Cynthia A. Aziz

Ben Pleune is a partner in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group, with extensive experience litigating patents in U.S. district courts, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and before the International Trade Commission. Ben has also been involved with numerous patent validity challenges before the Patent Trial & Appeal Board. Ben’s practice has focused on a variety of industries, including bar code scanners, image sensors, pharmaceuticals, telecomm...

Zack Higbee is a patent attorney known for building exceptional patent portfolios and helping clients navigate competitor IP. With particular experience with fintech/insurtech, electromechanical systems, and biomedical devices, Zack partners with clients to offer tailored solutions and valuable guidance to protect client IP and drive growth with a focus on long-term value and freedom to operate. Zack is a registered patent attorney practicing all aspects of U.S. and international patent prose...

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 ...

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...

Herbert W. Auger has been helping injury victims in the Carolinas since 1995. Throughout his career, Herb has built a reputation as a relentless advocate for his clients and a trusted leader within the legal community. Herb focuses his practice on personal injury and catastrophic injury cases, including motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, and complex injury claims. He is known for his thorough case preparation, strategic approach to litigation, and ability to secure meaningful results th...

Ryan Smith is co-head of the Investment Team and a member of the Management Committee. For over 20 years, he has built a practice that represents clients on a variety of complex leveraged financings, senior and junior capital lending transactions, private equity and other equity investments, and corporate transactions. Ryan’s primary focus is in finance and equity investment transactions. As counselor to lenders and passive and controlling stakeholders, he represents a variety of financ...

John Floyd brings considerable experience to his cases with an extensive background in commercial real estate and construction matters, land use and zoning, and complex commercial disputes. John’s clients include commercial real estate developers, private equity firms, manufacturers, international financial institutions, and other large corporations located throughout the United States. Regardless of the subject matter, John takes a practical approach to problem solving and seeks to max...

A frequent author and speaker on intellectual property law developments and a trained mechanical engineer, Henry Ward focuses his practice on preparing and negotiating technology and commercial agreements and counseling clients in connection with patent, trademark, copyright, advertising regulations and litigation matters. He counsels clients on obtaining, protecting, licensing and enforcing intellectual property in a variety of industries, including: Metallurgy Welding Telecommunications Com...

With over thirty years of experience and knowledge in business immigration matters, Steve Hader provides his diverse, global clients quick, responsive, and practical solutions to their U.S. visa and immigration concerns. Steve simplifies and accelerates the complex immigration and visa processes to help bring crucially needed international professionals—from biomedical researchers to noted athletes, from engineers to recording artists—into the U.S. for his pharmaceutical, biotech,...

Rob Marcus is an experienced trial attorney who has developed a diverse litigation practice. Rob has a wide range of trial experience in high-stakes, complex business disputes. He has litigated significant cases involving intellectual property, securities and financial disputes, insurance coverage matters, contract enforcement, and class actions. Rob has handled matters in state and federal courts across North Carolina, and he has significant experience in the North Carolina Business Court. R...