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:

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

Awards & Recognition:

• AV® Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
• Leadership in Law Recipient, 2014
• Best Lawyers® in America, 2014, 2015
• Best Lawyers® Columbia, SC Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law "Lawyer of the Year" 2015
• Legion of Merit, US Army
• Bronze Star, US Army
• Fannie Mae Retained Counsel Program (SC)
• Freddie Mac Designated Counsel (SC)
• Lender Processing Services Excellence Award, 2006-2009
• Lender Processing Services Summit Award, 2010

Title Agent:

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

Military:

• 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: 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