W. Cliff Travis - Louisville, KY
Attorney at Travis Herbert & Stempien, PLLC
Business Law Lawyers in Louisville, KY
Jefferson Marders Building 11507 Main Street Middletown Historic District Louisville, KY 40243
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
-
48
Years
Experience
Louisville Business Law Lawyer
Updated: 06/18/2026
Areas of Practice
- Business Law
- Business Litigation
- Contract Law
- Insurance Defense
- Personal Injury
- Extra-Contractual Litigation
Attorney Information
Overview
Wm. Clifton (Cliff) Travis has had an active trial practice for over thirty years. The types of cases he has tried are as varied as the clients he has represented. From defending the Dow Chemical Company in the celebrated breast implant litigation to representing a young man whose eye was lost as a result of negligent supervision by school officials, Cliff has represented plaintiffs and defendants before juries and judges in courtrooms (both at the trial and appellate level) throughout Kentucky and other states. He is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. Louisville Magazine lists him as one of Louisville's Top Lawyers.
Cliff is especially proud that his firm has been listed among the top five most active trial firms in Kentucky on numerous occasions.
While staying busy as a trial lawyer, Cliff has found time to author two legal textbooks (Admissibility of Evidence, A Manual for Kentucky Trial Lawyers, which was extended through a second edition, and No-Fault Automobile Law, A Comprehensive Guide for Kentucky Lawyers) and he has conducted over fifty legal seminars, including programs requested expressly by the Kentucky Bar Association (for its annual convention), the Indiana Bar Association and the American Association of Chiefs of Police. He is currently president of the Kentucky chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He served as a police court judge prior to entering the private practice of law.
In addition to his professional interests, Cliff has served hospital, school and civic organizations as an officer and director. Twice, his peers selected him to receive the Louisville Bar Association's Annual Service Award. He led the Louisville Bar Foundation as its president for two consecutive terms during its formative years. He served as President of the University of Louisville Law Alumni Association and was a director of the University's Alumni Association for 22 years. He served as president of his Rotary club and was honored twice as an outstanding community volunteer. His biography appears in editions of Who's Who in American Law and Who's Who Among Practicing Attorneys.
Cliff served on active duty in the Air Force before law school and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1989.
Cliff is as bad at golf as he is good in the courtroom, but that doesn't keep him from playing golf as often as he can. He has fished the waters of the world and trophies from his hunts in Africa (where he lived for two and one-half years) hang in his home. He collects sports memorabilia and is an avid sports fan (particularly of the University of Louisville , the source of his undergraduate and law degrees, and the University of Oklahoma , where he earned a Master of Arts in Speech Communication). He has been honored by selection to his high school's hall of fame ( Louisville Shawnee High School).
Cliff and Paula Travis have been married for forty-two years. Paula (who has a doctorate in Educational Leadership) is the Director of Nursing at Central State Hospital ( Kentucky 's largest mental hospital). David Travis, their son, is a partner at Travis & Herbert Attorneys. Their daughter Lyn is a fifth grade teacher with credentials qualifying her to become a principal in the near future. Cliff and Paula have three grandchildren with one more on the way in March.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- American Trial Lawyers Association “Kentucky Top 100 Trial Lawyers”
- AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
- Kentucky Monthly “Top Lawyer”
- Louisville Magazine “Top Lawyer”
- Most active trial firms in Kentucky
- National Association of Distinguished Counsel “Nation’s Top One Percent” of practicing lawyers
- Super Lawyers
- Shawnee High School Hall of Fame
- Louisville Bar Association Annual Service Award
- Rotary Club Outstanding Community Volunteer
- Who’s Who Among Practicing Attorneys biography
- Who’s Who in American Law biography
Other Sources of Feedback About W. Cliff Travis
Included on the 2024 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2023 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2022 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2021 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2020 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2019 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2018 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2017 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2016 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2015 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2013 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2012 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2011 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
- 2010 Kentucky Super Lawyers list
Education
Legal Education
-
Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, University of Louisville,
Louisville,
Kentucky
J.D.
Non Legal Education
-
University of Oklahoma
M.A. -
University of Louisville
B.A.
Current Employment Position(s)
-
Founding Partner
Classes and Seminars
-
Adjunct Faculty, University of Louisville Brandeis School of Law
-
Adjunct Faculty, University of Louisville Southern Police Institute
- Adjunct Faculty, University Southeast and Jefferson Community College
Pro Bono Activities
- St. Matthews Rotary Club
- University of Louisville School of Law Alumni Association
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society Kentucky Chapter, Board of Directors, 1984 - 1986
- Sportsman’s Supper Club, 1987 - 2013
- Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Board of Directors, 1980 - 1985
- Trinity High School, Board of Trustees
Published Works
Articles
-
Admissibility of Evidence, A Manual for Kentucky Trial Lawyers
-
No-Fault Automobile Law, A comprehensive Guide for Kentucky Lawyers Co-Author
Other Affiliations
- American Association for Justice (Member)
- Defense Research Institute (Member)
- Kentucky Defense Counsel (Former President)
- American Bar Association (Member)
- Kentucky Bar Association (Member)
- American Board of Trial Advocates (Former Kentucky President, National Director)
- Louisville Bar Association
- Louisville Bar Foundation (Former President)
- St. Matthews/East Jefferson County Business Association
Contact
Jefferson Marders Building
11507 Main Street
Middletown Historic District
Louisville, KY 40243
Phone Number: 502-245-7474
Fax Number: 502-245-7025
Email: Send a message
Website: https://thslaw.co/
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