William Britt is General Counsel for the South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH). In this role, Britt serves as chief legal counsel for the agency where he oversees the offices of General Counsel, Compliance, Freedom of Information, and Internal Audits.
Britt has served as the agency’s interim General Counsel since July 1, 2024, and previously worked for the state's predecessor public health agency, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). Joining DHEC in 2014, Britt became Chief Counsel for Public Health in 2016, leading a team of lawyers that provided counsel and legal assistance to all of the agency's public health programs. Britt also served as General Counsel and Deputy Incident Commander for the agency's COVID-19 emergency response until the spring of 2021.
Prior to joining DHEC, Britt spent 15 years in private practice, including as a partner in the Columbia law firm Bruner Powell Wall and Mullins, LLC. Britt practiced in the areas of complex business, construction and professional malpractice litigation, representing business owners, contractors, lawyers, nurses, insurance agents and other professionals.
A native of South Carolina, Britt attended Wofford College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. He then attended graduate school at The Citadel, earning a Master of Education degree in school psychology. Britt received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law.