In celebration of its 100th year of practice, Wyche, P.A. announces the launch of its Centennial Legacy Project. Wyche’s Centennial Legacy Project will continue the firm’s history of legal and community leadership by supporting projects across the state that advance the four pillars that have defined the firm and that continue to form its vision for the future: Advancing the Business Community, Societal Impact, Community Transformation, and Environmental Stewardship.
“Wyche has had the privilege of being part of many projects and legal outcomes that have shaped our region’s growth and success over the last century. Often, those initiatives have involved collaboration with other leaders and organizations that share Wyche’s commitment to making a lasting difference,” said Tally Parham Casey, CEO and Chair of Wyche. “The Wyche Centennial Legacy Project was formed with that collaboration in mind, knowing that our legacy is shared and strengthened in partnership with others who are focused on inspiring positive change that can be felt for generations.”
The organizations and projects supported by Wyche’s Centennial Legacy Project will be announced throughout the firm’s 100-year celebration, which begins in the Fall of 2021. The celebration will extend to 2022 as Wyche begins its next era in the firm’s new headquarters at 200 East Broad in Greenville, a space that is being transformed to embody Wyche’s focus on collaboration, community, arts, and environmental conservation.
“Wyche is known for its visionary leadership, as illustrated by the firm’s Centennial Legacy Project,” said Senator Gerald Malloy. “There is no doubt Wyche’s sustained contributions are unparalleled in transforming a better community for all people, businesses, and the environment.”
Wyche traces its history to 1921 and the formation of Dean, Cothran & Wyche. The firm soon developed a rare approach to the practice of law. Ultimately, the visionary leadership of Tommy Wyche, enhanced and supported by others, including Al Burgess, David Freeman, Jim Parham, Bill Kehl, and Jim Shoemaker, inspired the growth of a world-class law firm in South Carolina. In building Wyche, these senior leaders focused on attracting national-caliber talent from leading universities and high-performing professional backgrounds. Beyond aspiring to world-class quality, it was the firm’s philosophy that set it apart, and that philosophy remains intact today: excellence over revenue maximization, community over narrow self-interest, and ingenuity over brute force. Wyche’s uncommon approach led to numerous landmark accomplishments in the realms of law, community, and environmental stewardship.
Wyche attorneys have been at the helm of landmark litigation and groundbreaking transactions that have been critical not only to building a vibrant business community, but also to significant social progress in South Carolina. From working to create a path for meaningful school desegregation in the 1960s, to pioneering corporate and securities law, to taking a leading role in seminal litigation involving the First Amendment, intellectual property protection, and corporate governance, the firm’s origins were built on sophisticated legal work that led to recognition throughout the state and the nation.
Wyche’s history is further defined by the firm’s role in the development of many of the transformative projects in downtown Greenville and the Upstate, including The Peace Center, RiverPlace, The Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Bon Secours Wellness Arena, The Hyatt Hotel, and Heritage Green. Wyche has also been recognized for a history of leadership in creating an environment in which the arts have flourished in Greenville, receiving the prestigious Governor’s Award for the Arts for the firm’s efforts in this regard.
“Many of our city’s most iconic landmarks exist today because Wyche attorneys saw the long-term vision and stayed the course to make them a reality. The impact of that special blend of creativity and diligence helped to build the community we know and love today,” said Knox White, Mayor of Greenville, SC.
The firm’s commitment to environmental conservation is rooted in Tommy Wyche’s example of taking a love for nature, shared by many Wyche attorneys, and putting it into action through efforts to preserve and honor its beauty and irreplaceable value. In 1973, Tommy Wyche founded Naturaland Trust, a conservation land trust among the first in the Southeast. He conceived and executed a master plan for protection of 40,000 acres connecting the Poinsett and Table Rock watersheds. That land now encompasses tracts including Jones Gap State Park, Caesar’s Head State Park, and Raven Cliffs Falls. He also provided essential leadership in the acquisition and protection of Jocassee Gorges Wilderness Area, covering 50,000 acres in North and South Carolina. Moreover, Tommy Wyche looked to create ways to help people enjoy this protected land. He oversaw the design and creation of 43 hiking trails in Mountain Bridge preserve. He designed and sponsored what is thought to be the first pedestrian suspension bridge in South Carolina, which spans Matthews Creek and overlooks Raven Cliffs Falls and Gorge in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness. He also raised funds for a 1.6-mile trail to Rainbow Falls.
“The Wyche firm is built on a daring idea – the notion that a small firm in South Carolina could attract world-class talent to pursue a cutting-edge legal practice. As we celebrate our Centennial, we are filled with gratitude for the countless friends and clients who have helped to make that idea a reality. It’s humbling to see the ways in which the bold vision of the firm’s early leaders has been realized, and it’s inspiring to know that same spirit continues as we embark on a new era,” said Wallace Lightsey, Member of Wyche, P.A.
