Charles K. Grant

Shareholder

Nashville
T: 615.726.5767
F: 615.744.5767

Charles K. Grant is a veteran litigator who has tried more than 50 jury trials to verdict in both federal and state courts, and represented numerous clients in mediation and arbitration proceedings across more than a dozen states.

Featured Experience

Defended prisoner transportation company in numerous § 1983 actions in more than a dozen states.

Favorable resolution in defense of publicly traded insurer in collective action under federal Fair Labor Standards Act over allegations it misclassified its insurance appraisers in twelve states.

Obtained a favorable resolution in defense of a publicly traded national restaurant chain in collective action under the FLSA with a putative class of more than 550 members.

Professional Biography

Mr. Grant represents clients in complex employment litigation, including collective actions under the Fair Labor Standards Act, business litigation, whistleblower actions under federal and state law, as well as matters under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. He is a shareholder in the Firm's Nashville office and a former member of the Firm's Board of Directors. Mr. Grant's clients also include licensed professionals, such as lawyers, physicians and dentists, whom he has represented before licensing boards.

Mr. Grant was profiled in the February 2014 online publication Diversity, Inc., and in the Spring 2011 issue of the Firm's Diversity Matters newsletter.

Successfully defended Fortune 10 company in state court jury trial against claims brought under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act and the Tennessee Human Rights Act, and against claims alleging negligent infliction of emotional distress and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Plaintiffs sought damages of $60 million.
Obtained defense verdict in state court jury trial on claim of retaliatory discharge for asserting workers' compensation claim.
Served as co-trial counsel representing landowner in $30 million jury verdict in eminent domain case. Successfully defended verdict in Tennessee Court of Appeals.
Obtained defense verdict in federal court jury trial on claims of discrimination, failure to engage in interactive process, and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
After FMLA claims were dismissed on summary judgment, obtained a defense jury verdict in federal court on behalf of a national, publicly traded funeral services company against claims of discrimination and retaliation under the Americans with Disabilities Act brought by a former employee.
Represented a major automobile manufacturer in a racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1981. Achieved a complete defense verdict following trial.

Defended prisoner transportation company in numerous § 1983 actions in more than a dozen states.
Favorable resolution in defense of publicly traded insurer in collective action under federal Fair Labor Standards Act over allegations it misclassified its insurance appraisers in twelve states.
Obtained a favorable resolution in defense of a publicly traded national restaurant chain in collective action under the FLSA with a putative class of more than 550 members.
Obtained dismissals and summary judgments victory in state court case filed against institution of higher learning by dental students alleging claims of implied breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation and other claims. Plaintiffs sought damages of more than $25 million.
Obtained summary judgment in federal district court on behalf of public employer in case alleging termination of employment was retaliation in violation of First Amendment rights.
Obtained summary judgment victory in federal district court on behalf of manufacturer over allegations of race discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Tennessee Human Rights Act. Judgment was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Obtained summary judgment victory in federal district court on behalf of transportation company over allegations of sexual harassment and hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Obtained summary judgment victory in federal district court where the client, a stock ownership plan, sought restitution under the Employment Retirement Income Security Act.
Obtained a summary judgment victory in federal court on behalf of a national restaurant franchisor over allegations of race discrimination under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (Civil Rights Act of 1866) and for defamation under Florida law.
Represented a national construction and engineering company in a racial discrimination lawsuit brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of 32 employees of a third party contractor regarding allegations on a construction project.

Past President, Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands (2018 – 2020; First Vice President, 2016 – 2018)
Past President, Nashville Bar Association (2014)
Adjunct Professor of Law, Pretrial Litigation, Vanderbilt Law School
Member, Board of Professional Responsibility of the Tennessee Supreme Court
Board of Trustees, Tennessee Bar Foundation
Recipient, Baker Donelson Nashville Pro Bono Award (2019)
Recipient, Trailblazer Award, Napier-Looby Bar Association (2017)
Recipient, 2017 Barry Ford Diversity Award
Recipient, the Bruce Kramer Cooperating Attorney Award, American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee (2015)
Recipient, A.A. Birch Outstanding Public Service Award, Napier-Looby Bar Foundation (2013)
Member, Tennessee Supreme Court, Disciplinary Hearing Committee, District V (2012 – 2018)
Member, Magistrate Judge Selection Panel for the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (2016)
Member, Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Tennessee Supreme Court (2008 – 2016)
Member, Tennessee Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section; Leadership Law Inaugural Class Member
Former Chair, Tennessee Bar Association Diversity Summit Committee
Former Co-Chair, Nashville Bar Association, Employment Law and Civil Rights Committee; Former Chair, Judicial Incumbent and Candidate Evaluation Committee
Past Trustee, Nashville Bar Foundation
Fellow, Nashville Bar Foundation
Fellow, Tennessee Bar Association
Past President and Former Member of Board of Directors, Napier-Looby Bar Association
Master, Harry Phillips American Inns of Court
Listed in The Best Lawyers In America^® for Employment Law - Litigation and Employment Law - Management (2014 – 2025); Commercial Litigation (2019 – 2025)
Listed in Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2006 (Employment Litigation Defense)
Listed in "The Best of the Bar," Nashville Business Journal (2008, 2013 – 2016, 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Recipient, Baker Donelson CEO Circle Award for Public Service (2014)
Recipient, Tennessee Bar Association Harris Gilbert Pro Bono Award (2009)
Recipient, Tennessee Bar Association President's Award for Work on Diversity Summit (2006)
Recipient, Baker Donelson Firm-wide Pro Bono Attorney of the Year (2008)
Recipient, Nashville Pro Bono Program Volunteer of the Year Award (2004)
Past Chair, Board of Directors, Nashville Business Incubation Center
Past Chair, Board of Directors, Project Reflect, Inc. (sponsor of Smithson Craighead Academy Committee – Nashville's First Charter School)
Past Member, Board of Directors, Andrew Jackson Foundation (formerly the Ladies Hermitage Association Board for the home of Andrew Jackson)
Member, Board of Directors, YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee

"Fighting the Good Fight (and Loving It): Highlights from the Distinguished Trial Career of Charles K. Grant," Trial Spotlight Newsletter (April 2021)
"Hard Lessons Learned from a Multi-State Medical License Holder," Tennessee Medical Association's Tennessee Medicine (Quarter 1, 2019)
Featured – "Panel: Keep money out of judicial elections," The Tennessean (March 2014)
Co-author – "The Freedom Rides: Making the Law Apply to All," Nashville Bar Journal, Article of the Year Award (September 2011)

"Sexual Harassment After #MeToo–What Has Changed and Developments to Watch," Tennessee Judicial Virtual Conference (March 2021)
Co-presenter – "Ethical Duty to Protect Confidential Information in the Digital Age," Nashville School of Law CLE (December 2018)
Co-presenter – "Mock Trial of Disciplinary Hearing," Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility 2018 Ethics Workshop (November 2018)
Co-presenter – "Employment Law: Everything You Need to Know for a Smooth HR Team," Seventh Annual Hospitality and Tourism Law Symposium (July 2018)
"FMLA Update," Seventh Annual Hospitality and Tourism Law Symposium (July 2018)
Panelist – "How Courts, Law Schools, Law Firms, and Corporate Counsel Are Addressing Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in the Legal Profession and the Workplace," TLAW Empowerment Conference 2018 (April 2018)
"The OSHA Drug Testing Rule vs. TN Drug free Workplace Act and Employment Law in the Age of Trump," Duck River SHRM Employment Law Conference, Columbia, Tennessee (August 2017)
Keynote Presenter – "Employment Law in the Age of Trump – the First 100 Days or So," 2017 Employment Law Seminar sponsored by the Tennessee Human Rights Commission in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Human Resources (June 2017)
"Balancing Safety and Legality in Regulating Employees' Gun Rights and Drug Use," 2016 Tennessee SHRM State Conference (September 2016)
Panelist – "Labor & Employment Panel Legal Update," Labor and Employment Symposium, NAAAHR Nashville (June 2016)

The Life of an Employment Lawsuit (March 2024)
Envisioning the New Normal for Employment-Related Litigation in 2021 and Beyond (March 2021)

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Listing (August 15, 2024)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing (August 17, 2023)
55 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2022 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 30 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 29, 2022)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2023 Listing (August 18, 2022)
Charles K. Grant Received the Nashville Bar Association John C. Tune Public Service Award (January 3, 2022)
61 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2021 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 34 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2021)
Baker Donelson Attorneys Earn Recognition in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 Listing (August 19, 2021)
Baker Donelson Shareholder Charles K. Grant Appointed to Tennessee Supreme Court Board of Professional Responsibility (July 13, 2021)
69 Baker Donelson Attorneys Named to 2020 Mid-South Super Lawyers; 38 Named to Mid-South Rising Stars (November 30, 2020)
Baker Donelson Top-Listed in the Nation in Six Practice Areas in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2021 Listing (August 20, 2020)

Charles Grant Quoted in Chalkbeat Tennessee on Judge's Recusal in School Funding Court Case (March 2, 2021)

Practices

Industries

Education

Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., 1991
The Citadel, B.S., 1988

Admissions

Tennessee
U.S. District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of Tennessee
U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Northern Districts of Florida
U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana
U.S. District Court for Vermont
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi
U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth and Eleventh Circuits
U.S. Supreme Court

Featured Media

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Listing

Press Release / August 15, 2024

The Life of an Employment Lawsuit

Webinar / March 28, 2024

Baker Donelson Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America^® 2024 Listing

Press Release / August 17, 2023

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Baker Donelson is a national law firm with more than 700 attorneys and public policy advisors representing more than 30 practice areas to serve a wide range of legal needs. Clients receive knowledgeable guidance from experienced, multi-disciplined industry and client service teams, all seamlessly connected across more than 20 offices in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.