ABOUT OUR FIRM
Contact Us At 864-882-2747
The law firm of Derrick, Ritter, Williams and Morris, P.A. is the oldest law firm in Oconee County. It was originally established by Attorney W. Jerry Fedder in 1955. He was the first attorney to locate his office outside of the County Seat of Walhalla.
William F. Derrick joined the firm in 1968, and Fedder and Derrick offered general legal services thereafter as a partnership. This partnership was joined in 1973 by Richard L. Ritter and in 1974 by James L. Williams. W. Jerry Fedder left the firm in 1985 to become a commissioner for the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission.
At that time, the firm reorganized as a professional association and continued its practice for many years as Derrick, Ritter and Williams P.A. William F. Derrick became of counsel with the firm in 2001. Emma W. Morris was made a full partner in the firm in 2002. Richard L. Ritter became of counsel with the firm in 2009. James L. Williams and Emma W. Morris, the firm's principals, hired Andrew Holliday as an associate in 2016. The firm has maintained its current location at the foot of Main Street (Ram Cat Alley) in Seneca, South Carolina, for the past 50 years.
About James L. Williams
James Williams is a native of Greenville and the Oconee County area and has practiced law in the Upstate of South Carolina since his admission to the South Carolina Bar in 1973. He is a graduate of Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina, the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, and the University of South Carolina School of Law. He is married to long-time Oconee County school teacher, Nelia I. Williams. He was admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court on April 10, 1974, and was admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, on December 30, 1981. He also serves Oconee County as a certified circuit court mediator and arbitrator.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Probate and Estate Administration
Corporate and Business Law
Civil Litigation
General Practice
About Emma W. Morris
Emma Morris was born in Oconee County. She is married to Robert L. Morris III and they have three children. Emma graduated from Walhalla High School in 1989. She graduated cum laude in 1992 from The University of South Carolina, majoring in business administration finance. Emma received her Juris Doctor from Cumberland School of Law in 1995 where she was a member of the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. Emma returned to Oconee County to practice at Derrick, Ritter & Williams, P.A in 1995. Emma became a partner and shareholder in the firm in 2002 and the name of the firm was changed to Derrick, Ritter, Williams & Morris, P.A.
Practice Areas
Real Estate Transactions
Estate Planning
Probate and Estate Administration
Adoptions
General Practice
Title Insurance Underwriter for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company
Bar Admissions:
South Carolina, 1995
Education:
University of South Carolina, BS-Business Administration-Finance (cum laude) 1992
Cumberland School of Law (Birmingham, Alabama), Juris Doctor 1995
Honors:
Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority-Charter Member, University of South Carolina
American Journal of Trial Advocacy, Cumberland School of Law
Professional Memberships:
Oconee County Bar
South Carolina Bar
About Andrew K. Holliday
Andrew obtained his Undergraduate Degree from Furman University and his Juris Doctor from The Charleston School of Law and was admitted to practice in South Carolina in 2014. He was likewise admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court in 2015 and the United States District Court for South Carolina in 2023. Andrew has served as the City Attorney for Westminster, South Carolina since 2018. Andrew has served as the Vice President of the Oconee County Bar since 2017. Andrew became a partner and shareholder in the firm in January of 2024.
Andrew, originally from Travelers Rest, South Carolina, lives in Salem with his wife and son. He enjoys working on classic cars and racing in historic and vintage events. Andrew is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and fishing. Andrew is an Eagle Scout and served on the Board of the Blue Ridge Sea Scouts. He also serves as the Chapter Advisor for the Iota Nu Chapter of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Andrew is active with the Seneca Sertoma Club and served as the President of the club from 2016-2017. He also has served as the Chairman of the Oconee County Sheriff's Foundation since 2018 which assists the personnel and missions of the Oconee County Sheriff's Office.
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
Probate and Estate Administration
Corporate and Business Law
Domestic Litigation (Divorce and Child Custody)
Civil Litigation
General Practice
Bar Admissions:
South Carolina, 2014
United States Tax Court, 2015
District of South Carolina, US District Court, 2023
Education:
Furman University, BA-Political Science, 2011
Charleston School of Law, Juris Doctor 2014
Professional Memberships:
Oconee County Bar
South Carolina Bar