Charles S. Conerly


Charles S. (“Chuck”) Conerly is a founding member of Smith Conerly and currently heads the litigation practice. Chuck concentrates his practice on complex commercial litigation, local government, environmental, zoning, and local land use law. He served as City Attorney for the City of Carrollton for sixteen years and currently serves as the City Attorney for the City of Blue Ridge. In addition, Chuck has represented many other local governments and authorities on specific matters.

Chuck attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from the State University of West Georgia, cum laude, before moving north to obtain his law degree, magna cum laude, and master’s degree, summa cum laude, from the Vermont Law School. While in law school, Chuck served on the Editorial Board of the Vermont Law Review. After graduation, Chuck spent a year as law clerk to the Honorable Charles R. Butler, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama. He then practiced for five years with Alston & Bird in Atlanta, where he concentrated on environmental, zoning, and local land use regulation law.

In 2002, Chuck moved his practice back to his hometown of Carrollton and eventually partnered with Huck Smith to form Smith Conerly.

Areas of Concentration

  • Local Government Law
  • Corporate Finance Litigation
  • Commercial & Banking Litigation
  • Trial Practice
  • Appellate Practice
  • Environmental Regulation & Litigation
  • Zoning and Local Land Use Law
  • Insurance Litigation
  • Construction Litigation
  • Condemnation
Admitted to Practice

  • Georgia, 1997
Education

  • J.D., magna cum laude, Vermont Law School, 1996
    • Editorial Board, Vermont Law Review
  • M.S.E.L., summa cum laude, Vermont Law School, 1996
  • B.A., cum laude, State University of West Georgia, 1992
Clerkships

  • Law Clerk, Hon. Charles R. Butler, United States District Court for the Southern District of Alabama, 1996-1997