Meet Charlton

Charlton deSaussure is a leader in both public finance law and the Charleston community.

As a public finance attorney, he has served as bond counsel for political subdivisions in the issuance of both tax-exempt and taxable borrowings for 45 years.

Charlton has helped find financing solutions for public/private partnerships such as:

• •  Approximately $700 million FHA-insured hospital revenue bonds in connection with a more than $1 billion dollar capital improvement plan
• •  Tax increment financing bonds critical to urban revitalization efforts throughout SC
• •  Solid waste and stormwater management issues, particularly funding, in the state's coastal areas

From 2003-2016, he served as Corporation Counsel to the City of Charleston.

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 Society of the Cincinnati, the Governor’s Mansion Foundation, University of South Carolina Development Foundation, Charleston Museum, the Parent's Council of Episcopal High School, Woodberry Forest School, Charleston Day School, Porter-Gaud School and Yeamans Hall Club.

• University of South Carolina, J.D., 1978
• Emory University, B.A., 1974

• The Supreme Court of the United States, 1983
• South Carolina, 1978

• Best Lawyers® 2025 Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Charleston
• The Best Lawyers in America© Public Finance Law (2005-2025)
• Best Lawyers® 2023 Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Charleston
• Best Lawyers® 2021 Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Charleston
• Woodberry Forest School 2021 Distinguished Service Award
• Best Lawyers® 2019 Public Finance Law “Lawyer of the Year” Charleston
• Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, Permanent Member
• University of South Carolina School of Law Alumni Association 2001 “Compleat Lawyer Award” 

• Leadership South Carolina, Class of 1984 
• American Bar Association
• Charleston County Bar Association
• National Association of Bond Lawyers
• South Carolina Bar

• "The Golf Course and Grounds of Yeamans Hall," 2018
• "The Cottages and Architects of Yeamans Hall," 2010
• "The Memoirs of General George Izard," The South Carolina Historical Society Quarterly Magazine, 1978