Rosen Hagood Member Elizabeth Nicholson was featured in the Winter 2025 edition of The Primerus Paradigm. Elizabeth joined the firm after graduating from the Charleston School of Law in 2015. You can learn more about Elizabeth and her legal practice on her attorney bio page. Below is the full article from The Primerus Paradigm, written by Brian Cox.

Former Basketball Star Finds Niche in Another Kind of Court

When Elizabeth Nicholson was inducted into her high school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2021, she reflected on the profound impact basketball had on her life, telling the Index-Journal that the sport “prepared me for the rest of my life by teaching me the value of teamwork, dedication, and working toward a shared goal-lessons that fueled my drive to succeed and my desire to win, both on and off the court.

Now an attorney at the Charleston-based law firm Rosen Hagood, Nicholson’s journey began in Greenwood, S.C., where she excelled as a three-sport varsity athlete at Emerald High School, playing basketball, softball, and tennis. On the court, she was a force, earning All-Lakelands Basketball Player of the Year honors as a junior. By the end of her high school career, she had scored 1,285 points and set the school record with 1,048 rebounds – a record that still stands.

Nicholson also played center and forward for an AAU travel basketball team in Greenville, forging lifelong friendships with teammates from diverse backgrounds. Reflecting on this time, Nicholson credits those experiences with shaping her perspective on privilege and community.

“Through sports, I was fortunate to connect with people from diverse communities, which opened my eyes to the different challenges others face,” she recalls. “Those experiences taught me acceptance, broadened my perspective, and inspired me to support and uplift those in need.”

That passion for supporting undeserved communities has carried into her personal and professional life. Nicholson sits on the boards of two Charleston-based nonprofits: Going Places, which provides free bikes, helmets, and locks to students, and Yo Art, which equips underserved schools with media arts technology to engage students in photography, filmmaking, and coding. At Rosen Hagood, she also serves as Culture and Community Service Chair, spearheading initiatives that enhance community outreach and cultural awareness within the firm.

A fourth-generation lawyers, Nicholson’s roots in Greenwood run deep. Her great-grandfather William H. Nicholson Sr., founded a law firm there in 1904, a legacy continued by her grandfather, father, and brother at what is now Nicholson, Meredith & Anderson, LLC.

“My parents were deeply involved in the community and seeing them care so much about helping others inspired me to pursue a career in law,” she recalls.

Nicholson’s path to the law wasn’t straightforward, however. After high school, she attended Emory University in Atlanta, where she intended to play basketball. However, she decided to step away from the demand of athletics to focus on enjoying her time in college, transferring to the College of Charleston where she majored in historic preservation and community planning.

Following graduation, Nicholson traded academia for the slopes, moving to Colorado to ski and work in the restaurant industry.

“I loved the ski-bum lifestyle,” she says with a laugh. “But I knew it wasn’t sustainable.” The 2008 recession eventually prompted her to consider her next steps, and law school felt like a natural choice.

Returning to South Carolina, Nicholson enrolled at the Charleston School of Law, where she thrived. Taking time away from academics allowed her to gain perspective and experience life outside of school.

“When I returned to school, I had a deeper appreciation for the value of education and lifelong learning,” she reflects. During law school, she served as treasurer of the Public Interest Legal Society and interned at Rosen Hagood, laying the groundwork for her future career.

After earning her law degree, Nicholson clerked for Judge R. Lawton McIntosh of the Tenth Judicial Circuit in South Carolina before joining Rosen Hagood in 2016. She gravitated toward civil litigation, finding its challenges and opportunities for problem-solving deeply rewarding.

“I like finding answers, piecing together a story, and working through things logically,” she says.

Today, Nicholson’s practice spans business and commercial litigation, construction law, personal injury, real estate litigation, and employment law. In her construction law work, she represents general contractors, subcontractors, and homeowners in disputes involving defects, mechanic’s liens, and payment issues.

Nicholson values the team-oriented culture of Rosen Hagood, which mirrors camaraderie she cherished as an athlete.

“It feels like a team where everyone cares about each other and wants the best for one another,” she says.

That collaborative spirit, coupled with the firm’s focus on professional growth and community involvement, has been a perfect fit.

“I’ve always enjoyed being part of a team that works hard toward a common goal – and, of course, I love to win,” she adds with a smile, reflecting the competitive drive that continues to inspire her.

“If you’re passionate about a particular area of law, the firm supports you in developing your practice,” Nicholson explains. “It’s a great place to grow professionally and personally.”

This article was written by Brian Cox. You can read the full article here.