Photo of Clarence Davis
Of Counsel
The Charleston Group
T: 803.799.2500
F: 803.799.2507
cdavis@charlestongroup.com
Clarence Davis

Practice areas

Admissions

Education

University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Arts

University of South Carolina School of Law, Juris Doctor

Mr. Davis focuses his practice on complex business/commercial litigation and trials (defense and plaintiff), products liability, toxic tort and environmental cases, and class-actions, as well as white collar criminal defense (state and federal).  He has extensive experience in private practice with large, multi-state and international law firms as a partner with Nelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough, and a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig.  In the 1980s, Mr. Davis was a captain in the U.S. Air Force.  In that role he was one of the 20 Circuit Trial Counsel stationed throughout the world and was responsible for the jury trial prosecution of serious felonies at air bases in eight western states.

Mr. Davis experiences include serving as lead counsel in complex business trials and other complex litigation for national companies throughout the southeastern United States and elsewhere. He has been admitted pro hac vice in state and federal courts in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Davis served as assistant U.S. Attorney, where he was responsible for the jury trial of securities, tax and federal procurement fraud cases, as well as environmental crime work for South Carolina. While serving as assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. Davis was trained to support the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He has administrative, civil, criminal litigation and jury trial experience with complex business crimes.

Mr. Davis served as a delegate for South Carolina on a southeastern trade mission to Japan and Korea. He has also been awarded the highest public service award issued in the State of South Carolina, the Order of the Palmetto.

Professional Affiliations

  • U.S. Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference (invitation only), Permanent Member
  • International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Defense Team Captain 2010
  • General council, South Carolina Bar, Trial & Appellate Advocacy Section, 2015-2018
  • U.S. Magistrate Judge Selection Panel, Former Chair (South Carolina)
  • American Bar Association
  • South Carolina Bar, Judicial Qualifications Committee, Former Member
  • American Board of Trial Advocates (invitation only), Member
  • Defense Research Institute, Former State Liaison
  • DRI Drug and Medical Device Litigation Committee, Former Member
  • National Bar Association (NBA)
  • NBA Commercial Law Section, Executive Committee, Former Member
  • South Carolina Judicial Invitational Golf Tournament (invitation only)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel Trial Academy, Defense Team Captain 2010

Community/Civic Activities

  • Benedict College Board of Trustees, 2014-present
  • Central Carolina Community Foundation Board of Directors, Former Member
  • University of South Carolina Alumni Association Board of Governors, Former Member
  • Woodward Academy (Atlanta GA) Board of Governors, Former Chair
  • Santee Cooper Public Utility Board of Directors, Former Member and Second Vice Chair
  • South Carolina Governor’s Commission on Race Relations, Former Chair Economic Development Subcommittee
  • South Carolina Jobs Economic Development Authority, Former Chair
  • South Carolina Coordinating Council, Economic Development and Enterprise Zone Committee, Former Member
  • The Palmetto Institute (South Carolina economic development “think tank”), Former Member
  • Governor of South Carolina Transition Team, Former Member, 2003
  • Transition Team's Economic Development Task Force, Former Chair 

Representative Presentations

  • Faculty, “Bring Out the Handkerchiefs: How to Handle Jury Sympathy,” Defense Research Institute, Environmental Toxic Tort Litigation Conference
  • Faculty, American Board Trial Advocates, South Carolina Chapter, Masters in Trial Program 2011 and 2013
  • Faculty, American Board of Trial Advocates, Louisiana Chapter, Masters in Trial Program, 2012
  • Faculty, American Board of Trial Advocates, Tennessee Chapter, Masters in Trial Program, 2012
  • “A Jury Harvest: Picking the Right People,” DRI’s Drug and Medical Device Seminar, May 2012
  • “Opening Statements,” Arkansas State Bar Annual Convention, June 2012
  • “Motions in Limine,” DRI Drug and Medical Device Seminar, May 2005

Honors & Awards

  • AV Preeminent rating
  • Best Lawyers in America in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Personal Injury Litigation since 2011
  • Super Lawyers selection as Top-Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Columbia, SC, in 2009, 2012-2013 and 2017