Derek is a native of Lancaster, South Carolina and a graduate of Lancaster High School. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in 2007 from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina. While at Presbyterian, Derek was named to the Dean’s List, worked in the student center, and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. Immediately following undergraduate school, Derek sought his Juris Doctor degree from Charlotte School of Law in Charlotte, North Carolina. While attending law school, Derek studied abroad at the St. Mary’s University Institute on World Legal Problems, where he studied under an international faculty, including United States Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. After completing his education, Derek decided that the best use of his legal education would be to serve his hometown area. He began his legal career at a small firm in Lancaster, where he represented clients on a broad range of matters, including domestic, civil, criminal, and probate issues. Derek joins the Schiller & Hamilton team to head the firm’s newly reopened Lancaster Office to continue serving his hometown. He will focus his practice on family law and probate matters, as well as personal injury and accidents. Derek is an avid outdoorsman when not practicing law, and enjoys hunting and fishing throughout the year. He was awarded the Eagle Scout rank in 2001 while a member of Troop 72 of the Boy Scouts of America in Lancaster. Derek currently serves as an Area Chairman of Ducks Unlimited, leading the Lancaster County Chapter’s committee of volunteers to raise money and awareness to preserve and protect wetland habitat. In 2013, Derek completed the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce’s “Leadership Lancaster” program, a course designed to educate potential community leaders about the history, needs, and goals of Lancaster County. Derek and his wife, Natalie, are active in their church and community and enjoy traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Charlie is originally from Columbia, South Carolina. He attended The Citadel, graduating with a B.A. in English. After graduating from The Citadel, he attended University of South Carolina School of law, where he was named to the dean’s list. During law school, Charlie worked as a law clerk at several different litigation firms in preparation to be a trial attorney in the future. After graduation from law school, he served as the judicial law clerk for Circuit Court Judge D. Craig Brown, where he further gained insight into trial advocacy and civil litigation. After completing this judicial clerkship, he joined Schiller and Hamilton out of a desire to represent members of the South Carolina community who are injured and need a zealous advocate to help them be made whole.

Luke was born and raised in Lancaster, SC. He graduated from the University of South Carolina with a B.A. in Political Science, and the Florida Coastal School of Law with a J.D. He became a member of the South Carolina Bar in 2011. Luke has previously served as Assistant Solicitor for the Sixth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, as General Counsel for the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and has worked as a civil and criminal litigator. Luke will be practicing in the Lancaster and Rock Hill Offices, focusing on probate, criminal, and general civil litigation. Luke enjoys spending time with his family.

Tommy Pope is a managing partner of Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys in Rock Hill, South Carolina bringing an extensive background of over 30 years of litigation experience. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from the University of South Carolina in 1984 and a Juris Doctorate from the School of Law in 1987. He also attended the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy where he graduated with honors. From 1993-2006, Tommy served as the elected Solicitor for the 16th Circuit (Union & York Counties, SC). In 1999, he received the Silver Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina Law School Alumni Association, recognizing competence, integrity, ethics, and superior performance in his profession. In 2008, he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, our state’s highest civilian honor for his dedication and service to the people of South Carolina. That same year, Tommy joined Luke Elrod and the Elrod Law Firm to form the Elrod Pope Accident & Injury Attorneys where he has since focused primarily on helping people who were injured or killed by the negligence of others. Since 2010, Tommy has also served as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 47. In December of 2014, he was selected by his peers as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House and continues in that capacity today. As an attorney, Tommy has been selected yearly since 2013 as a South Carolina Super Lawyer. This prestigious honor is awarded to less than five percent of South Carolina lawyers. Selection is based on outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. He was also an honoree for the South Carolina Lawyers Weekly’s Leadership in Law Award in March of 2014. He is currently rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating standard. This is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills, and ethical standards by their peers. Throughout his career, Tommy is most often recognized for his 1995 prosecution of Susan Smith in Union County, South Carolina, who made national headlines for the drowning deaths of her two children. Today, he is frequently called upon by various national and international media outlets to provide legal commentary on cases involving parents who kill their children. Tommy and his wife Kim have 4 children and 3 grandchildren and reside in York. They are active at Elevation Church Riverwalk in Rock Hill. When not working at Elrod Pope or in the Legislature in Columbia, Tommy enjoys his time with Kim taking care of the farm in York and fishing in Holden Beach, North Carolina.

Attorney Minor opened her legal practice in 2016 with one goal in mind: to provide the highest level of professionalism when assisting clients with legal matters. We understand that family law cases can be emotionally challenging and stressful. That’s why our Rock Hill divorce attorney provides compassionate, honest legal advice and consistent communication throughout the process.

Joel Hamilton is a co-founder of the Schiller and Hamilton law firm and manages the operations of the statewide firm’s office in Rock Hill, SC. With 12 years of experience representing injured parties, Joel has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of his clients in a range of cases including auto accidents, trucking accidents, mass transit accidents, civil rights violations, premises liability and medical malpractice. Joel is always in service to his community and formerly served as a York County Councilman representing District 7. In that role, he was the chair of the County’s Economic Development Committee and enjoyed working to recruit and encourage new economic opportunities in the area. Additionally, Joel is active on several boards and commissions. He is currently the Chair of the Historic Rock Hill Foundation, as well as serving on the boards of the Rock Hill Economic Development Corporation, York County Regional Chamber, Winthrop University Board of Trustees, and the Gravity Center Foundation. He also formerly served on the boards of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Fort Mill Economic Partners, and Christmasville in Rock Hill. However, Joel’s favorite time is the time he gets to spend with his wife of 13 years and two young daughters and enjoys taking in their Charlotte Independence Soccer games and listening to their violin lessons.

Jarrunis L. Yates (J.R.) grew up in Rock Hill, SC and graduated from Westminster Catawba. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education from Clemson University. He received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law. While attending Howard University, J.R. was selected for the criminal justice clinic, which was tasked with representing indigent defendants in Washington, DC charged with felonies and misdemeanors. J.R. received a direct commission as a Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force Reserve in March 2011. In his reserve capacity, Major Yates is a Staff Judge Advocate. J.R. is admitted to practice law before the Supreme Courts of South Carolina and Alabama, the United States District Courts of South Carolina and Middle District of Alabama, the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces and the Air Force Court of Appeals. He has been a social security disability lawyer for over 10 years. J.R.’s experience as both a civilian and reserve attorney gives him a unique perspective on addressing various legal issues facing families today.