Atty. Adam H. Charnes

Atty. Adam H. Charnes

Adam Charnes focuses his practice on appellate, constitutional and complex business litigation. Mr.

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Profile Summary

About Adam H. Charnes at a glance

Adam H. Charnes is a business, product liability, litigation, civil rights, and appellate attorney based in Winston Salem, North Carolina, practicing at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. Admitted to practice in North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association and District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar. Educated at Harvard University (J.D., 1991) and Harvard University (—, 1991). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — First Amendment Law (2026). Serands clients in Winston Salem, NC and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Adam Charnes focuses his practice on appellate, constitutional and complex business litigation
  • Mr. Charnes has extensive experience in cases pending in federal and state courts of appeals across the nation, including the United States Supreme Court
  • He also has been responsible for a broad range of business litigation matters, including contract, business torts, environmental, copyright and other commercial litigation
  • He regularly represents clients in constitutional litigation and in class actions
  • Following law school, Mr. Charnes served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and to Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson, III of the U.S
  • Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Charnes served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy at the United States Department of Justice
  • At the Office of Legal Policy
  • Mr. Charnes was awarded the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award in July 2003
  • While at Harvard Law School, he was the recipient of the Sears Prize, awarded to the three students with the top academic performance during their first year of law school
  • Mr. Charnes was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Appellate Law and Commercial Litigation in 2010 and the three years immediately preceding
  • He has been listed in the 2007, 2008, and 2009 editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of General Commercial Litigation

Practice Areas Explained

Adam H. Charnes's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Adam H. Charnes handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Business & Corporate Law

Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.

Adam H. Charnes is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in North Carolina →

Product Liability

Adam H. Charnes is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in North Carolina →

Civil Litigation

Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.

Adam H. Charnes is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in North Carolina →

Civil Rights

Civil rights attorneys for discrimination, police misconduct, constitutional rights, and civil liberties cases.

Adam H. Charnes is one of 70,245 civil rights attorneys indexed nationally. Browse civil rights attorneys in North Carolina →

Appellate Practice

Appellate attorneys for civil and criminal appeals at state and federal court.

Adam H. Charnes is one of 86,319 appellate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse appellate attorneys in North Carolina →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in North Carolina

Practicing law in North Carolina. Legal matters in North Carolina are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Winston Salem are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate North Carolina state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in North Carolina brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in North Carolina courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional North Carolina attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Winston Salem or all attorneys in North Carolina.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Adam H. Charnes

Where is Adam H. Charnes's law office located?
Adam H. Charnes's law practice is located in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The firm is Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Adam H. Charnes handle?
Adam H. Charnes focuses on business, product liability, litigation, civil rights, appellate. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in North Carolina.
Where did Adam H. Charnes go to law school?
Adam H. Charnes earned their education at (J.D., 1991); (—, 1991); (—, 1988).
How can I contact Adam H. Charnes for a consultation?
You can contact Adam H. Charnes directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has Adam H. Charnes received?
Adam H. Charnes's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice; Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation; Best Lawyers in America — First Amendment Law; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - First Amendment; Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants.

Education

J.D.
Harvard University
- 1991
Harvard University
- 1991
Princeton University
- 1988

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Appellate Practice
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — First Amendment Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - First Amendment
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Complex Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Supreme Court
- 2026
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - First Amendment (Triad)
- 2024
Lawyer of the Year — Litigation - First Amendment (Triad)
- 2022
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Triad)
- 2021
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Greensboro)
- 2019
Lawyer of the Year — Appellate Practice (Greensboro)
- 2013

Bar Admissions

North Carolina, North Carolina Bar Association
District of Columbia, The District of Columbia Bar

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