Zeliff | Watson welcomes Charles Abernathy as newest member of the team.

Following college, Charles served six years in the United States Marine Corps, including a combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2018 where he was stationed at FOB Bost. Charles was awarded multiple ribbons while serving, including the Global War on Terrorism Ribbon and the Combat Action Ribbon. After his tour, Charles attended the Florida State University (FSU) College of Law and passed the Georgia bar this fall.

Practicing law is in Charles’ blood, beginning with his grandfather who began his legal career in the 1950s.

Charles’ father, Steve Abernathy, has been a staple in the Forsyth County legal community since the mid-1970s. Charles’ mother, Judge Leslie Abernathy-Maddox, has likewise served the citizens of the county for over three decades, including as the Solicitor General from 1997-2012, and as the first female State Court Judge, from 2012-2022. Charles is passionate about carrying on his family’s legacy and serving the citizens of Forsyth County no matter their circumstances.

Charles is a member of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the DUI Defense Lawyers Association. He is licensed to practice in all Georgia trial-level courts. “Charles is already showing himself to be a natural in the courtroom and we are thrilled to have someone of his caliber join our team to aggressively defend our clients,” says Zeliff | Watson Partner Evan Watson.

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