Benjamin P. "Ben" Winikoff

Howard Williams has over 40 years of experience representing privately held companies and their shareholders. His diverse practice includes representation in connection with tax planning and litigation, general corporate work, employee benefits and executive compensation, and aviation matters. Howard has extensive experience representing businesses in tax disputes or controversies in district courts, the United States Tax Court, and before the Internal Revenue Service and North Carolina Depar...

Kearns Davis is an acclaimed courtroom advocate, a veteran of both high-profile cases and sensitive matters resolved confidentially. A former federal prosecutor and a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, he has tried jury cases at all levels of federal and North Carolina trial courts, and he represents clients in U.S. trial and appellate courts across the country. His clients have included public companies, private businesses, elected officials of both major parties, Hall of Fame ...

Working with a select group of entrepreneurs, family businesses, and nonprofits, Adam Tarleton provides counsel on tax, estate planning, and business matters to help clients protect and preserve their wealth and achieve their personal and financial goals. He is certified as a specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the North Carolina Board of Legal Specialization. Adam works with high net worth individuals to design and execute estate plans that minimize the tax and other costs of tr...

John Small has more than 35 years of experience representing both creditors and debtors in business bankruptcies, and was a Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law from 1988 to 2023. He also counsels small businesses and religious organizations on a variety of legal issues. He thrives on solving clients’ most complex problems. John represents secured creditors in bankruptcies for business and real estate loans. He also has experience working with landlords, eq...

Kristine Marie Sims is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Kristine Marie, who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kristine Marie is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jonathan Jenkins is a corporate lawyer with a focus in business acquisitions and private equity. He also serves as outside general counsel to privately held and family-owned businesses, providing counsel across a wide spectrum of business and corporate matters. Jonathan represents buyers and sellers in small market ($50K - $2MM) and mid-market ($2MM - $100MM) acquisitions in an array of industries, including manufacturing, health care, automotive, entertainment and technology. Jonathan repres...

Stephen R. Berlin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Environmental Law and Litigation - Environmental. Stephen R., who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2001. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stephen R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ben Norman is a litigator who represents clients in state and federal trial and appellate courts, with substantial experience in the North Carolina Business Court. While the parties and industries have varied over the last twenty years, nearly all of his cases involve working to find the best resolution for clients navigating a failed business relationship. Ben has significant experience handling disputes involving complex legal and procedural issues, high stakes, high volumes of documents, c...

Chris Haaf is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Chris, who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chris is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brent Helms is a dedicated litigator and mediator with over three decades of experience in civil litigation, insurance law, and business disputes. A Raleigh native, Brent has built a reputation for thoughtful and effective representation in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, insurance defense, and complex business litigation. As a partner at Robinson & Lawing, LLP, Brent brings a zealous approach to litigating matters for his clients that helps them resolve their legal challeng...