Douglas O'Neal

Doug O'Neal, a distinguished Shareholder in the firm, is renowned for guiding individuals and businesses through complex estate planning and sophisticated business entity matters. With a unique blend of creative problem-solving and deep empathy, honed by personal experience with early loss, Doug ensures clients feel understood and empowered throughout their legal journeys. Doug's philosophy centers on prioritizing client understanding, offering practical advice such as "Taxes should never take precedence over parenting." He encourages those nearing retirement to focus on life experiences beyond just legacies, offering a holistic perspective to wealth and succession planning. Doug's expertise encompasses comprehensive estate planning, including wills, trusts, asset protection, and trust modification, alongside a variety of business entity work, from formations and tax matters to mergers, acquisitions, and business succession planning.

A Certified Specialist in Taxation Law and Estate Planning and Probate Law by the South Carolina Supreme Court, and a proud Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Doug's journey to law was unconventional. Initially pursuing the Arts (ceramics and photography) at Furman University and later working in construction and landscaping, he discovered his passion for tax law after diving into specialized classes during his J.D. at the University of South Carolina School of Law (2007) where he was Senior Articles Editor of the ABA Real Property, Probate & Trust Journal, a member of the Moot Court Bar, and Recipient of the CALI® Awards in Corporate Taxation and Limited Liability Company Planning. Doug further refined his expertise with an LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law (2008), where he served as Graduate Editor for the Florida Tax Review and Recipient of the Richard B. Stephens Scholarship in Graduate Tax.

Active in the legal community, Doug is a member of South Carolina Supreme Court, Certified Specialist in Taxation Law, South Carolina Supreme Court, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) (Fellow), American Bar Association, South Carolina Bar: Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Section (Chair of the Executive Council) and Tax Law Section, Greenville County Bar Association, Greenville Estate Planning Council (Board of Directors), and Greenville Estate Planning Study Group

Consistently recognized for his legal accolades, Doug has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America© , where he was awarded Lawyer of the Year in Greenville, SC three times, he has been a Greenville Business Magazine Legal Elite Award Recipient since 2020, and he has been named a Rising Star in South Carolina Super Lawyers.

Beyond his legal practice, Doug is deeply committed to his community. He serves as an elder at Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and on the board for World Witness, his denomination's admissions organization. He cherishes time with his wife, Mary Teal, and their three children. Doug also enjoys traveling with his family, and various hobbies such as cycling, cooking, wine, and golf.

American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) (Fellow)

American Bar Association

Section of Taxation Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section Business Law Section

South Carolina Bar

Probate, Estate Planning and Trust Section (Past Chairperson)

Tax Law Section

Greenville County Bar Association

Greenville Estate Planning Council (Board of Directors 2015-2016; President 2024-2025)

Greenville Estate Planning Study Group

Doug serves as an elder at Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and enjoys time with his wife, Mary Teal, and their children. His interests include cycling, cooking, travel, golf, and spending time outdoors.

University of Florida Levin School of Law

Master of Laws - Taxation

University of South Carolina School of Law

J.D.

Furman University

B.A. - History

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America©

Best Lawyers

2026

Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) (Lawyer of the Year 2023 and 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina)

Best Lawyers

2026

Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (Lawyer of the Year 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina). Corporate Law.

Best Lawyers

2022

Greenville Business Magazine Legal Elite Award Recipient (2020-Present)

Greenville Business Magazine

2026

Named to South Carolina Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers

2026

Named a Rising Star in South Carolina Super Lawyers (2013, 2018 – 2020)

Super Lawyers

2020

South Carolina Supreme Court, Certified Specialist in Taxation Law

South Carolina Supreme Court, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law