WHO WE ARE
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Combined 75+ years in the policy arena
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Over 35 years of combined lobbying experience
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Includes the former Chief of Staff to one of the most successful governors in South Carolina history
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Has 30 combined years in the South Carolina House of Representatives
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Capitol Hill experience
EXPANDING THE FOoTPRINT FOR OUR CLIENTS IN THE
PALMETTO STATE
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A former SC House Majority Leader & former SC House Majority Whip
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Architect of the Republican takeover of South Carolina
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A former member of the Democratic National Committee
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Former state agency board members
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Advisors for local, state and national candidates of both major parties
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Former members of five different State House committees
J. WARREN TOMPKINS
PARTNER
J. Warren Tompkins has had an enduring impact on South Carolina politics for nearly three decades. Experienced in politics and government, Mr. Tompkins’ network of contacts at the federal, state and local levels, coupled with an unparalleled level of expertise and insight, will produce the desired results for government, public and private agencies, political organizations, corporations, and individuals through multi-faceted campaigns addressing every aspect of client’s needs.
Mr. Tompkins tireless efforts on Strom Thurmond’s 1978 Senate campaign won him a position as Senator Thurmond’s Statewide Coordinator of Special Events. Mr. Tompkins later served as a senior advisor to Senator Thurmond’s re-election campaigns in 1984, 1990 and 1996.
In 1980, Mr. Tompkins served as the Political Director for “Reagan for President” during the South Carolina Primary. He was named Executive Director for the South Carolina Reagan/Bush Campaign for the general election. He later served in the same capacity for the 1984 re-election effort and as a strategist for the 1988 Bush Presidential campaign.
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In 1981, Mr. Tompkins was appointed as the Executive Director of the South Carolina Republican Party in 1981. In just 12 months, the party’s deficit was erased and active contributors soared from less than a thousand to more than 10,000 during his tenure.
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In 1984, Mr. Tompkins spearheaded the South’s most successful voter registration drive, resulting in more than 100,000 newly registered voters. The number of Republican members of the South Carolina House and Senate doubled under his direction.
Two years later, Congressman Carroll Campbell turned to Mr. Tompkins to help him become South Carolina’s second Republican governor. He served as Campbell’s campaign manager during the election and Director for Governor Campbell’s transition committee. Subsequently, Governor Campbell appointed him Chief of Staff, where he became a chief architect in developing the administration’s strategy for economic development, education reform, tax cuts, environmental protection, and government restructuring.
It was in 1991 when Mr. Tompkins delved into his private practice, J. Warren Tompkins, Inc. Public Affairs Company, which later merged to become Tompkins & Kinard, LLC.
In 1992, Mr. Tompkins served as the Senior Southern Advisor for the Bush / Quayle re-election campaign overseeing eleven states in the Southeast.
A few years after, in 1994, he became a strategist for Beasley for Governor and later acted as a co-chairman for Governor David Beasley’s transition committee. He additionally served as his advisor Beasley’s 1998 re-election campaign.
In 1996, Mr. Tompkins served as the Senior Advisor for Senator Thurmond’s re-election campaign and as the Senior Southern Advisor for Dole for President. As the senior southern advisor, he oversaw thirteen southeastern states.
In 2000, Tompkins served as the Senior Advisor to George W. Bush’s presidential campaign and the Chief Strategist for South Carolina’s Presidential Primary. He acted as Senior Advisor and Atlantic Region Chair to the Bush / Cheney successful re-election campaign in 2004.
In 2002, Tompkins was a general consultant to Lindsey Graham in his successful bid to fill the U.S. Senate seat. He further acted as Graham’s consultant in his 2008 reelection campaign. In 2004, he was a Senior Advisor to DeMint for US Senate. He also served as the Sergeant at Arms for the 2000 and 2004 GOP National Convention.
In 2005, Mr. Tompkins began a second and separate political consulting venture, First Tuesday Strategies. At First Tuesday Strategies, Mr. Tompkins was a consultant to US Senator Jim DeMint’s 2010 re-election campaign.
In the 2016 Presidential Primary cycle, Tompkins managed the Conservative Solutions PAC, which was responsible for overseeing the PAC’s $60 million budget assisting Senator Marco Rubio’s Presidential campaign. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida First Project PAC an independent expenditure, which was organized to assist the re-election efforts of Marco Rubio to the United States Senate.
Mr. Tompkins currently acts as the executive director to the Conservative Solutions Project, a 501(c)4 promoting conservative values in government.
Aside from politics, Mr. Tompkins has served on many boards throughout the state. In the past he served on the Board of Visitors to the Medical University of South Carolina, on the Board at the Governors School for Math and Science Foundation, on the Board of Directors for the Capital City Club, was a member of the board at Burlingame Country Club in North Carolina, and served as the Vice President of the Cockaboose Railroad Corporation.
MICHAEL THOMPSON
PARTNER
Michael Thompson served in the South Carolina House of Representatives from 2000 to 2010. While in office, Michael served as the Majority Whip for the House Republican Caucus where he was responsible for the floor operations during roll call votes.
Most notably, Michael served as the Vice Chairman of the Utilities Subcommittee on the Labor, Commerce and Industry (LCI) Committee. Michael authored the landmark Workers Compensation Reform bill during his time in the Legislature, earning him the gratitude and recognition of the South Carolina business and manufacturing community.
Since leaving the Legislature, Michael has resided in Washington, DC, where he has served as a fundraiser for various members of the Republican Congressional membership. He continues to be known for his strong relationships with the leadership in the South Carolina House.
Michael’s business background stems from his family’s transport corporation, which grew from his hometown of Anderson into one of the country’s largest freight companies, hauling freight for Fortune 500 companies and small businesses across the nation.
Michael is an avid supporter of the University of South Carolina athletics.
H. BOYD BROWN
PARTNER
Upon graduating from the University of South Carolina in 2007, Boyd Brown was subsequently elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, becoming America's youngest state lawmaker at the age of 22.
Mr. Brown served two terms in the General Assembly and sat on the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs Committee for his first term. During his second term, Mr. Brown served as a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
Mr. Brown was described as a "substantive policy voice," an "ethics reform champion" and The Washington Post labeled him a "Voice of a Generation" after he delivered a farewell address that went viral. He was viewed as a bipartisan and pragmatic voice in the Legislature, and was appointed to multiple conference committees by the former Speaker of the House.
After leaving the Legislature, Mr. Brown helped grow multiple construction companies in the Midlands of South Carolina. He was asked to serve on the troubled Fairfield Memorial Hospital board of trustees, where he was instrumental in keeping health care in a rural community. He was also appointed to the South Carolina Conservation Bank board of directors by Senate Finance Chairman Hugh Leatherman, where he helped direct the preservation of hundreds of thousands of acres of land in the Palmetto State, equaling hundreds of millions of dollars in conservation easements. 
 

Mr. Brown is a native of Winnsboro, a former member of the Democratic National Committee and a member of Fourth Presbyterian Church (USA) in Greenville. He was a fourth-generation politician and is a second-generation lobbyist. When not in the office, Mr. Brown can be found spending time with his wife, Dr. Lee Ferrell Brown, DMD, their sons, David and Bo, and their dogs, Teddy and Millie, at their home in Columbia.
JIM MERRIllLL
PARTNER
Jim Merrill grew up in Charleston, South Carolina and is a graduate of Bishop England High School.
He is a proud alumnus of the University of South Carolina from which he received his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Master of Public Administration degrees.
After graduation from Carolina, Mr. Merrill worked as legislative liaison and press secretary for Congressman Floyd Spence (R-SC). He later served as Political Director of the SC Republican Party for former Chairman and current Governor Henry McMaster.
In the mid-90’s, Mr. Merrill established his public relations firm, Geechie Communications, that specialized in advertising, marketing and public relations. Geechie was later rebranded as Highline Communications and maintains an extensive political, business and industrial clientele.
In 2000, Mr. Merrill was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives and in 2004 at the age of 37 he was named Majority Leader. During his time in office, he served on the Agriculture Committee, Judiciary Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee until his departure in 2017.
While in the General Assembly, Mr. Merrill was Chairman of the Higher Education sub-committee, Chairman of the Pension Reform Committee, and a member of the State Ports Oversight Committee. Mr. Merrill also played an extensive role with writing the state’s property tax reform legislation, re-organizing the State Ports Authority, restructuring SC State University and has served on numerous state budget and legislative conference committees.
In 2016, Mr. Merrill served as South Carolina State Director for the Donald Trump for President campaign. In that capacity he managed staff, developed and implemented campaign strategy, designed advertising, and coordinated state and national media on a political campaign that led to the election of the President of the United States.
Mr. Merrill is married to Noel Gaillard and they have three daughters, Delaney, Haley and Darby. Delaney and Haley attend the University of South Carolina, and Darby is a student at Bishop England High School. They reside on Daniel Island in Charleston, South Carolina.
CAMPBEll MIMS
ASSOCIATE
Campbell Mims is an accomplished government affairs and strategic communications professional based in Columbia, South Carolina. During his career, Campbell has successfully spearheaded significant legislative initiatives, including the passage of the Craft Beer Economic Development Act in 2023 and the procurement of a total $2.4 million in state funding for a public charter school, two county alcohol and drug commissions, and a global social services nonprofit. His work extends across various sectors, including alcohol beverage, telehealth, broadband, technology, tourism, education, behavioral healthcare, social services, and financial services. Campbell’s leadership is further demonstrated through his past management of three statewide trade associations, where he oversaw operations, strategic communications, and fundraising efforts.
Before his work in government affairs, Campbell held the position of Public Affairs Manager at the most established statewide public charter school authorizer in the state.
Here, he played a crucial role in advancing the interests of the charter school community, building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders, and managing the district’s public relations efforts. His expertise in advocacy and communication was instrumental in supporting the Superintendent and Board of Trustees, as well as in managing crisis communications.
Campbell holds both a Master of Mass Communication and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of South Carolina, graduating magna cum laude. His academic achievements are matched by his professional accomplishments, as evidenced by multiple awards, including the University of South Carolina President’s Award and the Outstanding Public Relations Senior Award. Additionally, Campbell has been recognized as a winner of the Joseph H. Gibbons Award, given by the Chi Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa.
In addition to his professional roles, Campbell is an active member of various boards and organizations, including the Pathways In Education Board of Directors and the ChangeMakers of the Midlands. He resides in Cayce, South Carolina.