Biography
Emily Gifford Lucey is an attorney in the firm’s Charleston, South Carolina, office. Her law practice focuses on matters related to construction law, including surety law and commercial litigation. Emily defends design professionals and contractors in complex construction defect cases and has represented national, regional and local companies in such matters. Emily’s experience includes:
- Defending design professionals in complex matters with millions of dollars in claimed damages.
- Assisting sureties with investigations, defaults and indemnification actions.
- Defending contractors and subcontractors in disputes related to multi-family construction.
- Assisting construction clients with contract review, dispute resolution, and corporate issues.
Education
University of South Carolina Honors College
B.A., English (2001)
University of South Carolina School of Public Health
M.H.A. (2005)
University of South Carolina School of Law
J.D. (2005)
Associations & Professional Memberships
- American Bar Association, Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section
- Leadership Academy (2010-2011)
- TortSource Editorial Board, Past Editor-in-Chief, (2013-2015)
- Self-Insurers and Risk Managers Committee, Past Chair
- James L. Petigru Inn of Court, Member (2023 – present)
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorney’s Association
- Construction Law Committee, Member
- South Carolina Bar
- Construction Law Section, Past Chair
- Leadership Academy, Class of 2013
- South Carolina Women Lawyers Association, Member
- Surety Claims Institute, Member
Honors & Awards
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Construction Law (2018-2023, 2025)
- Litigation – Construction (2025)
- CALI Award Recipient, Constitutional Law
- Martindale-Hubbell, Rated AV Preeminent®for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability
- South Carolina Board of Arbitrator and Mediator Certification
- Arbitration (2018)
- Mediation (2015)
- South Carolina Lawyers Weekly
- Power List, Construction Law (2024)
- South Carolina Super Lawyers®
- Super Lawyer, Construction (2013-2024)
- Rising Star, Construction/ Surety Law (2012-2013)
Community Involvement
- South Carolina Attorney General’s Office
- Pro bono special prosecutor for criminal domestic violence prosecution (2006-2024)
- University of South Carolina Honors College
- Adjunct Faculty, Teaching Law and Popular Culture (2021-2022)
- University of South Carolina School of Law
- Adjunct Faculty, Teaching Legal Writing and Research (“LRAW”) (2020-2021)
- Capstone Course Presenter for Third-Year Law Students, (2014-2019; 2021-2023)
News & Articles
- Co-author, “A Survey of Certificate of Merit Statutes,” The Construction Lawyer, Volume 34, Spring 2014, Journal of the ABA Forum on the Construction Industry
- Co-author, “Rocket Man: A Case Study on Engineers’ Limitation of Liability Clauses”
- Co-author, “Bonds and Suretyship Chapter,” SC Bar Construction Law Deskbook (1st ed.)
- Author, “The National Practitioner Data Bank: Not for Public Consumption,” 42 Medical Trial Technique Quarterly 223, 2002.
- During law school, Mrs. Lucey served as the Editor-in-Chief of the “Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Journal”, as published by the American Bar Association Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section.