Shutt honored with Women of Influence award

Burnette Shutt & McDaniel co-founder Nekki Shutt is among 22 Midlands leaders selected for the 2021 Women of Influence awards.

The group of honorees, which includes business executives, marketing professionals and government and nonprofit leaders, will be celebrated at a Nov. 30 luncheon. Tickets still are available.

A South Carolina Supreme Court certified employment law specialist for a decade, Shutt co-founded Burnette Shutt & McDaniel in Columbia in 2017. Kathleen McDaniel, another of the firm’s co-founders, was a Women of Influence honoree in 2019.

Shutt’s legal practice focuses on civil litigation and employment law. Peers often honor her for her work in employee benefits under federal ERISA statutes and similar South Carolina laws as well as for her skills as a litigator. Her law practice also includes representing whistleblowers who come forward to expose government fraud through qui tam cases.

In the community as well as in the courtroom, Shutt long has fought to protect the rights of others. She was a founder of SC Equality, a nonprofit organization that works to advance LGBTQ rights in South Carolina. Professionally, she teamed up with Burnette Shutt & McDaniel co-founder Malissa Burnette to lead the legal team that helped pave the way for marriage equality in South Carolina.

Women of Influence is an annual program sponsored by Columbia Regional Business Report. It recognizes Midlands leaders with significant professional achievements and who have contributed to the community. The magazine’s readers nominate candidates, with a panel of judges selecting recipients. The Nov. 22 edition of the Business Report will include profiles of the honorees.