Peter M. Balthazor of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. Peter M. Balthazor practices in the areas of general civil litigation, government litigation, insurance defense and municipal law. Pete graduated cum laude from Clemson University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Resource Management. Prior to attending law school, Pete worked as a consulting forester. Pete attended law school at the University of South Carolina School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 2001.

Upon graduation from law school, Pete served as a law clerk for the Honorable Carol Connor at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. After completing his clerkship, Pete worked as an associate at McAngus Goudelock & Courie, focusing on tort litigation and insurance defense. He later served as an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Columbia where he represented the City in civil and criminal matters, and advised departments concerning procurement, contracts, and real estate.

Pete is a member of the South Carolina Bar and Richland County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice before all South Carolina state courts, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Pete is also a member of the Municipal Attorneys Association and serves on its board. Pete resides in Columbia, South Carolina with his wife Elizabeth and their son. Pete enjoys volunteering for Cub Scouts, coaching youth sports and serving in his church.

Emily N. Barker is an associate attorney in the firm’s Charlotte office. Emily graduated from Meredith College with a B.A. in political science and would go on to earn her Juris Doctor degree from Elon University School of Law. While in law school, she served as a mentor, academic fellow, and was heavily involved as a member of the Moot Court Board. Her strong organization and advocacy skills have allowed her to represent creditors, focusing her practice primarily in bankruptcy and foreclosure.

When not practicing law, Emily enjoys attending sporting events and concerts with her friends, working out, and spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Bar Admissions:
• North Carolina, 2022
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina, 2022
• United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, 2022
• United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, 2023

Heidi B. Carey of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. She represents mortgage banking creditors and manages the day-to-day operations of the firm’s default servicing practice. Ms. Carey joined Riley Pope and Laney in 2008 and became a member of the firm in 2010.

Ms. Carey graduated magna cum laude from the Honors College of the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, a minor in Business, and a Performance Certificate from the School of Music in Cello. Upon graduation, she attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where she was Articles Editor of the South Carolina Environmental Law Journal. She began her law practice representing clients in business litigation and commercial real estate matters.

In 1998 she became in-house counsel to Fleet Mortgage Group, Inc. and Washington Mutual Bank managing mortgage banking litigation nationwide, and advising corporate clients on a wide range of mortgage servicing issues relating to customer service, tax payments, hazard insurance, foreclosures, collections, loss mitigation, mortgage insurance, and bankruptcy. While at Fleet Mortgage, she was also a member of the Fleet Mortgage Corp. Privacy Task Force for implementation of practices and procedures to comply with the newly enacted Gramm-Leach-Bliley Financial Privacy Act.

Since 2001, Ms. Carey has practiced residential foreclosure and bankruptcy law and supervised and managed both paralegals and attorneys. She is a frequent speaker at default servicing and on-site lender training events. Ms. Carey is a member of the South Carolina Bar and the Richland County Bar Associations and admitted to practice before all South Carolina state courts and the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. She is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, is listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law, and has been recognized several times as part of the Legal Elite of the Midlands for foreclosure by the Greater Columbia Business Monthly magazine.

Ms. Carey continues her musical career as a tenured cello section member of the South Carolina Philharmonic, and also serves at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Ms. Carey, her husband Ken, and their two children reside in Columbia, South Carolina.

David A. DeMasters of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. Dave’s practice includes a wide variety of civil litigation focusing on insurance defense, civil rights litigation, medical malpractice defense and governmental liability defense. Dave has an active litigation and appellate practice, where he has successfully defended cases in both state and federal jurisdictions. Dave graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in History. Following his graduation, Dave completed a year of service with City Year of Columbia. Dave then served eight years in the United States Army Reserve.

Upon graduation from the University of South Carolina School of Law, Dave worked for the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. Prior to joining Riley Pope & Laney, Dave practiced at Davidson, Wren & DeMasters, PA, and that firm’s predecessor, Davidson & Lindemann, PA.

Dave is a member of the South Carolina Bar and the Richland County Bar Associations. He is admitted to practice before all South Carolina state courts, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Stephanie M. Huggins represents clients in commercial transactions and creditors in foreclosure proceedings throughout South Carolina. Ms. Huggins graduated magna cum laude from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a minor in Legal History. Upon graduation, she attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where she was on the Dean’s List. During law school, she served as a law clerk for the Law Offices of Pamela Simmons-Beasley.

Ms. Huggins began her legal career as a Contract Attorney with Riley Pope & Laney, LLC. She later accepted a position with BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina working as a Real Estate Analyst managing a multi-million dollar real estate portfolio and assisting in commercial lease negotiations. Before accepting a permanent position with Riley Pope & Laney, she practiced default services law for creditors with another regional firm. Ms. Huggins is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and currently resides in Columbia.

Roy F. Laney of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. He practices in the areas of commercial transactions and litigation. He graduated cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in European History. In 1991 he graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law where he was inducted into the Order of the Wig and Robe.

Upon graduating from law school, Mr. Laney served as law clerk to the Honorable L. Henry McKellar. After completing his clerkship, Mr. Laney worked as an Associate at Pope and Rodgers where he practiced in the areas of commercial and governmental litigation. He later served as Associate General Counsel for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. As Associate General Counsel, Mr. Laney was responsible for software licensing, commercial real estate and insurance law matters.

Mr. Laney is a former President of the South Carolina Bar and the Richland County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before all South Carolina state courts, the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Laney served two terms as Chairman of the South Carolina Bar Professional Responsibility Committee. He has previously served as Secretary and Treasurer of the South Carolina Bar, and a member of the South Carolina Bar Board of Governors and House of Delegates. He is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell and is listed in the Best Lawyers in America for Bet the Company Litigation.

T. Lowndes Pope of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. He represents creditors in foreclosure and bankruptcy proceedings as well as manages real estate transactions. Mr. Pope earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Clemson University and graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He began his law practice with the firm of Haynsworth, Baldwin, Johnson, and Greaves, PA, advising and defending clients in employment litigation matters. Mr. Pope later joined the firm of McAngus Goudelock and Courie, PA, where he practiced administrative law.

Prior to forming Riley Pope & Laney, LLC, Mr. Pope served as Vice President of Old Republic National Title Insurance Company with legal and managerial responsibility over the South Carolina operations. Mr. Pope is a member of the South Carolina Bar and Richland County Bar Associations having served two terms as Chairman of the South Carolina Bar Technology Law Committee. Mr. Pope is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell, and admitted to practice before all South Carolina state courts and the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Mr. Pope, his wife Laine, and their three boys reside in Columbia, South Carolina.

Meredith M. Robertson of Riley Pope & Laney is an attorney in Columbia, SC. She represents clients in real estate transactions. Ms. Robertson graduated cum laude from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing. She earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and her M.B.A. degree from the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business. Upon graduation from law school, Ms. Robertson served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable M. Duane Shuler at the South Carolina Court of Appeals. She has experience representing creditors in foreclosure proceedings and was a founding member of the law firm of Robertson & Collier, LLC where she handled real estate transactions.

Ms. Robertson is an affiliate member of the Central Carolina Realtor’s Association. She, her husband Rob and their daughter reside in Columbia, South Carolina, and Ms. Robertson enjoys volunteering at Brennen Elementary School and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.