Charles E. English

Charles’ primary areas of practice are business law, including banking, business and estate litigation, business formation and condemnation. He also handles cases concerning universities and foundations, and regularly manages probate, trusts and estate cases.

Among the most notable business cases he’s handled was acting as corporate counsel in the formation, organization, financing, construction and joint venturing of a large ethanol manufacturing facility with a Fortune 500 company.

He served as local counsel for Fruit of the Loom Inc. in federal court in various shareholder derivative actions against the company’s board of directors and officers, successfully defending Fruit of the Loom. He won a case for the Kentucky Association of Counties Insurance Trust, which sued attorneys for mismanagement and conflict of interest.

A substantial portion of his practice is devoted to litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. He successfully represented Western Kentucky University’s Student Life Foundation, establishing in the Kentucky Supreme Court the foundation’s immunity in a claim against it for the rape and murder of a student in a dorm owned by the foundation. He also represented the Simpson County Water District in a case decided by the Kentucky Supreme Court establishing the public service commissions’ jurisdiction over municipalities in contracts with water districts.

Charles’ leadership roles extend into his profession. He is a member of the American Bar Association (“ABA”) Board of Governors and serves on its finance committee. He is a former member of the ABA’s House of Delegates and the ABA’s Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary. He serves on the Kentucky Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Judicial Nominating Committee and is also a member of Kentucky’s Judicial Campaign Conduct Committee. He is a life member of the Judicial Conference for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Charles is a past President of the Kentucky Bar Association.

Charles received the Kentucky Bar Association’s Outstanding Lawyer Award in 1999. He was named to the University of Kentucky College of Law Hall of Fame in 2004. He served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and served on the board of the Kentucky Historical Society. He is frequently invited to speak to various professional, business and civic organizations. His son, Charles E. English Jr. (Buzz), also practices law at ELPO and has served as President of the Kentucky Bar Association.