Bill brings more than 30 years of courtroom experience to Hopkins Law Firm, where he represents individuals, businesses, and communities across South Carolina. Known for his relentless advocacy, strategic litigation skills, and deep commitment to justice, Bill has built a career handling complex, high-stakes cases in state and federal courts.
Born and raised in Bishopville, South Carolina, Bill learned the value of hard work at a young age while working on his grandparents' family farm and roadside produce stand. During high school, he worked on local cotton farms — lessons that shaped his grit and determination.
Thanks to an academic scholarship, Bill attended North Carolina State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Chemistry. He later worked at the Grace Bleachery Mill in Lancaster, rising to third shift supervisor. That job helped him save enough to attend law school.
Bill has tried over 100 cases to jury verdict in state and federal courts. In 1993, he earned his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law and began practicing law with the prestigious Columbia firm of McCutchen Blanton Rhodes & Johnson. In 2010, after almost 20 years of experience working on complex national litigation where he was often appointed by federal judges to coordinate major cases, Bill joined Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C., an nationally recognized law firm, where he led or co-led several landmark cases that resulted in multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements:
· $1.18 Million Business Fraud Verdict – Bill secured a jury verdict in favor of a client who was wrongfully excluded from a business opportunity he developed.
Read more »
· $2.3 Million Environmental Verdict – Bill obtained a jury verdict for residents harmed by noxious odors from landfill operations in Lee County, South Carolina.
Read more »
· $70 Million TD Bank Overdraft Fee Settlement – Bill was appointed by a federal judge as class action liaison counsel in the In re TD Bank, N.A. Debit Card Overdraft Fee Litigation, where Bill played a key role in achieving a $70 million settlement on behalf of consumers improperly charged excessive overdraft fees.
Read more »
· $338 Million Pharmaceutical Average Wholesale Price (AWP) Litigation – Selected by former South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster (now-Governor) lead counsel for the State of South Carolina, Bill helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars from pharmaceutical companies that overcharged Medicaid and health plans through inflated drug pricing.
· Landfill Cleanup in Bishopville – Bill has led the charge against Republic Industries, an Arizona-based waste company dumping out-of-state waste — including human waste and chemical sludge — into a local landfill. His litigation has forced the company to invest more than $13 million into site cleanup and environmental remediation. These lawsuits are ongoing.
· Life Insurance Race Discrimination – On behalf of more than 400 African-American South Carolinians, Bill helped expose and end racially discriminatory practices by life insurance companies that charged higher premiums based solely on race.
· Workplace Sexual Harassment Protections – In the landmark case Ocheltree v. Scollon Productions, Bill successfully argued before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to strengthen the legal standards used to prove gender-based harassment.
In 2013, Bill opened the Hopkins Law Firm, where he has continued to focus on civil litigation, personal injury, commercial disputes, and helping individuals with complex divorce and child custody matters. He brings a depth of trial experience and a tireless commitment to seeking justice for those who have been wronged. His clients appreciate his thorough preparation, direct communication, and tenacity in court — qualities he's honed from his days on the farm to the courtroom.
Bill remains closely connected to his hometown of Bishopville and takes pride in serving clients throughout South Carolina. When he isn't practicing law, he enjoys spending time golfing, hunting, and spending with his family, including his four grandchildren.
