Amy McLaren

Amy McLaren is an attorney in the Litigation Department. She has vast experience handling insurance coverage issues as well as automobile, trucking, product liability, construction, and commercial litigation.

Amy has spent her legal career as a litigator and has tried numerous cases, in front of juries and bench trials in front of judges, to verdict. Prior to joining MDSW, she was an experienced civil defense attorney, having worked with most major insurance carriers and many corporations over the last decade, so she brings her understanding of the opposition to her work today. In addition to her experience in the courtroom, Amy effectively advocates for her clients through her writing skills. Prior to law school, she was an editor of local and regional history books at a publication company and wrote arts reviews for Charleston City Paper. She was named an Executive Editor of the Journal of Alternative Dispute Resolution, and as a research fellow, she had the opportunity to draft and present healthcare and financial regulation legislation in Washington, D.C. during law school.

Amy received the Outstanding Public Service Award for pro bono work upon graduation from law school and continued to provide pro bono services through the Charleston County Guardian ad Litem program in South Carolina and Blue Ridge Legal Services while in Virginia.

When she is not practicing law, Amy enjoys supporting the arts community and as a native of Virginia, cheering on the Virginia Tech Hokies with her family during football season.

Education

• J.D., Charleston School of Law (CALI Award – Insurance Law)
• M.A., College of Charleston (cum laude, Graduate Scholars Award)
• B.A., James Madison University

Admissions

• South Carolina
• Virginia
• U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
• U.s. District Court, Western District of Virginia
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Honors

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Insurance Law and Personal Injury Litigation, 2023
• Best Lawyer’s Rising Star in South Carolina, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
• Super Lawyer’s Rising Star in Virginia, 2018

Publications

• Suicide by Overdose: Should South Carolina Recognize the Uncontrollable Impulse Exception?, South Carolina Young Lawyers Division Blog, South Carolina Young Lawyers Division (Oct. 23, 2018)
• Subject Matter and Personal Jurisdiction, Removal, and Other Prefiling Considerations, Federal Civil Practice in Virginia, Virginia law Foundation (2017 & 2018 editions).

Memberships

• Charleston County Bar Association, CLE Committee member 2019-2021
• South Carolina Bar Association
• Virginia State Bar

Community Involvement

• South Carolina Theatre Association, Board of Directors, 2018-2021
• Southwest Virginia Ballet Company, Board of Directors, 2016-2018