Media item displaying Charles Davant

Charles Davant

Partner

[email protected]

202.434.5695

An experienced trial lawyer, Charles Davant has represented clients in disputes over alleged legal malpractice, contracts, trade secrets, intellectual property licenses, real estate, civil rights, labor law, employment law, antitrust, financial services, and numerous other areas in state and federal courts, and in JAMS, AAA, and ICC arbitrations. 

Charles has particular experience defending major law firms and accounting firms accused of malpractice or other wrongdoing. He has advised or defended more than 50 law firms, including seven of the “AmLaw 10,” the highest grossing firms in the United States.  Chambers USA has recognized Charles as among the top lawyers nationwide in Law Firm Defense, noting that he “enjoys a strong reputation for his courtroom advocacy skills” and “offers significant expertise in defending professional services providers.” He was selected to The Best Lawyers in America for Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law (2019-2025), and he was named by Super Lawyers to the Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” list for Professional Liability Defense (2013-2016).  

In 2017, he was appointed by the D.C. Court of Appeals to chair its Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law, on which he had served since 2011.  Since 2015, he has served as a D.C. Board of Professional Responsibility Hearing Committee member. He serves as Deputy General Counsel of Williams & Connolly and is a member of the firm’s Ethics Committee. He is a member of the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers.

Born and raised in Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Charles graduated first in his class, summa cum laude, from Duke University School of Law.  He was Executive Editor, Duke Law Journal, and a member of the Order of the Coif.  Charles graduated with high honors from Dartmouth College.  He clerked for Judge Ronald M. Gould of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit before joining Williams & Connolly in 2003. 

Charles lives on Capitol Hill with his wife and their two children.  An avid runner, he has completed nine marathons.

Experience

  • Defended through a six-week jury trial in Florida a national law firm accused of breaches of fiduciary duty and negligence, and involving more than $73 million in alleged damages.
  • Defended through a four-week federal jury trial in Mississippi a national law firm accused of aiding and abetting a Ponzi scheme, and involving more than $100 million in claimed damages.
  • Defended through a two-month federal trial in New York City a financial services company accused of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and breach of contract, and involving more than $1 billion in alleged damages.
  • Defended through jury trial in St. Louis a law firm accused of negligently preparing a contract provision for a corporate transaction.
  • Defended through jury trial in Chicago an accounting firm accused of negligently failing to discover fraud in a financial statement audit.
  • Defended through a federal trial in Los Angeles a group of labor unions accused of labor-law and contract violations.
  • Defended a major energy company through a 10-day International Chamber of Commerce arbitration hearing in New York City.
  • Defended a global pharmaceutical company through a five-day International Chamber of Commerce arbitration hearing in Milan, Italy.
  • Prosecuted through a five-day trial before the D.C. Contract Appeals Board claims on behalf of a multinational payments technology company.
  • Defended through trial in D.C. Superior Court a tenant in a lease dispute.
  • Prosecuted through trial in the District of Columbia a disbarred lawyer who continued to practice without a law license.
  • Prosecuted through an arbitration hearing in Washington, D.C. a law firm’s claim that another party had breached a settlement agreement.
  • Defended through an arbitration hearing in New York City an accounting firm accused of unlawful discrimination against a former partner.
  • Argued cases before the highest courts in the District of Columbia and Kansas.
  • Defended a law firm accused of negligent due diligence relating to acquisition of a company in China.
  • Defended law firms accused of negligence in their defense and settlement of antitrust class actions in New York, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia.
  • Defended multiple law firms accused of overbilling.
  • Defended law firms and accounting firms against claims by bankruptcy trustees and creditors’ committees.
  • Defended lawyers accused of violating the Rules of Professional Conduct in an investigation by Disciplinary Counsel.
  • Represented law firms and lawyers in disputes over attorneys’ fees.

Practices

Accountant Liability Arbitration Civil Litigation and Trial Practice Commercial Litigation Financial Services and Banking International Disputes Law Firm Defense Financial Institutions Insurance & Reinsurance Life Sciences Professional Services Technology Real Estate

Recognitions

  • “Law Firm Defense (Nationwide),” Chambers USA, 2025-2026
  • “DC Elite Series” in International Litigation, The Legal 500, 2025
  • Selected to The Best Lawyers in America ®, list in the category of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law, 2019-2027
  • Selected to Washington, D.C. “Rising Stars” list for Professional Liability Defense, Super Lawyers, 2013-2016

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