Clayborne S. Stone

Clay Stone practices in the area of business litigation, construction litigation, employment litigation, and media law.

Professional Experience

Clay has litigated cases throughout the State of Arkansas, in state and federal court and at both the trial and appellate levels.  In addition to general business litigation, he has represented shareholders and directors in derivative litigation in state and federal courts.  Clay has extensive experience in litigating matters involving discrimination, wrongful discharge claims, and covenants not to compete.   Clay has defended design professionals in negligence cases throughout the state.

Clay has a growing fiduciary and estate litigation practice.  In addition to cases involving officers, directors, and shareholders of corporations, he has defended and resolved many claims involving will contests, including claims of undue influence and lack of testamentary capacity, and claims by and against personal representatives and trustees.  He works closely with the firm’s estate and tax planning attorneys when litigation issues arise, and he works proactively with estate planning clients to limit the risk of later litigation regarding their estate planning wishes.  In addition, he often assists clients with emergency guardianship proceedings.

In the area of media law, Clay’s work is focused on defending media entities in libel and slander actions and assisting local, state, and national media entities in access matters.  His work has also included asserting the reporter’s privilege in state and federal court.  He was among the team of lawyers who defended a national publishing company in a libel action brought by a professor at a local law school.  He led the firm’s pro bono efforts in the successful defense of one of several law school students sued by her professor for defamation.  In addition, he has successfully defended newspapers and television stations in defamations cases.  He recently obtained a voluntary dismissal with prejudice of a defamation lawsuit brought by a former Miss Arkansas against the Texarkana Gazette.  Clay is a co-author of the Arkansas sections of two prominent media law and employment libel law national surveys.

Education and Community Involvement

Clay is a member of St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock.  He regularly advises several Children’s Advocacy Centers in Central Arkansas.  These centers provide services and crisis intervention for children suspected of abuse.  He is an active member of the Arkansas Bar Association and he currently serves on the Committee on the Unauthorized Practice of Law.  He is a member of the American and the Eighth Circuit Bar Associations and the Media Law Resource Center.

Clay and his wife, also an attorney, live in Little Rock with their son.  Born in Russellville, Arkansas and raised in nearby Conway, Arkansas, Clay received his J.D. with honors from the University of Arkansas in 2003.  He joined Williams & Anderson in 2003 and has been a partner since 2009

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