CONTACT

P: 864-242-8235

F: 864-235-8900

rbarker@wyche.com

PRACTICE AREAS

• Architectural Works Copyright Infringement Litigation

Rita Bolt Barker, MEMBER

Rita works primarily in the area of general litigation, withan emphasis on environmental and insurance coverageissues. Her varied environmental experience includesadvising clients on matters arising under the EndangeredSpecies Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, theComprehensive Environmental Response Compensationand Liability Act, the Resource Conservation and RecoveryAct, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act and the SCPollution Control Act. She assists clients in investigatingand responding to matters such as permitting challenges,requests for information and enforcement actions beforeadministrative agencies, including the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and the South Carolina Department ofHealth and Environmental Control. Rita has taughtAdministrative Law at Clemson University andEnvironmental Law at Furman University. Rita advisesclients on assessing environmental risks and incentivesassociated with corporate transactions, including mergers,acquisitions, and real estate deals. Rita’s extensiveexperience in the area of insurance coverage includesassisting clients in assessing adequacy of coverage, filingclaims, and securing coverage for defense andindemnification costs. Rita is also a member of the firm’sarchitectural copyright infringement litigation team, andshe chairs the firm’s Recruiting Committee.

WYCHE RITA BOLT BARKER 1

• Environmental and Sustainability

• Litigation

• Insurance Coverage

• Big Case Litigation

• Novel Questions of Law

EDUCATION

2004, J.D.Harvard Law School, Harvard Women's Law Journal,Executive Editor; President, Board of Student Advisers;Legal Writing and Research Teaching Assistant

2001, B.A.Clemson University, Political Science & Speech andCommunication Studies, summa cum laude; Student BodyPresident, Norris Medal Winner

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

Environmental:

• Representing a governmental entity in a complex dispute arising fromexpansion of a water infrastructure project

• Representing a major metropolitan city in water allocation litigation

• Advising real estate developers to enroll property in the SC brownfieldsprogram

• Advising buyers of potential environmental liabilities associated withpurchases of manufacturing assets

• Assisting businesses to pursue green incentives for renewable energy andenergy efficiency projects

• Representing property owners in litigation to recover diminution of propertyvalue caused by contamination

• Representing clients across all business sectors in DHEC and EPA enforcementactions

• Assisting manufacturers to comply with the Consumer Product SafetyImprovement Act

• Representing real estate developers in litigation to enforce restrictivecovenants

• Appellate litigation regarding statutory interpretation of coastal developmentlegislation

Insurance:

• Auditing businesses’ insurance coverage to determine appropriate scope ofcoverage

• Advising manufacturing clients in procuring specialized coverage for uniquerisks

• Assisting clients to file claims after property and business losses

• Securing insurance coverage for defense and indemnification costs

• Representing clients in declaratory judgment actions arising from coveragedisputes

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

2007–Present

Wyche, P.A.

WYCHE RITA BOLT BARKER 2

2005–2007 Associate, King & Spalding, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia

2004–2005Law Clerk, Hon. Beverly B. Martin, United States District Court,Atlanta, Georgia

BAR & COURT ADMISSIONS

• South Carolina Bar, 2008

• Georgia Bar, 2004

PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES`

• Haynsworth Perry Inn of Court

• Green Ribbon Advisory Committee, City of Greenville

• Leadership Greenville, Class 37

• Greenville Forward, Board of Directors (Former Chair)

• Brownfield Task Force, City of Greenville

• Greenville Bikeshare Steering Committee

• Upstate Forever Volunteer

• Greenville Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Issues Committee

• South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Tech Committee

• Georgia Bar Association, Environmental Section

• South Carolina Bar Association, Environmental Section

• American Bar Association, Section of Environment, Energy, and Resources,Environmental Transactions & Brownfields Committee and EnvironmentalLitigation & Toxic Torts Committee

• Harvard Law School Alumni Association Volunteer

• Clemson University Library Ambassador

• Friends of the Reedy River

• Honorary Chair, South Carolina 4-H Congress

• Clemson University Center for the Visual Arts Volunteer

• Carolinas Air Pollution Control Association, Member

PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

• Federal Environmental Law in the Trump Administration, South Carolina BarConvention, January 18, 2018

• Environmental Law in South Carolina (4th Ed. 2016), Contributing Author

• Environmental Matters Blog

• Legal Update: US Supreme Court & South Carolina, Carolinas Air PollutionControl Association, Spring Conference, April 2015

• Proposed Changes to the Mining Act, Mining Association of South Carolina,Spring Conference, April 2015

• M&A Buyer Protection Beyond Indemnifications and Escrows, StraffordWebinar, September 2013

• Summary of Considerations for Allocating Environmental Liabilities inTransactions, Co-Author, October 2012

• Sample Buyer’s Environmental Due Diligence Checklist, Co-Author, October2012

• Wyche Roundtable on "Managing Environmental Risks in BusinessTransactions," Presenter, September 2012

WYCHE RITA BOLT BARKER 3

• Doing Business in South Carolina Guide, co-author of Section VII:Environmental Law, updated August 2010

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as heard on the "South Carolina Business Review"with Mike Switzer broadcast September 2009

• Redeveloping Contaminated Sites: Turning Brownfields Into Green, as heardon "South Carolina Business Review" with Mike Switzer broadcast July 18,2008

• Insurance Recovery in Connection with Property Damage and Interruption ofBusiness, Web Client Seminar, August 2006

HONORS AND AWARDS

2018Best Lawyers 2018 Greenville Environmental Law "Lawyer of theYear"

2014 -Present

Listed in Chambers USA

2012 -Present

Named a "Rising Star" by South Carolina Super Lawyers

2013Received the "Distinguished Environmental Advocacy Award" fromthe American Bar Association

2012 -Present

Recognized as "Legal Elite" by the Greenville Business Magazine

2012 -Present

Listed in Best Lawyers in America

2011Named one of Greenville's "Best and Brightest 35 and Under" by Greenville Business Magazine

2011 Graduate of Leadership Greenville, Class 372010 Connections: Women Leaders of the Upstate, Class of 20102004 Harvard Law School Dean's Award for Community Leadership

WYCHE RITA BOLT BARKER 4