Charley Grimes is a trial attorney with 25 years of experience representing corporate clients in all phases of high-exposure litigation. Charley has extensive jury trial experience, having tried numerous cases to verdict in state and federal courts. His practice primarily includes transportation and general casualty litigation. He applies legal acumen with real life experience to get the best outcome possible for his clients.
For nearly two decades, Charley has represented railroad operators and other clients affiliated with the railroad industry. He has extensive experience with railroad grade crossing and derailment cases as well as traumatic injury and occupational exposure claims arising under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA). Through his transportation practice, Charley has represented commercial motor carriers from all over the United States and handled litigation arising from all types of vehicular accidents, including commercial motor vehicles, motorcycles, ATVs, golf carts, and automobiles. Additionally, Charley has specialized knowledge and years of experience in the fields of products liability, toxic torts/exposures and premises liability.
Honors/Recognitions:
Earned AV Preeminent Rating by Lexis-Nexis/Martindale Hubbell- 2010
Named Fellow- Litigation Counsel of America- November 2013
Named Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyer by The American Lawyer- September 2013
Named Rising Star in Transportation/Maritime Law by Business Alabama – May 2013
Named Top Rated Transportation Lawyer by The American Lawyer – April 2013
Named Rising Star in Transportation/Maritime Law by Business Alabama -May 2012
Named a Top Rated Transportation Lawyer by The American Lawyer – April 2012
Named Top Lawyer in B-Metro Magazine – April 2011
Named Rising Star by Super Lawyers – March 2011
Faculty- Alabama Defense Lawyers’ Association Trial Academy – 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015
Board of Directors, Camp Fire USA- 2011- 2013
Episcopal Church of the Ascension- Vestry 2019- 2021
Board of Directors- AEK Kindergarten- 2020- present
Memberships:
National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel
Trucking Industry Defense Association
Alabama State Bar
Birmingham Bar Association
Specialties:
Personal Injury Defense
Railroad Defense
Trucking Defense
Areas of Law:
Litigation, personal injury defense, railroad defense, trucking defense
Education:
University of Alabama School of Law– Tuscaloosa, AL- Juris Doctor- 1998
Honors/ Activities: Alabama Law Review; Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society; Legal Assistant to Charles Gamble- provided research and support for McElroy’s Alabama Evidence and Gamble’s Alabama Rules of Evidence
Birmingham-Southern College– Birmingham, AL- Bachelor of Arts, cum laude– 1995
Major: History/ Political Science
Honors/Activities: Honor’s Program Graduate; Student Judiciary 1993-1995; British Studies at Oxford, England, 1994; Phi Alpha Theta (History Honor Society); Theta Chi social fraternity
Bar Admissions:
State Bar: Alabama
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
U.S. District Courts: Northern District of Alabama
Middle District of Alabama
Southern District of Alabama