Sean Clayton
Sean Clayton
Partner, Attorney | Karney | Clayton
Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, Sean Clayton developed a deep-seated ambition for his eventual career through his fascination with legal dramas like “Law & Order.” By high school, he set his sights on becoming a lawyer and, as the first member of his family to pursue a college education, had to blaze his own trail to achieve his goal. He worked tirelessly to fund his college journey, taking on multiple jobs, often juggling work while studying for his law degree.
Graduating summa cum laude and earning a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Appalachian State University in 2009, Mr. Clayton worked as a security guard, during which he prepared for the LSAT, the exam required for admission into law school. Although financial constraints prevented him from enrolling in LSAT prep classes, he procured a study book and immersed himself in it during patrols. He not only achieved an impressive score, he was ultimately admitted to the University of North Carolina School of Law, where he would attain a JD in 2013.
While pursuing his law degree, Mr. Clayton gained firsthand experience in the field as a legal intern at the Watauga County District Attorney’s Office and Gabriela Matthews and Associates, P.A., a law clerk at Stark Law Group, LLC, and a contract litigation assistant at Baker Billick, P.A. He launched a career as an attorney at Oxner + Permar for a year before joining Karney | Clayton, a firm that’s represented motorcyclists since the 1970s, providing legal guidance and action in the aftermath of accidents. For a decade, he’s handled all aspects of injury cases—both negotiation and litigation—with the consistent goal of helping clients and their families face massive medical bills, lost income, and battles against insurance companies. Mr. Clayton, an avid biker himself, represents injured motorcyclists, including catastrophic injuries and wrongful death.
Throughout the years at the firm, Mr. Clayton considers his most notable achievement to be successfully handling a complex case involving a young man who tragically died in a motorcycle accident. Despite facing conflicting witness statements and having the case rejected by multiple firms, he managed to secure a substantial amount of compensation for the victim’s family. This success was particularly significant as two of the witnesses were adamant that the victim was at fault, falsely claiming that he was speeding or performing stunts on the motorcycle. Despite these challenges, his skillful handling of the case resulted in a positive outcome. Additionally, recognizing the difficult circumstances, he and his team arranged for a trust fund to be established for the victim’s unborn child, providing long-term financial security.
Beyond his primary endeavors, Mr. Clayton has been active as a pro bono translator for the North Carolina Bar Association since 2011 and is a dedicated member of such organizations as the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, South Carolina Advocates for Justice, and the Mecklenburg Bar Association and 26th JD Bar. As a testament to his dedication to the field, he has been recognized among the “Top 40 Under 40” of Civil Plaintiff Attorneys by the National Trial Lawyers and accrued numerous honors by Super Lawyers.
Looking ahead, Mr. Clayton wants to uphold and enhance the firm’s reputation for delivering top-quality representation and consistently achieving favorable outcomes for its clients.
Press Release
Marquis Who’s Who Honors Sean Clayton for Expertise in Legal Services
Sean Clayton is a distinguished attorney and partner specializing in civil litigation and personal injury law
CHARLOTTE, NC, November 15, 2024 — Sean Clayton has been selected for inclusion in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Mr. Clayton, a partner and attorney at Karney | Clayton in Charlotte, North Carolina, has established himself as an expert in civil litigation and personal injury law. With over a decade of professional experience, he has been dedicated to significantly contributing to the firm’s success.
Before joining Karney | Clayton in 2014, Mr. Clayton was an attorney at Oxner + Permar from 2013 to 2014. He also worked as a contract litigation assistant at Baker Billick PA in Concord, North Carolina, in 2013.
Mr. Clayton’s legal journey began with internships that provided him invaluable experience. He interned with the Watauga County District Attorney’s Office in Boone, North Carolina, in 2009 and with Gabriela Matthews and Associates PA, in Durham, North Carolina, from 2009 to 2010. Furthermore, Mr. Clayton clerked at Stark Law Group PLLC in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, from 2011 to 2013. These experiences laid the foundation for his future success and demonstrated his commitment to the legal profession. During law school, Mr. Clayton was civically engaged as a pro bono translator for the North Carolina Bar Association and also served as a client interviewer and research counselor for the Community Legal Project from 2011 to 2012.
Mr. Clayton prepared for his legal career by obtaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees, summa cum laude, from Appalachian State University in 2009 and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of North Carolina in 2013. Mr. Clayton was then admitted to practice by the North Carolina and South Carolina Bar Associations.
A member of several industry-related organizations, Mr. Clayton is affiliated with the Mecklenburg County Bar, the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, the North Carolina Bar Association, the South Carolina Advocates for Justice and the South Carolina Bar. His dedication to continuous learning and professional growth is evident through his active participation in these associations.
A recent achievement was successfully handling a complex case involving a young man who tragically died in a motorcycle accident. Despite facing conflicting witness statements and having the case rejected by multiple firms, he secured substantial compensation for the victim’s family and arranged for a trust fund for the victim’s son.
Mr. Clayton’s dedication has been recognized with numerous awards, including recognition as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Attorneys by The National Trial Lawyers in 2018 and by being named a Super Lawyers Rising Star by Super Lawyers every year between 2018 and 2024. His success can be attributed to his unwavering dedication and hunger for personal and professional growth.
Mr. Clayton values continuous learning and actively seeks knowledge from various sources such as business books, biographies and personal development literature. In fact, he considers what he gained from taking the Dale Carnegie Course more important than any class in law school. Looking ahead, his primary objective is to expand Karney | Clayton while ensuring controlled growth. This approach will allow the firm to maintain its commitment to providing high-quality legal services, setting it apart from other law firms that prioritize quantity over quality. Mr. Clayton’s ultimate goal is to uphold and enhance the firm’s reputation for delivering top-quality representation and consistently achieving favorable client outcomes.
