Charlton deSaussure Named 2025 Best Lawyers® ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Public Finance Law in Charleston
April 02, 2025
The 2025 edition of Best Lawyers® has named Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. shareholder Charlton deSaussure “Lawyer of the Year” for Public Finance Law in Charleston.
Charlton earned this prestigious designation for the fourth time, adding to his previous recognitions in 2019, 2021 and 2023. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Law and has practiced with Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd and its predecessor firms since joining Sinkler Gibbs & Simons in Charleston in 1978.
The Lawyer of the Year accolade is among Best Lawyers’ highest distinctions. It is awarded to one lawyer per practice area in each jurisdiction to recognize only the most exceptional legal talent. For 2025, just over 5,000 attorneys nationwide received this honor, selected through Best Lawyers’ rigorous peer-review process.
As a public finance attorney, Charlton has served as bond counsel for political subdivisions in the issuance of both tax-exempt and taxable borrowings, including tax increment financing bonds critical to urban revitalization efforts and as well as general obligation and revenue bonds for educational, health and public infrastructure improvements throughout South Carolina.
Charlton has served as president of the Coastal Community Foundation, South Carolina Historical Society, Gibbes Museum of Art and the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. In addition, he has served on the board of trustees of Spoleto Festival USA, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation, the South Carolina State Museum, University of South Carolina Development Foundation, Charleston Museum, Woodberry Forest School, Charleston Day School, Porter-Gaud School, Yeamans Hall Club and the Advisory Council of Episcopal High School. In 2001, he received the Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law and in 2021 he received the Woodberry Forest Distinguished Service Award.
HSB’s Public Finance group has a long history of serving as bond counsel to public and private colleges, state and local governments, health care providers and various nonprofit organizations throughout South Carolina and assisting with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for a variety of capital improvement projects. Our attorneys have led the advancement of public finance law and structures in the state, including developing novel approaches and strategies that secured approval from the South Carolina Supreme Court as test cases. Members of the group have held leadership positions within state and national organizations such as the South Carolina Bar, the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL) and the American College of Bond Counsel.
The Lawyer of the Year accolade is among Best Lawyers’ highest distinctions. It is awarded to one lawyer per practice area in each jurisdiction to recognize only the most exceptional legal talent. For 2025, just over 5,000 attorneys nationwide received this honor, selected through Best Lawyers’ rigorous peer-review process.
As a public finance attorney, Charlton has served as bond counsel for political subdivisions in the issuance of both tax-exempt and taxable borrowings, including tax increment financing bonds critical to urban revitalization efforts and as well as general obligation and revenue bonds for educational, health and public infrastructure improvements throughout South Carolina.
Charlton has served as president of the Coastal Community Foundation, South Carolina Historical Society, Gibbes Museum of Art and the Huguenot Society of South Carolina. In addition, he has served on the board of trustees of Spoleto Festival USA, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation, the South Carolina State Museum, University of South Carolina Development Foundation, Charleston Museum, Woodberry Forest School, Charleston Day School, Porter-Gaud School, Yeamans Hall Club and the Advisory Council of Episcopal High School. In 2001, he received the Compleat Lawyer Award from the University of South Carolina School of Law and in 2021 he received the Woodberry Forest Distinguished Service Award.
HSB’s Public Finance group has a long history of serving as bond counsel to public and private colleges, state and local governments, health care providers and various nonprofit organizations throughout South Carolina and assisting with the issuance of tax-exempt bonds for a variety of capital improvement projects. Our attorneys have led the advancement of public finance law and structures in the state, including developing novel approaches and strategies that secured approval from the South Carolina Supreme Court as test cases. Members of the group have held leadership positions within state and national organizations such as the South Carolina Bar, the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL) and the American College of Bond Counsel.
