Christian Stegmaier is a Senior Shareholder at Collins & Lacy and chairs the firm’s Retail and Hospitality Practice Group. He is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm. Effective January 1, 2027, in addition to his practice at the firm, he becomes President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Society of Primerus Law Firms. Primerus is a society of independent, top-rated law firms bound by a shared standard of quality and integrity. Membership comes by invitation, and the network spans civil and commercial practices in the United States and around the world.

For more than two decades, Christian has built a national reputation in retail and hospitality law. He represents top-tier clients across retail, hospitality, live music and entertainment, amusement and specialty attractions, and private clubs. His defense work covers premises liability, loss prevention, food adulteration, and third-party torts. In South Carolina, he stands as a leading authority on Dram Shop and alcohol liability litigation.

Christian tries cases. As a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, he carries matters to verdict and secures favorable outcomes. His work reaches the appellate courts as well. He clerked for The Honorable Ralph King Anderson, Jr., Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals early in his career. Since then, he has handled more than 60 appeals and argued nearly 50 before state and federal appellate courts. Bench and bar know him for disciplined research, sharp briefs, and a direct oral argument style.

His practice also spans complex litigation, business litigation, and insurance law, including coverage and bad faith matters. He represents some of the world’s largest insurers in their South Carolina cases. That work includes the Richland County Asbestos Docket and the Charleston Division PFAS MDL in federal district court. Moreover, Christian is frequently retained to serve as local counsel, working with national counsel in their high stakes South Carolina matters.

Christian holds active roles across the defense bar: DRI Retail and Hospitality (past committee chair), the Academy of Hospitality Industry Attorneys, the International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association, CLM, the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association, and Primerus (chair, Premises Liability Practice Group). He writes and presents widely on ethics, leadership and management, trial tactics, appellate advocacy, mediation strategy, retail and hospitality law, and insurance and bad faith issues.

Since July 1, 2025, Christian has served continuously on the South Carolina Judicial Selection Commission.

SuperLawyers, Best Lawyers, and South Carolina Lawyers Weekly Leadership in Law have all recognized his work.

Christian teaches as well. As adjunct faculty at the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, he has taught Hotel and Restaurant Law (HRTM 357) to upperclassmen in the program. He also serves as a Major in the South Carolina State Guard, where he is Staff Judge Advocate and commander of the JAG Detachment.

A lifelong Lutheran, Christian and his family attend New Hope Lutheran Church, where he has served as president of the congregation. He is an Eagle Scout and remains an active supporter of the Boy Scouts of America.