Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms

About Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms

Established in Charleston in 1938, Barnwell Whaley Patterson & Helms, LLC is a law firm representing and counseling businesses and professionals in North and South Carolina, across the United States in federal court, and beyond. From its Charleston office at 211 King Street and a Wilmington office, the firm has developed a broad practice centered on complex civil litigation defense, professional liability defense, products liability, construction law, business law, estate planning, and insurance defense in state and federal courts. Its listed practice areas extend to administrative law, admiralty and maritime law, appellate practice, alternative dispute resolution, bad faith, bankruptcy creditor representation, commercial transactions, condo, property and HOA law, directors and officers liability, employment law and employment litigation, healthcare law, insurance coverage, intellectual property, mediation and arbitration, nursing home defense, patent law and litigation, personal injury, premises liability defense, probate and estate law, real estate and development, restaurant and hospitality law, subrogation and collections, timeshare development, toxic torts, trademark law, trade secrets, trucking and transportation law, and workers compensation litigation. The firm also provides mediation services and has patent and trademark attorneys handling intellectual property acquisitions and prosecution in the US and foreign jurisdictions, IP litigation, licensing, and trade secrets.

The firm serves businesses, professionals, insurers, self-insured businesses, and individuals facing negligence and other insured-risk claims. Reviewers have repeatedly highlighted the knowledge and professionalism of specific attorneys, including praise for efficient and effective intellectual property advice that considers business implications, and for precise, detailed work in immigration matters. Positive feedback also points to a welcoming atmosphere, with comments describing the lawyers as excellent and some staff as wonderful to work with. The firm’s peers have described its attorneys as lawyers’ lawyers, and the website notes that Barnwell Whaley is often retained for complex or difficult cases in a company’s portfolio.

At the same time, the client reviews include notable service limitations. One reviewer described a phone inquiry about a commercial auto policy coverage opinion ending abruptly, while another reported that a confirmed patent consultation was not on the books upon arrival. A separate reviewer said repeated messages about paperwork went unreturned. These accounts suggest that intake, scheduling, and call-back responsiveness have sometimes fallen short even though many reviews are positive. The overall picture is of a long-established, multi-practice firm with deep litigation and insurance defense capabilities, a strong base of satisfied clients, and an opportunity to improve consistency in front-end communication.