Carol L. Austin

A member of the firm’s Financial Services group, Jim Hovis brings years of sophisticated, high-level experience to his finance and capital markets practice. For the majority of his career he managed the Financial Services group and served on the firm’s Management Committee from 1989 through 2015. He regularly represents national and regional financial institutions in complex financing transactions, including: Acquisition and leveraged buyout financing Subordinated debt facilities ...

Janiere Taylor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Janiere, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janiere is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lauren Biek is a member in the Financial Services group. She has extensive experience representing financial institutions in domestic and cross-border financing transactions. Lauren’s practice primarily focuses on representing commercial and investment banks in leveraged lending transactions, including acquisition financings, recapitalizations, ESOP financings and other secured and unsecured lending transactions. She has experience in a wide variety of industries, including transportati...

Samantha Aktug is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants. Samantha, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Samantha is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Adrienne Blocker is an attorney with DeMayo Law Offices LLP whose practice focuses on Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. She represents individuals and families in Charlotte, North Carolina, who have been harmed as a result of negligence. Adrienne has been recognized by Best Lawyers since 2024 for her work in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs. This distinction is based on a peer-review survey that reflects the professional regard of attorneys practicing in the same geo...

A frequent speaker on litigation and arbitration issues and an adjunct professor at the University of Notre Dame Law School, Paul Peralta brings extensive successful high-stakes trial experience to his varied litigation clients. Paul has handled wide-ranging employment and commercial litigation, including management representation in Title VII, ADEA, ADA and ERISA litigation, as well as proceedings before the EEOC and corresponding state and local agencies. Additionally, Paul has counseled an...

Kirk Bradley is a partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group. His practice focuses on litigation and counseling in complex patent cases during discovery, trial, and appeal. His experience encompasses a wide variety of technologies, including marine electronics and sonar, financial services, medical devices, wireless telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and software programs. Mr. Bradley frequently counsels clients on how to manage or avoid patent issues affecting their business, pr...

Andrew Price focuses on the representation of financial institutions in connection with the structuring and documentation of secured and unsecured syndicated, club and bilateral senior credit facilities. Andrew frequently represents left lead arrangers, administrative agents, and lenders in a broad range of investment-grade and middle market corporate and commercial lending transactions, including acquisition-related financings, leveraged recapitalizations, cross-border financings, and workin...

Clay Littlefield, a partner based out of the firm’s Charlotte and New York offices, is a member of the Federal and International Tax group. Clay’s practice concentrates on tax issues confronted by underwriters, issuers and investors participating in structured finance transactions, including mortgage and asset-backed securitizations, REMICs, CLOs, REITs, and similar structures. Clay’s practice also focuses on advising financial institutions on the tax and legal aspects of va...

John Beltz represents foreign and domestic, public and private business entities, majority and minority equity holders, financial sponsors, founders, and governing boards. With over two decades of experience, John’s clients trust his extensive legal experience, business acumen, sophistication, calm demeanor, and creativity to achieve positive outcomes. John advises corporations and other business entities on a broad array of transactions, including cross-border transactions, mergers, ac...