Our Practice

Jonathan J. Shanks is a 1996 graduate of Mississippi College, School of Law. While attending school in Mississippi, Jonathan  clerked for Prewitt Law Firm and the Hinds County Public Defender's  Office. He is licensed to practice law in the state of South Carolina and in the Federal District Courts of South Carolina. He is a member of the Horry County Bar Association, South Carolina Association for Justice, Injured Workers’ Advocates, and the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association.

Prior to law school, Jonathan attended Coastal Carolina College, a branch of the University of South Carolina, majoring in Political Science. During his undergraduate years at Coastal, he was very active in campus activities during Coastal's two year transition to becoming an  independent university. He served as Vice President of the Student  Government Association for one semester and subsequently served as  Student Government President for the next year and a half. Jonathan was  recognized by the Horry County Higher Education Commission for outstanding dedication to the goals of higher education in Horry County and South Carolina. Jonathan has a great love for Coastal Carolina University and looks forward to playing an active role in support of his Alma mater.

Jonathan grew up in New Jersey and moved to Myrtle Beach in 1988. He  considers the Grand Strand home. He is married to the former Amy  Catherine Cross of Jackson, Mississippi. On his off time, Jonathan loves to spend time with the family, relax on the beach, read, workout, surf, and serve in various capacities in his church.

Dennis H. Smith was born in the rural South Carolina  farming community of Holly Hill, in Orangeburg County. He received the  rank of Eagle Scout in 1971 and is a Brotherhood member of the Order of  the Arrow. He graduated with honors in 1975 from Holly Hill Academy, received a B.A. in Political Science from Furman University in 1979 with honors, and received his J.D. degree from the University of South Carolina Law School in 1982, also with honors. He is a member of the  legal honor society, the Order of the Coif.

He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1982, and is a member of  the Federal Bar as well. He is a member of the American Bar  Association, the South Carolina Association of Justice, and the Horry  County Bar Association. He has served on various Bar Committees since his induction to the South Carolina Bar. After graduation from law school, Mr. Smith spent five years as an insurance defense lawyer. Since 1988, he has been handling legal cases for injured persons almost exclusively. His practice includes legal and medical malpractice,  serious automobile accidents, and other civil legal disputes. He has headed Dennis H, Smith, P.A. since 1989.

He has performed extensive community service. He has coached  baseball, basketball, and soccer for the Horry Georgetown Soccer Club,  the YMCA, the town of Surfside Beach, and the city of Myrtle Beach. He has served as Cubmaster for Pack 853 chartered to the Surfside Beach United Methodist Church, and is currently a Committee Member for Troop 396 of Belin Methodist Church of Murrells Inlet. He is a former  president of the South Strand Kiwanis Club, and was the initiator of the Terrific Kids program in Horry County. He has served on the North South Football Game committee, and on the Citizens for Baseball committee,  and was instrumental in bringing minor league baseball to the Grand  Strand in 1999.

He is married to the former Cynthia Nault of Green Bay, Wisconsin.  The Smiths have been married since 1984, and they have two sons.