmate Allison and they have two daughters, a son, and a dog named Watson in Irmo, South Carolina. 

Jay graduated from the University of South Carolina's School of Law in 2008 and Clemson University in 2004 where he obtained a B.S. in Computer Information Systems. As a law student, Jay served as a staff member of the American Bar Association's Real Property, Probate and Trust Journal. Also, while in law school, Jay served as a clerk for the University of South Carolina's Clinical Legal Studies Program, which provides free legal services to residents of South Carolina with the assistance of law students.

Jay first joined a predecessor law firm, Cromer & Mabry, LLC as a clerk in 2007 and became an associate attorney thereafter. Jay continued to work with Lewis as an Associate Attorney at J. Lewis Cromer & Associates from 2010-2016. In January 2017 Jay, Lewis Cromer, Paul Porter, and Ryan Hicks formed Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC.

Jay graduated from Clemson University in Clemson, SC in 2004, where he earned a B.S. degree in Computer Information Systems. 

J. Paul Porter
email
803.799.9530

Paul Porter is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. The specialty designation was obtained after Paul passed a rigorous exam covering the comprehensive body of Employment and Labor law in South Carolina.

Paul represents workers, victims of sexual abuse and harassment, small businesses, and government whistleblowers. He is honest and direct in advising his prospective clients and clients because candid advice and direction is what he would want as a client. Paul grew up working class. Growing up, he worked in several industries including construction, sales, and retail. He knows about the struggles and pitfalls faced by the average worker and it informs the way he represents his clients.

Paul practices in the areas of employment law, business litigation, sexual harassment and assault, governmental law, and general litigation. Paul also does appellate work and has argued successfully before the South Carolina Supreme Court, South Carolina Court of Appeals and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Virginia.

Paul's employment law practice involves the use of several legal claims and theories including discrimination (race, sex, disability, religion etc.), harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, family medical leave, wage claims and civil torts to secure positive results for his clients. Paul represents both public and private employees. His representation regularly includes state and local government employees in their pre-suit grievance processes and later in litigation against their public employers. Paul also has a sizable Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and South Carolina Human Affairs Commission (SCHAC) practice, has represented federal employees in equal employment opportunity matters, and has brought claims administrative claims before the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, National Labor Relations Board, Office of Occupational Safety and Health, and Department of Labor. Paul also represents certified teachers in suspension and termination proceedings.

Paul can work your case from start to finish from pre-suit negotiations, through the litigation process and civil discovery, to trial, and even to appeal.  Paul has won cases before the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the South Carolina Supreme Court, and the South Carolina Court of Appeals. And, while civil jury trials are becoming less frequent nationally and in South Carolina, Paul has been to trial several times across the state and has tried multiple employment cases to a verdict. Paul has secured a multi-million-dollar verdict for an employee in an employment law case and multiple other money verdicts for his clients at trial. Paul's trial work includes cases as both plaintiffs and defense counsel. Paul has been approached to work as co-counsel to high profile attorneys from around the country, and his cases have received news attention throughout South Carolina and the nation. Keep up with articles about Paul's work at the CBPH Facebook Page.*

Originally from Greenville, South Carolina, Paul graduated from Presbyterian College in three years with two degrees (Spanish and Political Science), with honors, in 2009. At Presbyterian College Paul was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Pi Sigma Alpha Honors Fraternity, and student government. He next attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where he was a recipient of the William L. Bethea Jr. Scholarship and was a member of the Moot Court Bar. Paul graduated from the from USC Law in 2012. Paul clerked, while in law school, for a local attorney practicing employment law and the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office.

Paul began working for J. Lewis Cromer & Associates as a law clerk in June 2011. Lewis Cromer, Jay Babb, Ryan Hicks and Paul Porter formed Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC in January 2017. 

Paul lives in the Earlewood Neighborhood of Columbia with his wife Ashley Dickinson Porter and their dog Snoopy.

*Every case is different no result can be guaranteed.

Ryan K. Hicks
email
803-799-9530

Ryan K. Hicks is a member attorney at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. Ryan's practice focuses on employment law, business litigation, negligence claims involving school districts, and the representation of law enforcement officers. Ryan is also skilled in administrative matters, including, but not limited to, matters before the Administrative Law Court, and appeals. He strives for honesty in representing both prospective clients and clients alike, and believes that candid advice is deserved and necessary in zealous representation.

Ryan's employment practice focuses on various legal claims, including discrimination (race, gender, disaiblity, religion, etc.), harassment, retaliation, constructive discharge, public policy discharge, family medical leave, wages claims (under both the Fair Labor Standards Act and South Carolina Payment of Wages Act), and civil torts. These claims are used to represent both public and privates employees, in both State and Federal courts. Ryan's practice also includes representing clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") and/or South Carolina Human Affairs Commission ("SCHAC"). He also regularly represents state and local government employees in pre-suit grievance processes and in subsequent litigation, and has even represented federal employees in equal employment opportunity ("EEO") matters. A portion of Ryan's practice is also devoted to reprensenting law enforcement personnel in employment litigation matters as well as certification matters before the South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Council.   In addition to his employment practice, Ryan also handles school district negligence cases, construction litigation, and other civil matters. 

Ryan regularly works cases from start to finish, beginning with pre-suit negotiations, through the ligitation process, including discovery, to trial, and even appeals. Ryan has tried several employment cases to a verdict, and his trial work also includes representing criminal defendants at trial. 

Ryan is a South Carolina native, and a graduate of the University of South Carolina, where he received a B.A. in Political Science in 2009. He went on to graduate from the Florida Coastal School of Law, with honors, in 2012, where he was a Dean's Scholar and recipient of the Governor's Merit Scholarship. Ryan also attended the University of South Carolina School of Law as a visiting student. During law school, Ryan clerked for a law firm whose primary practice area included civil litigation and association representation. He also gained invaluable experience in the areas of criminal defense, contract dispute(s), and construction litigation.

Ryan began working for J. Lewis Cromer & Associates as an associate attorney in June 2013. Lewis Cromer, Jay Babb, Paul Porter, and Ryan formed Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC in January 2017.

Ryan currently lives in nearby Lexington with his wife, Shannon, and their two children, Kyleigh and Beckham. When not in the office, Ryan spends his time with his family, on Lake Murray, in the outdoors hunting and fishing, or competing in triathlons.

*Every case is different and no result can be guaranteed. 

Shannon M. Polvi
email
803.799.9530

Shannon Polvi (Shannon) is an associate attorney with Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. Shannon has been with the firm since March 2014. Shannon’s legal career has focused on advocating for employees in South Carolina.

Shannon's practice focuses on the employee/ plaintiff side of employment and labor law with various employment cases brought before federal, state, administrative, and appellate courts. Shannon represents individuals in discharge, wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, medical leave, whistleblower, and denial of benefits litigation (ERISA). Shannon also works with clients on claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, S.C. Human Affairs Commission, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, State Employee Grievance Committee, Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, and Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Prior to her employment with CBPH, Shannon clerked at the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs and Mabry Law Firm, LLC. Shannon additionally participated in the Consumer Bankruptcy Clinic and the Judicial Observation Experience with the Honorable Amy McCulloch, Richland County Probate Judge.

Before attending the University of South Carolina School of Law, Shannon worked in Target retail stores for two years as an Executive Team Leader and she was a volunteer teacher in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

In her personal time, Shannon travels the world, attends church, and spends quality time with family and friends.
 
 

Elizabeth Bowen
email
803.799.9530

Elizabeth M. Bowen “Beth” has a passion for representing the underrepresented. She represents workers in employment suits, plaintiffs in general civil litigation, and children in education and family law matters.

Beth has been around the law her whole life and started working for Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC (then J. Lewis Cromer & Associates, LLC) when she was 19. She comes from a long line of successful Plaintiff’s lawyers. Her father and grandfather (Benjamin “Ben” Bowen Sr. and Benjamin “Chuck” Bowen Jr.) are both known for their successful worker’s compensation and civil litigation practice in Greenville, South Carolina.

Beth is from Greenville, where she graduated from Wade Hampton High School. Beth attended Clemson University after graduating high school, and later converted to a Gamecock and graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2014, Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. Beth next attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where she graduated in May of 2017.

Beth served as a peer mentor in Law School, and as a member and Membership Outreach Coordinator of the American Constitution Society while in law school. Beth also gained practical experience through the law school’s Special Education Law clinic where she became enthusiastic about representing the rights of children and students.

Beth was admitted to the Bar in 2017. She holds a Children’s Law Certificate and serves as a guardian ad litem in Richland County.

Beth worked in many roles at CBPH before becoming an attorney. She began as a runner and file clerk while in college, and took on more hands-on case work as a law clerk during law school. Beth’s familiarity with CBPH and employment law provided invaluable assistance coordinating CBPH’s large Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and South Carolina Human Affairs practice during her later years of law school and while awaiting Bar results. As a law clerk, Beth also performed research in a family law matter that was instrumental to an appeal, which involved keeping a child from being prematurely sent to another nation during contested adoption proceedings. Beth also served as a trial clerk to one of CBPH’s partners during a major trial successfully representing a school board in Fall 2017.

Beth’s employment practice involves workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, whistleblower protection, civil rights law and common law torts. Beth can also assist in general civil litigation, family law, probate court matters, and special education law.

Beth’s legal background and life experiences make her aptly qualified to assist South Carolinians in their legal disputes. 

Elizabeth Millender
email
803-799-9530

Elizabeth Millender is an Associate Attorney with Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. CBPH hired Elizabeth in May 2018 as a law clerk and she transitioned to associate attorney after her admission to the South Carolina Bar in 2019.

Elizabeth graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2016. Elizabeth next attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where she graduated Cum Laude in 2019.

While in law school, Elizabeth was a Peer Mentor to incoming first year students, served as Senior Articles Editor for the ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, and worked as a Research Assistant to Professor Ned Snow, the University’s Intellectual Property professor. Elizabeth also enjoyed volunteering with the Pro Bono program, especially for the My Will Project where she assisted in the drafting of estate planning documents for the community, and looks forward to continuing to serve the Columbia region through this program now that she is an attorney.

Elizabeth solidified this love of serving the underrepresented while working in the University of South Carolina School of Law’s Environmental Law Clinic. In this role, Elizabeth represented non-profit organizations and helped them solve environmental, contractual, and property issues so that they could fulfill their goal of making Columbia a healthier, more beautiful, and sustainable city.

Elizabeth is passionate about representing South Carolina workers in employment claims. Elizabeth’s employment practice involves workplace discrimination, wrongful termination, sexual harassment, whistleblower protection, civil rights law, and common law torts. Elizabeth also works with clients on claims before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, S.C. Human Affairs Commission, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, and State Employee Grievance Committee. Elizabeth can additionally help clients with contract formation and disputes, general civil litigation, probate matters, and land use/property disputes.

When she is not in the office, Elizabeth likes to camp, hike, and visit national and state parks and forests. You can also find Elizabeth cheering on the Gamecocks at Williams-Brice and the Colonial Life Arena or spending time with family and friends in Orangeburg and Columbia.

Elizabeth hails from Cameron, South Carolina. Elizabeth and her husband Keith (a youth pastor and state employee) live in Orangeburg with their two dogs Mia and Angus.