Bill Harvey, who gave legal advice to Beaufort officials for 36 years, has resigned

Bill Harvey, Beaufort’s city attorney for 36 years, has resigned, effective immediately, seven months before his term was set to expire.

The city and Harvey’s law firm of Harvey and Battey Attorneys at Law announced Harvey’s departure Friday but released few details. Harvey said he wanted to devote more time to his 101-year-old law firm, the oldest in Beaufort County.

In December 2021, City Council members unanimously voted to retain Harvey as city attorney for another two years. That term was not scheduled to end until Dec. 31.

Harvey referred the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet to a press release issued by his firm, which said he has always enjoyed the trust and support of the many City Councils and city administrations he served during his tenure.

However, Harvey said in the release, he believes it is time to devote his efforts to other areas of his practice and the continued success of his family’s 101-year-old law firm.

“The health and success of our city has always been, and will remain, a passion in my life,” Harvey said.

Harvey was not an employee but rather contracted with the city to provide legal advice. He earned $175 an hour.

Harvey has served as city attorney since 1987. In that role, he gave the City Council legal advice, often behind closed doors in executive session, on a variety of issues, such as lawsuits against the city, property purchases, personnel issues, and on an Election Commission member attending political rallies.

In recent years, Harvey has spent considerable time defending the city in lawsuits over approval of large development projects in the city’s historic downtown. In January 2022, a judge upheld the city’s approval of a hotel and parking garage. During the hearing, Harvey made the case that the integrity of the city’s review processes was at stake. The judge’s decision is being appealed, and a hearing is scheduled next week.

Mayor Stephen Murray said Harvey would represent the city in that hearing and handle other legal matters while the city searches for new legal counsel, ensuring an orderly transition.

“I’m appreciative of Bill Harvey’s service to the city and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Murray said.

Harvey is the third generation of the Harvey family to practice at Harvey and Battey. He is a civil trial litigator with an emphasis on serious automobile accidents, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability, and commercial and workers’ compensation litigation.

Harvey told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet in 2022 that he viewed the city attorney position as a “quasi-public service” and took pride in helping to shape the city’s policies and growth in that role.

A resolution in honor of Harvey is on the City Council’s Tuesday agenda. In his 36 years, the resolution notes, Harvey provided legal counsel to five mayors, seven city managers and dozens of council members, and successfully represented the city in numerous lawsuits and appeals.