Burnette, Shutt, and Cohoon honored among leading civil rights and employment attorneys
Burnette Shutt & McDaniel partners M. Malissa Burnette, Jack E. Cohoon, and Nekki Shutt are recognized in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Civil Rights & Plaintiff Employment Lawyers.
Malissa and Jack are included for their work in Employee and Civil Rights Law. Nekki is cited in the area of Employee Rights and Benefits.
The annual nationwide directory recognizes attorneys who bring justice to individuals and groups whose rights have been violated. In selecting honorees, Lawdragon examines attorneys’ work in civil rights litigation, sexual harassment, workplace harassment, employment discrimination, wrongful termination, LGBTQ+ rights, and more.
“They’re the champions you need when you’ve been fired, harassed or otherwise deprived of your rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Lawdragon says of its honorees.
Most of the attorneys recognized have at least a decade of practice. Factors such as leadership within the firm or legal community and high regard from peers also are considered. Learn more about the selection process here: https://www.lawdragon.com/methodology/lawdragon-500-leading-civil-rights-plaintiff-employment-lawyers
Malissa has spent her long and storied career fighting for the rights of others, from women wishing to attend state-supported military schools to marriage equality. She’s long been at the forefront of fighting to protect reproductive healthcare rights in South Carolina. She, along with Nekki and Kathleeen McDaniel, co-founded the Columbia, SC firm eight years ago with a goal of moving law forward for those whose rights and livelihoods are at risk.
A South Carolina Supreme Court-certified specialist in employment law for more than a decade, Nekki’s practice includes extensive work in ERISA and employee benefits. These cases often involve improper denial of group life insurance, denial of short- and long-term disability benefits, and denial of group health insurance claims. She’s the president-elect of the South Carolina Bar.
Jack long has worked on behalf of those the system has wronged. A highly experienced litigator, he’s successfully challenged agencies and policies, winning at trial and appellate courts as well as before government agencies. He’s currently representing a client in what is believed to be the first lawsuit filed in the nation challenging public employers’ overreach in firing workers who made social media posts in the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk