Jessie King

Jessie is a Shareholder in the Firm’s Environmental and Real Estate teams, where she has spent nearly 30 years advising on the full spectrum of environmental law involving land, air, and water, including solid waste, hazardous waste, water discharges, contamination, air permits, and emerging contaminants.

She works closely with clients to obtain environmental permits, respond to notices of violation and environmental litigation, navigate regulatory requirements, conduct due diligence, and negotiate business transactions. She is highly respected in the field and is known for her ability to guide companies through the due diligence process in a merger, sale, purchase, or the siting of a new facility. Her clients include manufacturers, landfill owners, miners, farmers, developers, landlords, tenants, and financial institutions.

Jessie previously served as Chief Attorney for the Environmental Quality Control Division of the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES), the agency responsible for protecting public health and the state’s natural resources. In that role, she played a key part in writing and enforcing environmental laws, regulations, and permits related to air, water, land use, and waste management. This inside perspective and deep regulatory experience strongly informs her current practice.

Jessie earned her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law and holds her B.A. from Roanoke College.

Community & Professional

• Carolina Air Pollution Control Association, Past-President
• Solid Waste Association of North America, Board Member
• South Carolina Manufacturers & Commerce
• South Carolina Aggregates Association 
• North Carolina Manufacturers Association
• National Waste & Recycling Association
• Richland County Bar Association
• South Carolina Women's Law Association

Recognition

• Chambers USA – Environmental Law (2017-present)

• The Best Lawyers in America® – Environmental Law, Litigation – Environmental (2018-present)

• Best Lawyers® – Columbia “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Environmental (2020, 2022-2024, 2026)