Shareholder Christian Stegmaier is a member of the Management Committee and chair of the firm’s Retail & Hospitality Practice Group. He defends national and regional leaders in the retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors doing business in South Carolina in claims involving premises liability, loss prevention, food adulteration, third party torts, and alcohol liability. He is also involved in matters pertaining to ADA issues and licensure and other administrative decisions of state regulatory agencies.
In addition to his practice focus in retail and hospitality, Christian is skilled in appellate advocacy and complex litigation. Building on his experience as an appellate law clerk and appearing more than 30 times before various state and federal appellate tribunals as counsel, Christian’s representation includes prebriefing review and analysis of the case with careful research and candid advice, as well as appearing at oral argument.
Christian is founder and contributor of the South Carolina Retail & Hospitality Law Blog, a resource for retailers and hospitality-related entities doing business in South Carolina. In addition to his practice, Christian is a Professor of Hotel & Restaurant Law at the University of South Carolina’s nationally acclaimed College of Hospitality, Retail & Sport Management. He has taught Hotel & Restaurant Law (HRTM 357) to upperclassmen HRTM majors since Spring 2009. Prior to joining Collins & Lacy, Christian served as a law clerk to The Honorable Ralph King Anderson, Jr., Judge of the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Read a detailed biography of Christian Stegmaier here.
Bar & Court Admissions
- South Carolina
- U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
Awards & Recognition
Professional, Civic, & Community Involvement
- Defense Research Institute
- Vice Chair, DRI Retail & Hospitality Committee (2018 & 2019)
- Vice Chair, 2014 Retail & Hospitality Litigation and Claims Management Meeting
- Webcast Vice Chair, Retail & Hospitality Substantive Law Committee
- Primerus Defense Institute
- Chair, Premises Liability Practice Group
- The Claims and Litigation Management Alliance
- Premises Liability Committee
- Professor, Hotel & Restaurant Law
- International Amusement and Leisure Defense Association
- Board of Directors (2017)
- Global Alliance of Hospitality Attorneys
- South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association
- South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores
- South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association
- South Carolina Bar
- Richland County Bar Association
- Boy Scouts of America, Indian Waters Council
- Chairman, Scoutreach District
- New Hope Lutheran Church
- Congregational President (2014-2015)
Papers & Publications
- "Act Now to Reduce Risk During Hurricane Florence: Urgent Information for the Retail and Hospitality Industries in South Carolina," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, September 2018
- "Post Las Vegas: The New Reality for Hotels When it Comes to Guest Privacy, "South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, March 2018
- "'What is Our Liability for Wild Animals?' Asks Hoteliers & Other Hospitality-Related Operators After Alligator Attack," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, June 2016
- "Alcohol Liability Laws Regarding Sales to Intoxicated Persons Apply to C-Stores Too," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, April 2016
- "Alcohol Liability Laws Regarding Sales to Intoxicated Persons Apply to C-Stores Too," SCACS 2016
- Spring Newsletter, Publication for Members and Prospects of the SC Convenience Stores Association and Industry
- "Seasonal Employees: What You Need to Know!" South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, November 2015
- "Tips & Guidelines for 'The Big Game,'" South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, January 2015
- "Summary Judgement Granted in 'Known Condition' Premises Case: Federal District Court in Columbia Holds No Duty to Warn of Rainy Conditions," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, November 2014
- "Preparing Hospitality-Related Entities and Retailers for Hurricane Season," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, September 2014
- "The Law of Comparative Negligence & Minors in South Carolina," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, April 2014
- "Super Bowl Sunday and Social Host Responsibilities: Keeping the Party 'In Bounds' and Safe," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, January 2014
- "Keeping Your Settlement Agreement Out of Jeopardy," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, December 2013
- "Hospitality Advocacy in South Carolina Takes on New Identity & Leader," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, November 2012
- "South Carolina Hospitality-Related Businesses Have Obligations to Protect Guests," South Carolina Retail Hospitality Blog, May 2012
- Publisher of the South Carolina Retail & Hospitality Law Blog
- Publisher of retail and hospitality-related tweets on Twitter at @cstegmaier
- "Ethics and Professionalism in Mediation," For the Defense published by the Defense Research Institute, July 2012
- Identified by the University of South Carolina as a “Hurricane Expert” in the areas of retail and hospitality hurricane preparedness and emergency response, 2011
- Applying the Rules of Running a Successful Drive-thru to Satisfying Your Law Firm’s Clients: The Surprising Connection, The Primerus 180, Spring 2011
Speaking Engagements
- Identifying and Countering Reptile Deposition and Trial Tactics, April 15, 2016 Primerus Defense Institute (PDI) Educational Program 2016 Annual Convocation, Napa, California
- Collins & Lacy Attorney to Present at National Hospitality Law Conference, February 22, 2016
- Reptile Theory - What is it and How Does it Work? The Defense Response, April 25, 2015 Primerus Defense Institute (PDI) Educational Program 2015 Annual Convocation, Amelia Island, Florida
- Collins & Lacy Attorney Christian Stegmaier to Present on Ethics at the National Business Institute Seminar, December 13, 2013
- Attorney Christian Stegmaier to Speak at Primerus' Affinity Risk Control Workshop, October 2, 2013
- Collins & Lacy to Host Presentation for Association of Corporate Counsel, June 14, 2013
- Attorney Christian Stegmaier to Speak at Defense Research Institute Retail and Hospitality Litigation Seminar, May 16, 2013
- Collins & Lacy Attorney Christian Stegmaier to Speak at South Carolina Public Risk Management Association 2013 Annual Conference, March 12, 2013
- Attorney Christian Stegmaier to Speak at RIMS Southeastern Educational Conference About Liquor Liability, October 5, 2012
- "Current Issues in the Use of Mental Health Records in Litigation," Lorman Educational Services Medical Records Law Seminar, April 2012
- "Third Party Assault Case: What You Need to Know About Protecting Your Customers, Employees, and Business," South Carolina Association of Convenience Stores Fall Planning Conference, September 12, 2011, Columbia, South Carolina
- Current Trends in Loss Prevention and Security, Defense Research Institute-Strictly Retail CLE, May 12, 2011, Chicago, Illinois (presented with Catherine Kays of JCPenney and Robert Vranek of Belk, Inc./Belk Stores Services, Inc.)
- Understanding the South Carolina Tort Claims Act, March 7, 2011, South Carolina Public Risk Managers Association 2011 Conference, Greenville, South Carolina
- Limiting Liability in Alcohol Sales, The 2011 Southeast Petro-Food Marketing Exposition, March 2, 2011, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Ripped from the Headlines: Avoiding Liability and Negative Publicity by Taking Lessons from Actual News Stories (with Elizabeth DeConti and David T. Denney), Ninth Annual Hospitality Law Conference, February 9-11, 2011, Houston, Texas
- Celebrating New Year’s Eve Safely (quoted in WECT-TV web story), December 31, 2010