Butler Snow attorneys Robert E. Sumner, IV and Benjamin M. Watson have been named chairs of two Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC) Substantive Law Sections. Sumner will serve as chair of the Commercial Litigation Section while Watson will serve as Chair of the Intellectual Property Section.
The Federation is comprised of U.S. and international civil defense litigators, senior corporate counsel and insurance claims executives and is dedicated to promoting knowledge, fellowship and professionalism for lawyers and other professionals striving to achieve a balanced justice system in the defense of civil lawsuits. The Sections allow FDCC members the opportunity to expand and enhance their practice by staying up to date on the latest development and trends across practice groups. For more information on the FDCC and its Substantive Law Sections, click here.
As a member of Butler Snow’s commercial litigation group, Sumner focuses his practice on complex civil litigation for a range of business clients including large corporations, small businesses, manufacturers, real estate owners and developers and trustees. He handles jury and non-jury cases throughout the country and has appeared before the North Carolina and South Carolina Courts of Appeals and Supreme Courts, as well as the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Sumner has been recognized by Super Lawyers® for business litigation since 2016 and was recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for commercial litigation and trusts & estates litigation in 2021. He was recently named to the 2021 Legal Elite by Charleston Business Magazine for Business Litigation. Sumner is a member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the South Carolina Bar Association and the Charleston County Bar Association. Sumner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and his Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina.
Watson is a member of Butler Snow’s Commercial Litigation group and focuses his practice on director and officer defense, contract litigation, administrative law and aviation law. He is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and chairs the firm’s E-Discovery Advisors Team.
Watson is a member of the American, Mississippi, Federal, Tennessee and Capital Area Bar Associations. He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® and Mid-South Super Lawyers® for business and commercial litigation. Watson earned his J.D. from the University of Mississippi.
