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Charles W. Dobbins

Tilford Dobbins & Schmidt, PLLC • Louisville, KY
Business StructureCorporate GovernanceEstate PlanningGeneral PracticePersonal Injury

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Contact

Email
your@email.com
Phone
502-584-1000 | 502-5
Address
Louisville, KY, 40202, US

Professional

Bar Admissions
KentuckyU.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky1975U.S. Court of Appeals 6th CircuitU.S. Supreme Court

About

Charles W. Dobbins is a seasoned attorney at Tilford Dobbins & Schmidt, PLLC, based in Louisville, KY, with over 51 years of legal experience. He specializes in a diverse array of practice areas, including business structure, development, and capital formation, as well as corporate finance and securities offerings. His expertise extends to mergers and acquisitions, asset management—including real estate general practice—and corporate governance and disclosure. Charles is particularly knowledgeable in entrepreneurial laws and offers insightful advice on tax credits structures, including Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits, New Markets Tax Credits, and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Additionally, he has a strong focus on venture capital and private equity, along with succession and estate planning, helping clients navigate complex legal landscapes effectively. Throughout his illustrious career, Charles has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to his clients, ensuring that their unique needs and goals are met with personalized legal strategies. His extensive experience and dedication make him a trusted advisor to businesses and individuals alike in the Louisville area and beyond. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned his J.D., and Washington & Lee University, where he graduated with honors, Charles combines a strong educational foundation with a passion for fostering client success in the ever-evolving legal environment.

Credentials

Education
University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, Virginia | J.D. | Washington & Lee University, Lexington, Virginia | B.A | Honors: With Distinction

Recognition & Involvement

Awards
Louisville Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” 2008-2011 | Kentucky Super Lawyers, 2012-Present | Selection, Life Member, U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, 1984; Selection, Leadership Louisville, 2009 for Class of 2010. Named a Bingham Fellow by Leadership Louisville in 2011. Served as General Counsel, Louisville Bar Association, two years | Martindale-Hubbell: AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 1983- Present
Associations
Louisville Bar Association (Former General Counsel, two years, and Chair, Business Section) | American Bar Association | Kentucky Bar Association | U.S. Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference (Life Member)
Speaking
"Structuring the Transition: Special Considerations: Earnouts, Equity Retention or Rollover and Value Techniques," Merger Agreements: Step-by-Step (2017, NBI) | "Price and Working Capital Adjustments and other Special Considerations," Helping Your Client Buy or Sell a Small-to-Medium Sized Business (2011) | "Business Contracts: Drafting for General Business Matters and in Purchase Agreements; and Ethical Considerations," Business Contracts A to Z (2011, NBI) | "Mergers and Acquisitions; Negotiating the Deal," NBI, Mergers and Acquisitions: Nuts and Bolts (2012, NBI) | "Standard of Conduct for Directors and Officers," Kentucky Corporation Law (Third Edition), University of Kentucky Press (2017) | "A Successful Sale and Purchase of a Business May Depend Upon Creativity and Flexibility" | "The Catalytic Role of Historic Tax Credits in Investment in Community Development" | "Tax Incentives and Economic Development" | "Soliciting Investment Capital" | "Realizing the Entrepreneur’s Vision" | "Non Profit Board Governance and Liability," NBI, Advanced Tax Exempt Strategies (2015) | "The Letter of Intent" | "Civility: It’s All About Respect" | "As Luck Would Have it: A Kentucky Story" | "Not for Polite Company: Civil Religion and Beyond" | "Religion and the Separation of Church and State" | "The Constitution, Personal Freedoms and Technology: Challenges Presented"
Updated: May 25, 2026