COLUMBIA, SC – After 44 years of law practice and 25 years of dedication to McAngus Goudelock & Courie (MGC) and his clients, founding member Hugh McAngus has announced his retirement on March 13. He is among the instrumental leaders that have grown MGC from one office in Columbia, South Carolina into a regional insurance defense firm with 16 offices in six states. McAngus is also a trailblazer in South Carolina’s workers’ compensation industry, having served in leadership roles across various professional associations.

“Rusty and I have been very fortunate to have the privilege of having Hugh as our law partner,” says fellow founding member and MGC managing member, Jay Courie. “Not many people are fortunate enough to spend over 30 years working with their mentor, role model and best friend.”

As a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law, McAngus focused on defending complex workers’ compensation claims, while being actively involved in the development of workers’ compensation law on both a state and national level. Since starting his practice in 1976, McAngus not only made it a priority to obtain the best results for his clients, but he also served as a role model and mentor to a number of attorneys and legal staff.

McAngus has been an active member of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association (SCDTAA), serving on the board of directors and executive committee, as well as president. In November 2014, he was presented with the prestigious Hemphill Award by SCDTAA, showing distinguished and meritorious conduct and service to the legal profession and the public. McAngus was the 16th recipient of this award in the association’s 50-year history. He is also the past president of the South Carolina Self-Insurers Association, and served on the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association’s legislative study committee as well as the Defense Research Institute’s committee on state and local defense organizations.

McAngus has received several other accolades including being named among South Carolina Super Lawyers from 2008 to 2019, Greater Columbia Business Monthly Midlands’ Legal Elite in 2012 as well as The Best Lawyers in America from 1995 to 2020. He was also the recipient of the South Carolina Association for Justice’s Worthy Adversary Award, which honors a defense attorney who displays exemplary professionalism, honesty and ethical behavior.