South Carolina Workers’
Compensation Defense
Our firm is dedicated to the workers’ compensation issues that are of critical importance to South Carolina employers and self-insurers. We can advise you on all issues of the law and represent your interests through preliminary negotiations, hearing and appellate advocacy, and third party recovery.
We work hard to provide our clients with valuable advice and strong representation in every aspect of the field of workers’ compensation.
PRACTICE
AREAS
Workers’ Compensation Defense
Mediation | Appellate Advocacy
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Defense
At Trask & Howell, our goal is to provide the highest quality and most cost-effective representation in South Carolina. We do this by working with clients to develop a close relationship tailored to the client’s specific needs. Because we make ourselves available to clients for consultation prior to litigation, we help clients make the most cost-effective strategic decisions. When a claim is in litigation, we provide regular, detailed legal analysis so clients always have the most up-to-date information they need. And we regularly meet with clients to provide in-person claim reviews.
If you need representation in the appellate courts of South Carolina, we can provide the knowledge and experience you need to prevail. Providing these services to our clients helps us forge strong and lasting relationships, which means more efficient and cost-effective claim resolution for our clients.
In 2000, attorneys Harold Trask and Roy Howell founded Trask & Howell, L.L.C., to better serve their many long-standing clients in the area of workers’ compensation defense. Both Trask and Howell are recognized by Best Lawyers in America and are both rated “AV-Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubble, signifying that they have “reached the height of professional excellence” and are “recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.”
Harold E. Trask
PARTNER
843-881-0837 (Direct)
htrask@trask-howell.com
Harold (Son) E. Trask has more than 30 years of experience practicing in the area of workers’ compensation defense. He also served as the Chairman of the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Commission. He has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 22 consecutive years, selected as Lawyer of the Year for workers’ compensation defense in 2013, rated “AV-Preeminent” by Martindale Hubble, and awarded the South Carolina Order of the Palmetto, the highest award for service to the State of South Carolina. Son has also given numerous speeches and presentations before organizations including the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, self-insured groups, and employers’ associations.
Son has served on the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Committee on Practice and Procedures, the Board of Directors of the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, the Board of Directors of the S.C. Chamber of Commerce, and the Board of the Charleston Habitat for Humanity. He also served as an Executive Assistant for Legal Affairs for Governor James B. Edwards and is a Past Member of the S.C. Boundary Commission. Son is a current member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association. He earned his Bachelor’s of Arts degree from the University of the South and his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law.
Originally from Beaufort, Son currently resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Helen. Outside of the firm, Son enjoys retreating to his ranch in Montana and championing many philanthropic causes including The Lamb Institute, a Christian Children’s Home in Honduras, World Vision, Life Outreach and is a supporter of Family Spirit Orphanage in Uganda, Africia.
Roy A. Howell, III
PARTNER
843-881-2236 (Direct)
rhowell@trask-howell.com
Roy A. Howell, III has focused his practice in workers’ compensation defense for over 30 years and also has more than 20 years of experience handling concurrent jurisdiction matters under the Federal Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. He has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 15 consecutive years, selected as Lawyer of the Year for 2014, 2016, and 2018, rated “Distinguished” by Martindale Hubble, and named one of America’s Best Business Leaders of 1997-1998. Roy has also served as a faculty member for many organizations, including the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, the S.C. Bar, the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association, and the S.C. Claims Association. In this capacity, Roy provides expertise on numerous workers’ compensation topics ranging from cumulative trauma disorders to the nuances of vision loss, lens implants, and comparable matters.
Roy is a Past President of the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association and a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, the Maritime Association of South Carolina, and the Propeller Club of Charleston. Roy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Charleston and his J.D. from the Campbell University Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor for the Campbell Law Review and was awarded the Order of the Barristers.
Roy resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Ginger, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Tucker, and Golden Doodle, Ellie. He serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Board at Bishop England High School, is a past member of the Executive Board of the College of Charleston Cougar Club, is an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and enjoys playing basketball and hunting as much as his busy law practice allows.
Kirsten Leslie Barr
PARTNER
843-881-1027 (Direct)
kbarr@trask-howell.com
Kirsten L. Barr has over 25 years of experience practicing workers’ compensation defense and is well-published in numerous workers’ compensation topics ranging from hearing techniques and strategies to medical and legal developments in the industry. She has been recognized as one of the Best Laywers in America for twelve consecutive years and is rated “Distinguished” by Martindale Hubble. Kirsten has also served as a faculty member for many organizations, including the S.C. Self-Insurers’ Association, the S.C. Association of Counties, The S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association, the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, and the S.C. Public Risk Management Association.
Kirsten is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, and the Workers’ Compensation Substantive Law Committee of the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association. She is a past member of Governor Mark Sanford’s Task Force on Workers’ Compensation Reform and played an instrumental role in drafting beneficial legislation still in place today. Kirsten earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Natural Resource Policy from the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and her J.D., with honors, from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she served as an Articles Editor for the ABA Real Property Probate and Trust Journal and was awarded the Order of Wig and Robe.
A native of Greenville, Kirsten now resides in Mount Pleasant with her husband and her beloved yellow Labrador Retriever, Pancho. Outside of her practice, Kirsten enjoys more artistic pursuits, including service on the Flower Guild of St. Philip’s Church in Charleston.
Jamie C. Guerrero
PARTNER
843-881-3368 (Direct)
jguerrero@trask-howell.com
Jamie C. Guerrero provides clients with more than 22 years of experience practicing workers’ compensation defense and over 10 years of experience lecturing before organizations such as the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association, the S.C. Association of Counties, the S.C. Self-Insurers Association, and Sedgwick CMS.
Jamie is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association and served on the Workers’ Compensation Section Counsel as an office in 2014 and 2015. Jamie is also a member of the Charleston County Bar Association, the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association, the S.C. Employers’ Advocacy Association, and the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. Prior to his tenure at Trask & Howell, Jamie Served as a law clerk to the Honorable Paul M. Burch. Jamie earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Francis Marion University and his J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law.
Born in Florence, Jamie now resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife and children. When away from the office, Jamie enjoys coaching youth sports.
Jill W. King
PARTNER
843-654-8991 (Direct)
jking@trask-howell.com
Jill W. King has been practicing in the area of workers’ compensation defense for over 18 years since her admission to the South Carolina Bar in 2005. With this depth of experience, Jill has presented on issues including mediation and the impact of recent caselaw.
Jill is a member of the South Carolina Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, the S.C. Defense Trial Attorneys Association, and the S.C. Workers’ Compensation Educational Association. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology from Wofford College and her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While in law school, Jill was not only a member of the Moot Court Bar but was also selected to serve as the captain of the ABA Moot Court Team. Jill was also a member of the Order of Barristers.
Jill is a lifelong South Carolinian. Jill currently resides in Mount Pleasant with her husband and three girls. Outside of the office, Jill is a member of the Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and enjoys yoga, a good book, and cheering for her daughters at swim meets and soccer games.
Christiana Olbrych
ASSOCIATE
843-881-3723 (Direct)
colbrych@trask-howell.com
Ana Olbrych joined Trask & Howell in September of 2022 and focuses her practice exclusively in workers’ compensation defense. Ana was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She is a sixth-generation Gamecock and left the Lowcountry to attend the University of South Carolina. Ana graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina in 2019, earning her Bachelor of Arts in English. Immediately following college, Ana attended the University of South Carolina School of Law and graduated in 2022. She was admitted to the South Carolina Bar that same year. During law school, Ana earned the CALI award for her Civil Litigation Capstone. She was the production editor for the ABA Real Property, Trust, & Estate Law Journal, the Health Law Society Treasurer, and a volunteer Guardian Ad Litem with Richland County CASA.
Outside of the office, Ana enjoys volunteering with the Charleston Junior League, exercising, and being on the water. She enjoys spending time with her fiancé and their very precious English Springer Spaniel, Miss Mazie.
P.O. Box 2167
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: 843.881.4228
Fax: 843.881.8784
Trask & Howell | Copyright 2023