About

About Gem McDowell Law Group

Gem McDowell and his associatess serve individuals and business in Mt. Pleasant and the greater Charleston area. With an emphasis on corporate law, practice areas include:

• Business Creation
• Business Planning
• Business Acquisition
• Commercial Real Estate
• Taxation Law
• Estate Planning

Gem McDowell Law Group

Gem McDowell launched his own firm on January 1, 2010 to put all of his effort and resources into working on behalf of his own selected clients. After working as a solo practitioner for two years, he began to take on additional attorneys and grow the practice. his associatess have received extensive training to provide clients with the same high level of service they’ve come to expect from Gem.

Leading a smaller firm allows Gem to substantially reduce hourly rates due to lower overhead while still providing excellent service and individualized attention to his clients.

To thank them for their service, Gem offers current and former military and first-responders a 10% discount on all legal services.

Meet Our Team

Attorney Gem McDowell

Principal Attorney

Gem founded The Gem McDowell Law Group in 2010 and practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Probate, Business Acquisitions, Corporate Work and Commercial Real Estate. Prior to opening his own firm, he practiced Tax Law and Business Law at large multi-state firms and acted as general counsel for a large multi-state developer. Gem received his Bachelor of Arts from Wofford College, Juris Doctor from University of South Carolina at Columbia and a Master’s in Laws in Taxation from Emory University. As a commercial real estate attorney, he has closed over $1 billion in real estate deals, including one project worth $270 million alone. Gem enjoys spending time with his wife Tiffaney, daughter and son-in-law Jessica and Jonathon, son Gem and his dogs.

Lauren Lamb

Associate Attorney

Lauren Lamb is from Cape Cod, MA and came to South Carolina to attend Clemson University, where she received her B.S. in Marketing and Advertising and graduated summa cum laude in 2010. She received her J.D. from the Charleston School of Law in 2013. Before working for Gem, she clerked for an Atlanta law firm where she practiced in the areas of real estate, foreclosure, and bankruptcy litigation. She has been published in Legal League Quarterly. Lauren is a member of the American Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association, the Georgia Bar Association, the Charleston County Bar Association, and Charleston Young Professionals. She is admitted to practice in South Carolina and Georgia. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys going to the beach, yoga, and trying new restaurants.

Katelyn Ehnot

Associate Attorney

Katelyn Ehnot is an Associate Attorney for the Gem McDowell Law Group with a focus on Business Acquisitions and Corporate Work. Katelyn received her Juris Doctor from Charleston School of Law in 2018 after graduating from Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 2015. Before she joined the firm, Katelyn worked at other business law and estate planning firms in downtown Charleston. She is a member of the American Bar Association and the South Carolina Bar Association. Katelyn is originally from Pennsylvania and moved down South for the warm weather and beaches. She is excited to call “The Lowcounty” her new home.

Kristi Parker

Legal Assistant to Gem McDowell

Kristi started with the firm 2019. She currently assists Gem McDowell and his team with general office support and administrative tasks. Kristi is a licensed Notary Public for the State of South Carolina. Prior to joining the firm Kristi worked in Retail Merchandising for over 10 years and graduated from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. Kristi is a true Floridian, born and raised in South Florida before re-locating to the Lowcounty in 2010. She now lives in Mount Pleasant with her daughter and husband where they enjoy the coastal and historical sites Charleston has to offer.

Jackie Jarnagin

Assistant to Gem McDowell

Jackie has been with the firm since 2018. She currently assists Gem McDowell and his team with administrative responsibilities related to Estate Planning and Business Law. Jackie attended Western New England College in Springfield, MA and Katherine Gibbs Business School in Boston, MA and has over 15 years of experience working in an administrative role. She is originally from the Jersey shore and has lived in Chicago, Atlanta and Charlotte before moving to Mount Pleasant with her husband and two children. She enjoys playing tennis and watching her son play baseball in her free time.

Melinda Kerr

Office Manager

Melinda Kerr joined the Gem McDowell Law Group in 2012 and is currently the Office Manager. In addition to her role as Office Manager, she handles various Estate Planning, Probate, and Corporate/Tax Matters for the firm. Melinda is originally from Texas and graduated from Texas A&M University. She has previous work experience in Tax Preparation, Real Estate, and Financial Planning. Melinda is the spouse of a retired U.S. Marine and a mother of two college age children. In her time off, you can find her on the golf course or boating around the beautiful Charleston waterways.

Call For a Free Consultation

We would love to meet with you to discuss how we may help you with your personal or business needs. We offer a free consultation to see if we can help you. Call our Mt. Pleasant office at (843) 284-1021 today.