Charles A. Powell IV

Charles A. Powell IV

Birmingham, AL recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2010
Littler

257 Best Lawyers awards

Littler logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Litigation - Labor and Employment Employment Law - Management Labor Law - Management
*Named the "Lawyer of the Year" in this practice area in the 2026 edition in Birmingham.

Biography

Charles A. Powell has represented employers throughout the southeast against employment discrimination and harassment, non-competition and wage and hour litigation suits for more than 18 years. He has a strong record of successfully defending employers against various employment and labor law claims, including:

  • A retail chain in a jury trial alleging sexual harassment and state law tort claims
  • A hospital in a jury trial alleging racially discriminatory promotion, discharge and retaliation claims
  • A manufacturing client in a discriminatory discharge jury trial
  • A hotel and restaurant in a trial alleging disability discrimination
  • A mobile home manufacturer in contentious trials alleging race, gender and national origin discrimination

    Charles also has particular experience with:

    • Title VII
    • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act
    • The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
    • The Family and Medical Leave Act
    • The Equal Pay Act
    • The Fair Labor Standards Act
    • Section 1981
    • State Law Tort Claims

      He also successfully defeated class certification efforts in a racial harassment case filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and has experience litigating wage and hour collective claims involving misclassification and off-the-clock issues.

      Additionally, Charles offers counseling on compliance with federal and state labor and employment laws to numerous types of employers, ranging from small businesses to publicly held companies.

Littler

257 Best Lawyers awards

Littler logo

Overview

  • The University of Alabama, J.D., graduated 1992
  • Vanderbilt University, BA

  • Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association
  • Florida, The Florida Bar

  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Birmingham Bar Association - Member
  • Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham - Secretary/ founding board member
  • McWane Science Center - Chair
  • Alabama, Alabama State Bar Association
  • Florida, The Florida Bar
  • American Bar Association - Member
  • American Bar Foundation - Fellow
  • Birmingham Bar Association - Member
  • Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham - Secretary/ founding board member
  • McWane Science Center - Chair
  • The University of Alabama, J.D., graduated 1992
  • Vanderbilt University, BA

Client Testimonials

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2026 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2022 - Litigation - Labor and Employment Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2018 - Labor Law - Management
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Birmingham (2026)
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment, Birmingham (2022)
  • Labor Law - Management, Birmingham (2018)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Employment Law - Management
  • Labor Law - Management
  • Litigation - Labor and Employment
Awards:
  • Named, Outstanding Professional Advisor - Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, 2006
  • Awarded, Martindale-Hubbell AVĀ® Peer Review Rating
  • Named, Super Lawyer - Alabama, 2008
  • Named, Management Labour and Employment - Who's Who Legal, 2011
  • Named, America's Leading Business for Business - Chambers USA, 2008-2013
  • Named, Who's Who in American Law, 2014
  • Named, International Who's Who of Management Labour and Employment Lawyers - Who's Who Legal, 2012-2014

Case History

Cases
  • Other Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida

Your browser is not fully compatible with our automatic printer friendly formatting.

Please use the print button to print this profile page.

Spinning circle Big letter B