Tushar V. Chikhliker

As head of the firm’s Economic Development Group and a key member of its Real Estate group, Tushar Chikhliker has represented a diverse group of companies, both domestic and international, in connection with numerous economic development projects throughout every region of South Carolina, including some of the largest economic development projects in the State’s history. 

Tushar has represented companies across a wide array of industries including heavy and light manufacturing, pharmaceutical and life sciences, data centers, warehouse and distribution, agribusiness, headquarters and office, IT, research and development, alternative energy, and real estate development.  

Examples of recent economic development projects in which Tushar has served as economic development legal counsel include: 

• $380 million+/ 950-job Korean home appliance manufacturing facility; and
• $500 million+/multi-thousand job US pharmaceuticals facility; and
• $315 million/1,500-job US agricultural technology center facility
• $35 million/600-job US metal fabrication facility to support the aerospace, defense, energy, and marine industries
• Large US data center for a Fortune 15 multi-national company;
• Multi-county French tire manufacturing facility;
• Large US aircraft manufacturing facility;
• Large German van manufacturing facility;
• Multiple large scale solar energy facilities
• Multiple mixed-use, commercial development, and revitalization projects
• Multiple infrastructure construction projects

Tushar’s representation of his clients regularly extends to a myriad of incentive arrangements including fee-in-lieu of tax agreements, special source revenue bonds and credits, multi-county business/industrial parks, State job tax, development, and retraining credits, retail and textile revitalization credits, state and local grant programs, income tax, property tax, and sales tax exemptions. State and federal energy grant programs, State worker training incentives, and other arrangements aimed at sparking new success, or bolstering established success, for his clients in the South Carolina communities where they choose to invest. 

Tushar has also assisted with the drafting of South Carolina legislation providing for new economic development incentives or modifications to those already existing in the advancement of his client's interests.  He has also counseled clients in working through South Carolina Freedom of Information Act issues affecting economic development projects.

Tushar embraces the uniqueness of each company he represents and understands that in constructing and closing deals with his clients, there is no “one-size-fits-all” path to success.  Whether working with in-house attorneys, financial or tax officers, outside consultants, or other company representatives, Tushar prides himself in explaining what can often be complicated legal and financial arrangements to his clients in practical terms which allow them to make prudent business decisions.

A key player in South Carolina’s business and legal communities, Tushar is a member of the Board of Directors, as well as a three-time former Legislative Chair, of the South Carolina Economic Developers’ Association (SCEDA), the State's largest economic development trade group.  Tushar also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of SCBIO, a statewide, not-for-profit, public/private life sciences industry association and economic development organization formed to actively promote, build, support, expand, and convene South Carolina’s life sciences industry.  Additionally, Tushar serves on the Board of Directors of the Charleston Regional Development Alliance. 

Within the firm, Tushar is a Co-Chair of the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee and is a past Chair of the Recruiting and Retention Committee  

A native of South Carolina, Tushar attended the University of South Carolina where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science with honors from the South Carolina Honors College.  During his time at UofSC, Tushar earned multiple awards and recognitions including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award – the most prestigious award that can be bestowed upon a UofSC student, and an award celebrating excellence in leadership, academics, and community service.  Upon graduating from UofSC, Tushar earned his Juris Doctor from the Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served as Student Solicitor of the Law School Honor Council.

Community & Professional

• South Carolina Ports Authority, Port Ambassador, 2021
• S.C. Economic Developers' Association, Member - Board of Directors, Legislative Committee, Prior Legislative Committee Chair
• SCBIO, Board of Directors
• Charleston Regional Development Authority – Board of Directors
• Committee of 100
• Partnership Board, University of South Carolina - Department of Political Science, Past Member
• University Associates, University of South Carolina
• South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Past Board of Trustees Member
• Harvest Hope Food Bank, Past Board Member
• John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court, Past Member
• Richland County Bar Association
• North Carolina State Bar
• Workshop Theatre of South Carolina, Past Board of Trustees Member
• Columbia Opportunity Resource, Past Board Member
• Leadership Columbia, Class of 2008
• Leadership Columbia Planning Committee, Past Member
• Leadership Columbia  Alumni Association
• Shandon Neighborhood Council, Past Member

Outside Nexsen Pruet

Tushar has always valued balance in his life. In addition to putting in time at the gym, he spends most of his free time at city parks, Riverbanks Zoo, EdVenture Children’s Museum, or anywhere else he and his wife’s toddler twins might find exciting.   

Meaningful service to his community has been a hallmark of Tushar’s professional life.  He presently serves on the Board of Trustees of the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and the Board of Directors of Harvest Hope Food Bank.  Tushar also actively supports his undergraduate alma mater, the University of South Carolina, by serving on its Partnership Board for the Department of Political Science and as a University Associate.  He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Workshop Theatre of South Carolina and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR).  Tushar is also a graduate of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Columbia program, is a member of the Leadership Columbia Alumni Association, and has served on the Leadership Columbia Committee as the Chair of its Economic Development Day subcommittee. 

Tushar has also spent significant time making his neighborhood a better place by previously serving as a member of the Shandon Neighborhood Council and the Race Director for the Shandon Turkey Trot, a neighborhood 8K that raises money for neighborhood projects.

In November of 2014, Tushar traveled to India as part of Governor Nikki Haley's delegation of South Carolina business leaders. On January 2nd, Columbia's The State newspaper reported "Interest in Haley led to more meetings on Indian trade mission, Commerce says."

An excerpt:

The 18-member delegation of business and government officials had 90 meetings scheduled but ended up conducting about 120, S.C. Commerce Secretary Bobby Hitt said....

Hitt said having the private business representatives on the trip allowed the state to reach more business prospects and do a better job in selling South Carolina.

"If you went over there with all government people, you would not give them the impression of who you really were as a business state," he said. "You want a diversity of all types of people. You only get one first impression."

Greenville Business Magazine's Legal Elite of the Upstate, 2018

In February of 2015, Law360 profiled Tushar for its "Minority Powerbrokers Q&A" series.

Tushar was recognized as a South Carolina Super Lawyer - Rising Star in Bonds and Government Finance Law for 2012. The State also recognized his professional and community involvement by selecting him as one of the newspaper's "20 Under 40" for 2011. He has served on the LeadershipNextSC Advisory Group and was a 2010 graduate of the Diversity Leaders Initiative, both of which have been established by the Riley Institute of Government, Politics, and Public Leadership at Furman University.

In 2008, Tushar graduated from the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Columbia program, is currently a member of the Leadership Columbia Alumni Association, and has served on the Leadership Columbia Planning Committee.  He also has served on the Shandon Neighborhood Council. He has also served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Workshop Theatre of South Carolina and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Columbia Opportunity Resource. 

Highlights of his career include:

• The State newspaper's 20 Under 40 List - 2011
• John Belton O'Neall Inn of Court
• Leadership Columbia
• Midlands Diversity Leaders Initiative - Riley Institute
• South Carolina Super Lawyer - Rising Star in Bonds and Government Finance Law (2012)

• Host/Presenter, Webinar: Job Tax Credit in Tier III & IV South Carolina Counties, September 15, 2019
• Nexsen Pruet Economic Development Seminar: NC vs. SC, Presenter: South Carolina Grants, South Carolina Property Tax Incentives, November 6, 2015
• Realtors Seminar (2015) Presenter, Property Tax Basics and Incentives, Abandoned Building Revitalization and Retail Revitalization Acts - Nexsen Pruet, LLC
• "Minority Powerbrokers Q&A," Law360, February 23, 2015.
• Hard Dollars Seminar, September 6, 2013, Presenter, Program Requirements for State Grants – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• Greenwood Partnership Alliance Meeting, August 29, 2013, Blighted Big Boxes and Cast-Aside Construction: A Look at SC’s Retail Facilities and Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Acts.
• Legislative Update Seminar, June 21, 2013, Presenter, A Comparison of South Carolina vs. North Carolina Incentives – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• State Economic Development Incentives for the Agribusiness Industry, November 2, 2012, Presenter, FILOTs and MCBPs for Agribusiness – Palmetto Agribusiness Council.
• What You Need to Know to Help Your Company Succeed, October 17, 2012, Presenter, State and Local Incentives for Existing Industries in South Carolina – Association of Corporate Counsel, South Carolina Chapter.
• Incentives for Real Estate Developers: Commercial, Retail, Tourism, Multi-Family, October 5, 2012, Presenter, Closed Big Box/Textile Mills Revitalization Credits and Fee-in-Lieu/Multi-County Business Parks – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• SC Clean Energy Summit, July 18, 2012, Presenter, Alternative Energy State Tax Incentives – South Carolina Clean Energy Business Alliance.
• Selected Issues Regarding Spec Industrial Parks and Mega Sites, June 8, 2012, Presenter, Fee-in-Lieu and Spec Industrial Parks - Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• Newbie Seminar, December 1, 2011, Presenter, Property Tax Basics and Incentives – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• Economic Development and Legislative Update Seminar, June 24, 2011, Presenter, MCBP – Advanced Issues – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• SC Journal of International Law & Business Symposium, February 25, 2011, Presenter, A Company Perspective: Common SC Economic Development Incentives – USC School of Law.
• SCATT Academy, February 3, 2011, Presenter, FILOTs and MCBPs – South Carolina Association of Auditors, Treasurers, & Tax Collectors.  
• Economic Development School, July 1, 2010, Presenter, Economic Development and Tax Update – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.
• Project Finance: Financing the $10 Million - $15 Million Manufacturing Warehouse and Distribution Facility, April 21, 2010, Presenter, New Markets Tax Credit Financing – Nexsen Pruet, LLC.

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