Firm Overview
Barton Law Firm, P.A., located in Columbia, South Carolina, was established by the late William E. S. (“Billy”) Robinson (1942-1993) in 1985, becoming one of the first South Carolina law firms focusing specifically on bankruptcy practice. Today, the Barton Firm (the “Firm”), continues to be a bankruptcy boutique, providing a wide array of bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related services for businesses as well as individuals. The Firm focuses its practice on Chapter 11 business cases but its expertise includes all bankruptcy matters.
The Firm has experience in every facet of bankruptcy law including extensive experience in Chapter 11, Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 12 and Chapter 9 cases. The Firm has represented all types of participants in these chapters including debtors, creditors, trustees, committees, and parties to a variety of adversary proceedings.
 |
| The Robert Mills House |
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina, the location of the Court’s administrative and filing offices, is located a few blocks away from the Firm in Columbia, South Carolina. The Court also has offices in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and regularly conducts hearings in Spartanburg and Charleston which are a short drive from Columbia. The Firm regularly participates in hearings at those locations and around the United States.
The Firm’s offices, shown at right, are located at 1715 Pickens Street, Columbia, South Carolina, in a historic area of the city. The office is adjacent to two other historic buildings, which managed to survive the burning of the city by General Sherman during the Civil War.
The Robert Mills House was designed in 1823 by Robert Mills, the same architect responsible for the Washington Monument. Although it was designed as a private residence, it was used for many years by the Presbyterian Theological Seminary. It is a fine example of the classical revival style of architecture with a symmetrical exterior and interior. It has been completely restored and it and the grounds are open to the public.
 |
| Hampton Preston Mansion |
Across the street is the Hampton Preston Mansion. It was built in 1818 for Ainsley and Sarah Hall, but was purchased in 1823 by Wade Hampton I, a hero of the Revolutionary War and grandfather to Wade Hampton III, a hero of the Civil War. After selling this house, the Halls commissioned Robert Mills to design a new one across the street (see above). In addition to being a residence, the house has also been used as a convent, a college for women and the Union Army Headquarters during the Civil War.
A few blocks away is the original First Baptist Church, in which the Articles of Secession were signed, leading to the firing on Fort Sumter and the beginning of the Civil War. During his march on Columbia, General Sherman vowed to torch this symbolic structure but it remains standing, untouched. An apocryphal story tells of General Sherman’s arrival in Columbia on horseback. Passing an African American, he asked for the location of the First Baptist Church, advising that he was going to destroy it. The terrified pedestrian gave General Sherman directions to the First Presbyterian Church, which was immediately burned to a cinder. Unbeknownst to General Sherman, the man who gave him directions was the custodian for the First Baptist Church and could not bear the thought of its destruction. |
