Charles C. “Chuck” Clay is Senior Counsel in our Atlanta office, with large civil litigation and class action defense practices. He also concentrates in government relations and working on behalf of clients to advocate for legislative improvements on the national, state and local levels. In addition, he serves as an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Kennesaw State University.
Mr. Clay joined FMG after a long career in public service in the Georgia State Senate, where he represented the 37th District for six terms and served as Senate Republican Leader.
In 1999, Mr. Clay became the first person from Cobb County to be elected Chairman of the Republican Party of Georgia, leading the GOP’s efforts in the Peach State during George W. Bush’s successful campaign for president.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Clay was an Assistant District Attorney for Cobb County. He was also the first Republican elected to the Cobb County Board of Commissioners from the Western District, a distinction earned in 1986 when he won that office.
Mr. Clay received the Distinguished Public Service Award from the Georgia Bar, which is its highest award for public service. He is also a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from The Georgia Middle School Association, and the Outstanding Legislator Award from The Georgia Council on Aging and the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia. He is also AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
A graduate of Leadership Cobb and Leadership Georgia, Mr. Clay serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aviation Museum and Discovery Center in Marietta, Board Member of the public interest law center Georgia Appleseed Foundation, Member Board of Trustees of the Kennesaw State University and a former Director and Organizer of Vinings Bank.
Mr. Clay earned a J.D. from the University of Georgia School of Law and he completed a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa.