JOSEPH E. BURNS

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA

Of Counsel

phone 803-767-3479

fax 803-973-0333

Joseph Burns represents banks and other financial services clients in a wide variety of capacities. His practice includes problem loan workouts and restructurings, commercial loan transactions, serving as a court-appointed receiver or commercial lending expert witness. He also advises lending institutions on compliance and regulatory matters, lender liability issues and risk management.

Joe’s background for his legal practice is in a successful forty-three-year banking career. During the last nineteen years of his banking career, Joe served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of South State Bank and as such, was a Member of the Senior Executive Operating Committee. Joe established and managed the Office of General Counsel which included four attorneys and support staff.

While at South State, Joe was responsible for directly supervising Loan Administration, Legal, and Special Assets. He was also responsible for Compliance, Enterprise Risk Management, and Bank Insurance at various times.  Joe served as Chairman of the General Loan Committee, as a member of the Asset-Liability Committee, and as a member of the Management Risk Committee.

Areas of Practice:

• Banking and Finance

Bar Admissions:

• South Carolina, 2023

Education:

• B.S., University of South Carolina School of Business, Columbia, South Carolina, 1976
• J.D., University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, South Carolina, 2022
• South Carolina Bankers Association Bankers School, 1983
• Graduate School of Banking of the South, Louisianna State University, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• Member, York County Bar Association
• Member, Independent Banks of South Carolina

Honors and Awards:

• International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi
• Graduated first in his class for the South Carolina Bankers Association Banker’s School 
• Graduated in the top five of his class for the Graduate School of Banking of the South at Louisianna State University