Efficient and responsive service are fundamentals of Mark Knight's practice. This philosophy has guided his counsel on mergers and acquisitions worth nearly $1 billion and more than 50 capital-formation transactions.
Typical engagements include:
- Commercial contract preparation and review, including supply chain agreements
- Structuring and implementing acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, reorganizations, dissolutions, control contests, recapitalizations
- Development of, and compliance for, private securities offerings
- Structuring and negotiating licensing of intellectual property and related rights
- Managing other highly complex business transactions
Outside of Nexsen Pruet, Mark is an active leader in the South Carolina Bar’s legislative committees involving limited liability, limited partnership, and securities law issues. He frequently speaks on various topics related to his practice and has published articles on limited partnerships and commercial law in the USC Law Review.
Innovation and Accolades
Mark has been a leader in South Carolina's growing innovation community, working closely with startups through InnoVenture - a platform creating a pipeline for innovators and ideas - for ten years. Mark served as legal chair of InnoVenture from its inception through 2014.
His work and dedication to his clients have earned him a number of notable achievements, including being listed among the five top-tier corporate/merger and acquisition lawyers in South Carolina by Chambers USA.
Best Lawyers also named him the 2014 Mergers and Aquisitions Lawyer of the Year, 2013 Securities/Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year, the 2012 Corporate Lawyer of the Year, and the 2010 Merger and Acquisition Lawyer of the Year for Columbia, South Carolina. He has been listed among the Best Lawyers in America for Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Securities Law since 2003.
Additionally, Mark was named "Legal Elite" of the Midlands in 2012 for Corporate Business Law and participated in an exploratory business and goodwill delegation to Vietnam and Myanmar for the Center for Global Strategies in 2006.
- University of South Carolina, J.D., 1981, cum laude
- Furman University, B.A., 1978, summa cum laude
- South Carolina
- American Bar Association
- 2004-2014: Legal chair for InnoVenture innovation and resource platform
- 2011-2013: Steering Committee for Przirembel Prize for collaborative innovation
- Richland County Bar Association
- South Carolina Bar
- South Carolina Investor Network
- "Legal Elite of the Midlands" - Corporate Business Law
- Chambers and Partners "Leading Individual," 2014
- Best Lawyers in America since 2003
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
- Securities Regulation
- Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in Columbia - 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent
- Ranked by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A for South Carolina 2018
Overview
Efficient and responsive service are fundamentals of Mark Knight's practice. This philosophy has guided his counsel on mergers and acquisitions worth nearly $1 billion and more than 50 capital-formation transactions.
Typical engagements include:
- Commercial contract preparation and review, including supply chain agreements
- Structuring and implementing acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, reorganizations, dissolutions, control contests, recapitalizations
- Development of, and compliance for, private securities offerings
- Structuring and negotiating licensing of intellectual property and related rights
- Managing other highly complex business transactions
Outside of Nexsen Pruet, Mark is an active leader in the South Carolina Bar’s legislative committees involving limited liability, limited partnership, and securities law issues. He frequently speaks on various topics related to his practice and has published articles on limited partnerships and commercial law in the USC Law Review.
Innovation and Accolades
Mark has been a leader in South Carolina's growing innovation community, working closely with startups through InnoVenture - a platform creating a pipeline for innovators and ideas - for ten years. Mark served as legal chair of InnoVenture from its inception through 2014.
His work and dedication to his clients have earned him a number of notable achievements, including being listed among the five top-tier corporate/merger and acquisition lawyers in South Carolina by Chambers USA.
Best Lawyers also named him the 2014 Mergers and Aquisitions Lawyer of the Year, 2013 Securities/Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year, the 2012 Corporate Lawyer of the Year, and the 2010 Merger and Acquisition Lawyer of the Year for Columbia, South Carolina. He has been listed among the Best Lawyers in America for Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Securities Law since 2003.
Additionally, Mark was named "Legal Elite" of the Midlands in 2012 for Corporate Business Law and participated in an exploratory business and goodwill delegation to Vietnam and Myanmar for the Center for Global Strategies in 2006.
- American Bar Association
- 2004-2014: Legal chair for InnoVenture innovation and resource platform
- 2011-2013: Steering Committee for Przirembel Prize for collaborative innovation
- Richland County Bar Association
- South Carolina Bar
- South Carolina Investor Network
- "Legal Elite of the Midlands" - Corporate Business Law
- Chambers and Partners "Leading Individual," 2014
- Best Lawyers in America since 2003
- Corporate Law
- Mergers and Acquisitions Law
- Securities/Capital Markets Law
- Securities Regulation
- Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in Columbia - 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV Preeminent
- Ranked by Chambers USA in Corporate/M&A for South Carolina 2018
Speaking & Writing
- "When the boss dies: How businesses move on"
June 29, 2015 - Nexsen Pruet Ranked Among Top Firms in the Carolinas
May 29, 2014 - "New film puts low S.C. literacy rates in spotlight"
April 9, 2014 - 14 Nexsen Pruet Attorneys Named to "Legal Elite" of the Midlands
October 16, 2013 - "InnoVenture 2013 announces featured presentations for May conference"
April 10, 2013 - Nexsen Pruet Ranked Among Top in the Carolinas; Legal Guide Recognizes Sixteen Attorneys and Six Practice Areas
May 27, 2013
- 2013 Ethics CLE Seminar for In-House Counsel
October 25, 2013 - 2014 In-House Counsel Ethics Seminar
October 31, 2014
Each year from 2004-2014, Mark has taken part in the InnoVenture Conference in Greenville, SC. In May of 2012 and 2013, he presented on the Jobs Act, which provides for significant changes to America's securities law.
Outside Nexsen Pruet
Mark and his family have been SCUBA diving for years. They travel to dive locations like Bonaire at least once a year. When he's not under water, you might find Mark in the Upstate cheering on the Furman Paladins. He was a high school athlete and actively follows Furman as well as Clemson, Oregon and the University of South Carolina where his children attended. Says Mark, "After you write enough tuition checks, you find your sports loyalties tag-along."
Mark has been a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and member of the Sanctuary Choir at St. Andrews Baptist Church, and is a co-founder of Vista Fellowship and Midtown Fellowship, all located in Columbia, South Carolina. He also leads a missional community (house church) initiative in Columbia.
