Samuel C. Waters

Since 1986, Samuel C. Waters has focused his practice on creditors' rights, bankruptcy, and consumer litigation. His previous legal experiences were as Trust Officer for C&S National Bank (1974-6), Counsel for the Department of Veterans Affairs, District of South Carolina (1976-1984), Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1981-4), Woodward Leventis Unger Herndon & Ormand (1984-6), and Rogers Townsend & Thomas (1986-2014). In 2014, Waters established The Waters Firm, LLC, and shortly thereafter became Of Counsel with the Finkel Law Firm LLC.

Waters serves or has served on the boards of Rogers Townsend & Thomas PC, the American Legal and Financial Network (ALFN), the Mortgage Bankers of the Carolinas (MBAC), Legal League 100 (Five Star Institute of the DS News), and the Committee on Actual Real Estate Solutions (CARES). He has regularly contributed materials on mortgage lending issues for trade publications and client training programs. He is a Colonel (retired), Judge Advocate Generals Corps, USAR, and was Commander of the 12 ^th JAG Det (1993-6).

Education:

• University of South Carolina, J.D., 1974
• University of South Carolina, Courses in Master's Program in History, 1968
• Presbyterian College, B.A., cum laude, 1966
• U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, 1984
• U.S. Army Adjutant Generals Corps Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, 1969, 1973
• U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, 1981, 1983

Bar Admissions:

• South Carolina Bar, 1974
• U.S. District Court of South Carolina, 1976
• U.S. Court of Military Appeals, 1986

Professional Associations and Memberships (Present and Past):

• South Carolina Bar (1974-)
  • Member, Military Law Section, Real Estate Section, and Senior Lawyers
• Richland County Bar Association (1984-)
  • Chairman, Master in Equity Committee
  • Committee Member
• Lexington County Bar Association
  • Committee Member
• American Bar Association
  • Law Practice Management Section
• American Legal and Financial Network (ALFN) (2003-)
  • Director (2 Terms)
  • Firm Representative
• Legal League 100 (DS News, a Division of Five Star Institute)
  • Advisory Board (2 Terms)
  • Firm Representative
• Mortgage Bankers of the Carolinas (MBAC) (1986-2019)
  • Board Member (3 Terms)
  • Chairman, South Carolina Legislative Committee
  • Loan Administrative Committee
  • Firm Representative
• Mortgage Lenders Association of Greater Columbia (MLAGC)
  • Firm Representative
• LPS (Lender Processing Services) Steering Committee
• Mortgage Bankers of America (MBA)
  • Firm Representative
• South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association
  • Firm Representative
• Committee for Actual Real Estate Solutions (CARES)
  • Former Director
• Palmetto Land Title Association
  • Firm Representative
• Giants of the Industry (Housing Wire)
  • Firm Representative

Awards & Recognition:

• AV® Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell® (1987-)
• Judicial AV® Preeminent Rating, Martindale-Hubbell® 2018
• Leadership in Law Recipient, 2014
• Super Lawyer 2012
• Best Lawyers® in America, 2014, 2015
• Best Lawyers® Columbia, SC Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law "Lawyer of the Year" 2015
• Lawyers of Distinction 2021, 2022
• Americas Most Honored Lawyers – Top 1% 2022, 2023
• Legal Elite of the Upstate 2022
• Elite Lawyer 2018, 2022
• Elite Lawyers of the South 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022
• Giants of the Industry (Housing Wire)
• Fannie Mae Retained Counsel Program (SC)
• Freddie Mac Designated Counsel (SC)
• Lender Processing Services Excellence Award, 2006-2009
• Lender Processing Services Summit Award, 2010
• Legion of Merit, US Army
• Bronze Star, US Army

Title Agent:

• Fidelity Title
• First American Title
• Stewart Guaranty Title
• Investors Title
• Chicago Title

Military (1966-1996):

• Second Lieutenant, Transportation Corps, U.S. Army, 1966
• Second Lieutenant, Adjutant Generals Corps, U.S. Army, 1968
• Major, Judge Advocate Generals Corps, U.S. Army, 1983
• Colonel (ret.), Judge Advocate Generals Corps
• Former Commander, 12th JAG Military Law Center, (USAR)
• Former Commander, 815th Personnel Service Company, (USAR)
• Active duty: Adjutant Generals Corps School, Ft. Benjamin Harrison, IN, US Army Personnel Center, Fort Lewis, WA; 79 ^th Engineer Group, US Army Vietnam (USARV), Plantation, Republic of Vietnam; 159 ^th Engineer Group, USARV, Long Bien, Republic of Vietnam; Ft. Buchanan, San Juan, PR.