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COLUMBIA, SC:  Pennington Law Firm, LLC has announced that L. Cody Smith has been elected President of the Board of Directors for the Community Mediation Center (the “CMC”).  The CMC provides low-cost conflict resolution services to the Midlands community.  The CMC’s trained mediators help resolve disputes between friends, neighbors, groups, family members and between employees and employers.  Smith has served on the Board of Directors for the CMC since 2006 and is a certified Family Mediator.

“I am excited to serve as President of the Board of Directors for the CMC.  I look forward to assisting the CMC in finding more and better ways to aid the people of the Midlands in the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”    


 

COLUMBIA, SC:  Pennington Law Firm, LLC (www.pennlawfirm.com), a Columbia-based law firm practicing primarily in the area of wireless communications law, has announced that Jessica Clancy Crowson, Attorney and Member at Pennington Law Firm, LLC has been named a 2011 Woman of Influence by Greater Columbia Business Monthly. The awards are presented annually to a select group of women who have made outstanding contributions to their professions, companies and the community.

"I am honored to be named as a 2011 Woman of Influence," said Mrs. Crowson. "The women recognized this year are an outstanding group, and I am pleased to be considered their colleague."

Mrs. Crowson, originally from Camden, South Carolina, graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Charleston in 1997 with a major in Political Science and a minor in English. She then went on to Vanderbilt University Law School, where she graduated in the top 1/3 of her class in 2000. At graduation, Mrs. Crowson was awarded the Jordan A. Quick Memorial award, recognizing her as giving the greatest contribution to the law school through leadership. Following law school graduation, she was a law clerk for the Honorable Kaye G. Hearn, then moved to St. Marys, Georgia and began working as an Assistant State Attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida. In 2004, Mrs. Crowson moved back to South Carolina and began practicing civil law.  She was an attorney at Howser, Newman and Besley for two years and then became an attorney at Pennington Law Firm, LLC, where she currently is a Member and practices law full time. Mrs. Crowson’s practice is principally wireless telecommunications, involving transactional, litigation, and appellate matters.

Mrs. Crowson is a member of the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association and Richland County Bar Association and is licensed to practice law in both South Carolina and Florida. In 2009, she authored and published an article entitled “Standing in South Carolina; What is Required and Who has it?” in South Carolina Lawyer.  This article was based primarily on ATC South v. Charleston County, 380 SC 191, 669 SE2d 337 (2008), a case Mrs. Crowson successfully argued before the South Carolina Supreme Court and which is still controlling as to standing in South Carolina.  In this case, the South Carolina Supreme Court recognized for the first time the public importance exception to the standing rules.  Mrs. Crowson also handled the case of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company v. Linda A. Hartough on behalf of SCE&G.  In this case the South Carolina Court of Appeals ruled for Mrs. Crowson, holding for the first time in South Carolina that an option contract is valid and enforceable despite the lack of an expiration date.

When not practicing law, Mrs. Crowson is a part time instructor at the University of Phoenix, teaching law classes to both undergraduate and MBA students.  She is married with three small children, the youngest of whom was just born in December 2010. Mrs. Crowson is an active member of Mt. Horeb United Methodist Church in Lexington, South Carolina.  Mrs. Crowson and her family enjoy spending time on Lake Murray and cheering on the Clemson tigers.

 

COLUMBIA, NC – May 24, 2011: This week I attended the TIA Inside the Network Conference in Dallas Texas. TIA stands for Telecommunications Industry Association. This was their first annual trade show. Like most trade shows, the time was filled with classes in the morning with three to four tracks you can take on different subject matters. Then, mid morning, there were keynote speakers, which included industry leaders addressing topics relevant to the trade show. The afternoon was filled with more classes and free time to visit the trade floor.

The trade floor was quite a site. Much like you would expect it was basically a big open space where vendors had booths to showcase their products and or services. This trade show, however, was a bit unique because most of the vendors were manufacturers of telephone equipment of all sorts. Wireless was not the emphasis.  Believe it or not, there was telephone service before cell phones! Yes! That industry, while declining, still exists and is trying hard to reinvent itself.

I chose to focus my attention on the track of classes titled “The Mobile Backhaul, Data & Video Network”.  Backhaul involves the telecom services of taking voice and data from the cell site, and connecting it back to the MTSO of the wireless carrier. It’s much more complicated than that, but that’s a general explanation and it’s a bigger issue now than ever and I learned much about it.

I also enjoyed the speakers, Randall Stephenson, Chairman and CEO of AT&T and Anthony Melone, Executive Vice President and CTO of Verizon. Both shared their knowledge, views and insight of the industry and where it’s heading.

While some may see these tradeshows and conferences as a waste of time, I tend to disagree. This industry is constantly changing and it is critical to keep an eye on what is going on. As I reflected on the days’ events, the key tips I walked away with really apply to anyone in business, no matter the industry:

1.    Always learn. Learn something new every day. Read your industry journals, listen and watch the leaders and forecasters.

2.    Stay Involved. Seek out and attend industry-relevant events.

3.    Anticipate the Unknown. The one constant is that things will change. Be ready. Anticipate the change – don’t just react to it.

4.    Think!!! – Or be left behind.

Gary C. Pennington, Esq.
Pennington Law Firm, LLC
 

COLUMBIA, NC – March 24, 2011: Danny Agresta, President of the Carolinas Wireless Association announced that Gary C. Pennington, Esq., Managing Member of Pennington Law Firm, LLC, has been named General Counsel for the Carolinas Wireless Association. In this role, he will provide legal advice as it pertains to matters concerning the telecommunications and wireless industry nationwide.

“It is an honor and privilege to work with the Board of Directors for Carolinas Wireless Association,” said Pennington. “They are truly committed to providing education, awareness and opportunity to the ever-changing wireless industry. I’m looking forward to working with the team.”

Pennington's primary practice area is the representation of wireless communications carriers and related industries. This work involves the many legal components associated with the organized deployment of wireless infrastructure and technology across the United States on an expedited basis, as well as the legal support necessary for the continued evolution of that infrastructure and technology. His expertise includes the acquisitions and dispositions of wireless assets, negotiating master lease agreements for both tower companies and wireless communications carriers for national use and application. He has also written and negotiated zoning ordinances that impact wireless communications companies as well as represented companies that provide fiber related services and in negotiating broadband contracts for implementation of broadband networks.

For more information about Gary Pennington or Pennington Law Firm, visit www.pennlawfirm.com.

COLUMBIA, SC – Pennington Law Firm is pleased to announce that Dana A. Pellizzari has joined the Firm in an Of Counsel position.  Dana will be primarily working on zoning issues in North Carolina.

Pellizzari previously worked for the Firm before moving to Wilmington, North Carolina in August 2006.  She graduated with a J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1995. 

About Pennington Law Firm, LLC
Located at 1501 Main Street in Columbia, SC, Pennington Law Firm, LLC, practices primarily in the area of wireless communications law, with a goal to be the best wireless communications law firm in the United States.
For more information, visit www.pennlawfirm.com or call 803-929-1070

COLUMBIA, SC – Gary C. Pennington, Esquire, Principal of the Pennington Law Firm, LLP, announced that effective January 1, 2011, the Firm’s designation will change to a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Gary C. Pennington is the managing member. Sherry N. Sutton is also a member. Jessica Clancy Crowson has received a promotion and will also be a member of the Firm.

“In every business, it is important to recognize when it is time to reorganize and adjust the corporate structure,” said Pennington. “By making this change, we are positioning ourselves to maximize our efficiencies so we can continue to achieve the most successful outcomes for our clients.”

Located at 1501 Main Street in Columbia, SC, Pennington Law Firm, LLP, practices primarily in the area of wireless communications law, with a goal to be the best wireless communications law firm in the United States. Pennington Law Firm’s primary focus is the representation of wireless communications companies throughout the United States.

For more information about Pennington Law Firm, LLP, visit www.pennlawfirm.com or call 803-929-1070.