Jo Watson HacklOF COUNSEL

Jo represents clients in corporate, securities, and employment law matters. Her practice has an emphasis on corporate governance issues. She has served as lead counsel on public registrations representing over a billion dollars and has substantial experience in cross-border corporate acquisitions. Jo also counsels clients on employment matters, focusing on reducing the risk of employment-related litigation.

Contact

P 864-242-8225

F 864-235-8900

Mail

Connect

  • Corporate
  • Employment
  • Mergers and Acquisitions
  • Novel Questions of Law
  • Outside General Counsel
  • Securities and Corporate Finance
1988, J.D. Yale Law School, Yale Journal of International Law, Book Review Editor, 1986-87; Yale Law Journal, Notes Topic Editor, 1987-88
1985, B.A. Millsaps College, with high honors; Omicron Delta Kappa
  • Represented an international public company in connection with a shelf registration statement covering up to $750 million of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, stock purchase contracts, stock purchase units, warrants, debt securities and trust preferred securities.
  • Represented an international public company in connection with 144A private placement of $400 million of notes and subsequent registered exchange offering.
  • Represented an international public company in connection with a $250 million offering of floating rate notes. This offering was a takedown from the shelf registration statement described above.
  • Represented a public company in connection with a tender offer and consent solicitation relating to its Senior Notes (approximately $31 million in aggregate amount then outstanding).
1989-Present Wyche, P.A.
1988–89 Law Clerk, Hon. Robert S. Vance, United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
  • Alabama Bar, 1990
  • South Carolina Bar, 1990
  • Greenville Area Development Corporation, Past Chair
  • The Community Foundation of Greenville, Past Chair and Board Member
  • Liberty Fellowship, Senior Advisor
  • The Emrys Foundation, Past President and Board Member
  • Camperdown Academy Board of Directors
  • Leadership Greenville, Class XIX; past Forum President
  • Children’s Museum of the Upstate, past Member of the Board of Directors
  • Peace Center for the Performing Arts: Philanthropist of the Year, 2002; past Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors
  • Former Greenville County Human Relations Commissioner appointed by County Council
  • Greenville Professional Women’s Forum, Past President
  • Diversity Leadership Institute Fellow
  • Aspen Global Leadership Institute Fellow
  • Founding Mentor, NEXT Venture Mentoring Service
  • Mentor, Greenville Chamber Pacesetter Program
  • Judges Panel, Upstate Business Journal “Who’s Who” Awards, 2015
  • Greenville Technical College Area Commission
  • Board Member, Greenville Center for Creative Arts (GCCA)
  • Panelist for The Greenville Chamber’s 2013 PULSE Leadership Luncheon, “Perspectives on Building Capacity in the Workplace, PULSE, and the Community”
  • A New Generation in Legal Literacy: Review of Jo S. Kittinger’s Breath of Hope, Clearinghouse Review, November-December 2012
  • Panelist for “Power Surge: Maximizing the Board Chair/Executive Director Relationship” presented by DNA Creative Communications in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Greenville, the Hollingsworth Funds, Inc., and the United Way of Greenville County
  • “Most Common Questions and Answers about Ethics Programs”, as heard on “South Carolina Business Review”
  • “Ten Questions to Ask Before Joining a Private Company or Non-Profit Board”, as heard on “South Carolina Business Review”
  • “Most Common Questions and Answers about Positioning Your Company for a Possible IPO”, as heard on “South Carolina Business Review”
  • Co-author, “State Takeover Statutes and Shareholder Wealth; An Empirical Study,” Yale Law Journal, 1988
2017 Named Greenville Corporate Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers®
2016 Named the Greenville Corporate Governance Law “Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers®
2015 – Present Listed in South Carolina Super Lawyers
2013 Recipient of the Community Foundation’s Ruth Nicholson Award
2013 Winner of the Greenville Chamber’s ATHENA Leadership Award
2013 Selected as a finalist for the United Way Mentor of the Year Award
2013 Martindale-Hubbell AV rated
2010 – 2011 Selected as one of Greenville Business Magazine’s 50 Most Influential
2010 Selected as a Woman of Achievement by the YWCA
2008 Liberty Fellow
1995 Recipient of the Greenville Bar Association Richard Riley Pro Bono Award
1994 Selected as one of 35 in the inaugral class of “Best and Brightest” by Greenville Magazine
1988 Israel H. Peres Award for best student writing in the Yale Law Journal