Thomas L. Harper Jr. Principal

Phone: (843) 720-4648   |  Fax: (843) 723-7398  |  Email: tharper@buistmoore.com

Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights
Business and Banking
Real Estate

Thomas L. Harper, Jr. received his Juris Doctor from Duke University in 1996 and his Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Duke University in 1992. Mr. Harper concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial real estate acquisitions and development, commercial leasing, and finance.  Mr. Harper represents insurance companies, banks and other institutional lenders in making and restructuring construction and permanent loans, and in commercial loan workouts, restructuring and collection.  He represents a number of real estate developers of retail, office, industrial and multi-use projects throughout the Southeast, including several shopping centers and single tenant build-to-suit projects. He assists clients in various phases of the real estate development process, including land acquisition, rezoning and variances (including planned development districts for large scale projects), project construction and disposition. A significant component of Mr. Harper's practice is the representation of landlords and tenants in commercial leasing. This includes anchor and in-line shopping center space, as well as office, warehousing and industrial properties.  He has spoken extensively on various issues pertaining to creditors’ rights in South Carolina, including the appointment of receivers and other issues related to complex foreclosures and the disposition of distressed properties. 

Educational Background:

•	Duke University School of Law, 1996 - J.D.
	1995 Dean’s Cup Moot Court Competition, Winner Moot Court Board Duke University Writing Program, Instructor
•	Duke University, 1992 - B.A. in English, Cum Laude
•	Woodberry Forest School, 1989

Honors:

•	The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law

Publications, Papers, Programs and Seminars:

•	“Commercial Lease Evictions in South Carolina,” February 2002
•	“Bankruptcy: A Creditor’s Perspective,” February 2002
•	“Collection Practices, Procedures & Pitfalls,” December 2002
•	“Advanced Real Estate Law in South Carolina,” March 2003
•	“Workouts, Foreclosures and Other Collection Remedies,” April 2003

Professional Organizations:

•	American Bar Association •Real Property, Probate & Trust Section • Workouts, Foreclosures & Bankruptcy Committee
•	Charleston County Bar Association
•	South Carolina Bar Association • Lawyer-Accountant Relations Committee, 1997 • Real Estate and Corporation, Banking & Securities Sections

Bar Admissions:

•	South Carolina Supreme Court, 1996
•	United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 2001
•	United States District Court for the District of South Carolina, 1996

Community Organizations:

•	Citizens’ Advisory Committee, Hollings Cancer Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, 2003-present
•	Board of Directors, Carolina Youth Development Center, 2004-2005
•	Leadership South Carolina, 1998-1999
•	Steering Committee, East Cooper Area Business Council, 2002