David Wilkins > Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP > Greenville, United States > Lawyer Profile

David Wilkins

864.373.2231 david.wilkins@nelsonmullins.com View profile

Position

Partner

Career

Ambassador David Wilkins chairs Nelson Mullins’ public policy and international law practice group with a special focus on U.S.-Canada interests. He proudly served as U.S. ambassador to Canada from June 2005 to January 2009, appointed by President George W. Bush. Since returning home from Canada, Ambassador Wilkins spent six years chairing the Clemson University Board of Trustees and remains an active member of that board. He also sits on the board of United Community Bank.

In 2010, then South Carolina’s Governor-elect Nikki Haley tapped Wilkins to chair her government transition team. First elected in 1980, Ambassador Wilkins served 25 years in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He was elected speaker in 1994 – a position he held for 11 years until he resigned for his ambassadorship post. He is the recipient of numerous awards including the state’s highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto.

Languages

English

Memberships

Memberships:

• Elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1980 and served there for 25 years
• Served six years as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and two years as Speaker Pro Tem before being elected Speaker of the House, a post he held for 11 years
• First Republican elected Speaker of any legislative body in the South since the 1880s and retired as one of the longest serving speakers in the country
• Served as President of the National Speakers’ Association in 2001
• State Chairman of the Bush-Cheney ‘04 campaign and Co-Chair of the campaign in 2000
• Appointed by President Bush to the Board of Visitors of the United States Academy at West Point in 2002 and served for three years
• Member, Clemson University Board of Trustees (2007-present, Chairman of the Board 2009-2015)
• Board of Directors, United Community Banks, Inc.
• Board of Directors, Greenville Chamber of Commerce
• Served as Governor Nikki Haley’s government transition team chair in 2010

Education

University of South Carolina School of Law, Clemson University