Don Wildman

Donald B. Wildman

Partner

Beginning as a law student/clerk in the summers of 1972 and 1973, then as an associate in 1974, and continuing as a partner since 1979, Don Wildman’s entire legal career has been with the Johnson Smith firm. Don’s extensive and accomplished career has included representing many of Spartanburg’s most complex businesses and corporations. Don focuses on helping clients successfully evaluate, negotiate, document, and close on a broad spectrum of business and personal transactions. Although he has advised and served on boards of publicly traded companies, most of his time is spent representing clients with closely held businesses and addressing the myriad issues they face day-to-day. Some of the highlights of Don’s career include:

• Drafting and lobbying a successful amendment to the South Carolina Constitution to limit taxes and spending (1979-1984)
• Helping creating the largest Blockbuster Video franchisee in the U.S. (208 locations) through organic growth as well as acquisitions across the Southeast to Louisiana and Colorado (1985-1993)
• Assisting in nationwide roll out of more than 300 Extended Stay America and Studio Plus Hotels (1995-2004)
• Acquiring within only a few weeks over 150 contiguous parcels from sellers of land to the South Carolina Ports Authority to create the 1,200-acre manufacturing campus of BMW North America in Spartanburg County (1992)
• Acquiring more than 40,000 acres of South Carolina timberland in 11 counties with approximately 200 parcels (2009-2010)

Professional/Civic Activities: South Carolina Bar Association; Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference; Don has served on the boards of a variety of governmental entities, religious organizations, community organizations and non-profits. He is a former president of the Spartanburg County Bar Association and served as a member of the Board of Governors and the House of Delegates of the S.C. Bar Association from 2015 to 2019.