Charles C. Stebbins, III
Of CounselWith over 40 years of experience, Charles Stebbins (Clay) has established a distinguished career litigating complex cases at both the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts across Georgia and beyond. Specializing in business and commercial litigation, Clay also provides tailored legal solutions for individuals in a variety of contexts, handling disputes for both plaintiffs and defendants with a strategic and results-driven approach. Recognized for his expertise, he holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting his commitment to excellence in the practice of law.
Clay’s extensive experience includes recovering significant sums for financial institutions and other creditors through litigation. He has also advised clients on the acquisition, ownership, and management of rural acreage, including transactions involving more than 400,000 acres of timber property in Georgia and South Carolina. His work in real property litigation and title resolution is well-recognized for its depth and precision.
Throughout his career, Clay has achieved notable results for his clients. He argued and won a unanimous reversal before the Supreme Court of the United States in an employment law case, paving the way for a successful trial and damages award. He secured a seven-figure settlement in a product liability action against a national pharmaceutical company. He has recently guided a church congregation through litigation and settlement realizing the local church’s goal of separating from a national denomination while retaining its property. In a multi-million-dollar dispute over shopping center ownership, he negotiated a favorable settlement, and for over two decades, he advised a convenience store chain on real estate acquisitions that expanded the business from four to over 70 locations.
- Represented a church congregation in successfully separating from a national denomination while retaining its property.
- Obtained the reversal on appeal, on behalf of a financial institution, of a high six-figure fraud judgment against it, with direction that judgment should be entered in favor of the defendant without retrial.
- Represented the plaintiff in a claim for several million dollars arising out of an ownership dispute over a shopping center and brought the matter to a successful settlement conclusion.
- Obtained the reversal, by a unanimous decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, after he argued the case personally in the Supreme Court, of a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit dismissing a damage suit against an employer for the firing of his client, a corporate executive, paving the way for a successful trial and damage award below.
- For a period of over three decades, handled all types of legal actions and purchase and sale transactions pertaining to over 400,000 acres of timber property in Georgia and South Carolina, including title examination, and title cure where necessary, as to all 400,000 acres.
- Obtained a seven-figure settlement award in a products liability action against a national drug company, which he believes to be among the highest such awards paid to any plaintiff in connection with the product.
- Over a period of more than two decades, advised a convenience store chain in its process of expanding from four to over 70 stores, including real estate acquisition and development.
- Represented a national franchisor in recurring litigation throughout the United States over franchisee severance and claims.
- Harvard Law School, J.D., 1975
- Harvard College, A.B., 1971
- Georgia Bar, 1976
- Alabama Bar, 1975
- Georgia Supreme Court and Georgia Court of Appeals, 1978
- United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, 1985
- United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, 1981
