Jay Babb is a partner at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. and has been practicing employment law for 10 years. He is a well-known member of the employment law bar who has successfully represented public and private employees, including federal government employees, in employment law cases throughout the state of South Carolina. Jay has tried federal, state, and EEO cases to a jury or bench verdict. Jay has also argued appeals before the South Carolina Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and South Carolina Supreme Court.

Elizabeth M. Bowen “Beth” has a passion for representing the underrepresented. She represents workers in employment suits, plaintiffs in general civil litigation, and children in education and family law matters. Beth has been around the law her whole life and started working for Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC (then J. Lewis Cromer & Associates, LLC) when she was 19. She comes from a long line of successful Plaintiff’s lawyers. Her father and grandfather (Benjamin “Ben” Bowen Sr. and Benjamin “Chuck” Bowen Jr.) are both known for their successful worker’s compensation and civil litigation practice in Greenville, South Carolina.

2019 marked Lewis’ 60th year of actively practicing law. Widely recognized as one of the best trial lawyers in the Southeast, Lewis Cromer has handled hundreds of jury trials and held state and national leadership positions in many of the distinguished associations and organizations of his profession during his 60-year career. He practices law in Columbia, where he has spent his entire career representing clients in the areas of employment law, governmental law, and communications law.

Ryan K. Hicks is a member attorney at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. Ryan’s practice focuses on employment law, business litigation, negligence claims involving school districts, and the representation of law enforcement officers. Ryan is also skilled in administrative matters, including, but not limited to, matters before the Administrative Law Court, and appeals. He strives for honesty in representing both prospective clients and clients alike, and believes that candid advice is deserved and necessary in zealous representation.

Elizabeth Millender is a senior associate attorney with Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC. CBPH hired Elizabeth in May 2018 as a law clerk and she transitioned to associate attorney after her admission to the South Carolina Bar in 2019.

Elizabeth graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in 2016. Elizabeth next attended the University of South Carolina School of Law where she graduated Cum Laude in 2019.

Jake Modla has been practicing law in North and South Carolina since 1990 and joined Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC in May 2023 as Senior Counsel. Jake primarily practices at the firm’s Rock Hill location in the heart of downtown. Jake has been practicing employment and labor law since 1990, first as an employer-side lawyer and corporate general counsel, and more recently as an attorney on behalf of working people across the Carolinas. Jake brings a ton of experience to bear and is also full-tilt aligned with CBPH’s mission to fight for those who have been wronged in the workplace and create equality for all working people, from store clerk to CEO.

Shannon Polvi is senior counsel at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC and has been with the firm since March 2014. Shannon’s legal career has focused on advocating for employees in South Carolina. Shannon’s practice focuses on the employee/ plaintiff side of employment and labor law with various employment cases brought before federal, state, administrative, and appellate courts. Shannon represents individuals in discharge, wage and hour, discrimination, harassment, medical leave, whistleblower, and denial of benefits litigation (ERISA).

James Paul Porter (Paul) is a partner attorney at Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks. Paul is certified by the South Carolina Supreme Court as a Specialist in Employment and Labor Law. The specialty designation was obtained after Paul was approved to sit for and passed a rigorous exam covering the comprehensive body of Employment and Labor law as it effects South Carolina’s workers. Paul practices in the areas of employment law, business litigation, sexual harassment and assault, governmental law, and general litigation.

Chance Sturup is an associate attorney with Cromer Babb Porter & Hicks, LLC and has been with the firm since 2019.  Practicing law at CBPH gives Chance an opportunity to do three of his favorite things every day: compete, win, and help others. Chance’s practice focuses on representing workers and employees across the State in issues related to their employment. Chance regularly handles cases including civil rights, wrongful termination, discrimination retaliation, breach of contract, failure to pay proper wages, whistleblowing, family and medical leave, and various other matters.