Heather Connor

Doug Grimes focuses his practice in the areas of intellectual property litigation, commercial litigation, business torts, and other complex civil litigation, with significant trial experience in state and federal courts. He regularly handles intellectual property disputes involving trademarks, copyrights, patents and trade secrets. He also litigates a wide variety of other civil disputes, including products liability, construction, and personal injury claims.

John Evans devotes his financial services practice to representing Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), institutional investors (debt and equity), private equity funds, hedge funds, business development companies, and venture capital funds in their buy-out, investment and finance transactions. In addition to practicing in the areas of mezzanine finance, private equity, and venture capital, he represents several founders and companies in their fund raising and merger and acquisition tr...

David Jacobs is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. David practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized David Jacobs since 2024. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which David Jacobs is held by other lawyers.

Frank makes it a goal to close his complex deals on his client's desired timeline. To accomplish this, he keeps a rigorous focus on the end game. He emphasizes his client's key objectives without wasting time negotiating irrelevant provisions. That approach allowed him to close a large portfolio loan of 10 assets in just 15 business days for one of the world's largest banks. Executing the deal in such a short timeframe was all the more impressive because it was his client's first deal with th...

Beth Grimes’ practice focuses exclusively on employee benefits and executive compensation. She regularly advises the firm’s clients on a broad array of executive compensation, employee benefit matters, and equity compensation issues in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and other significant corporate transactions. Beth works to resolve employee benefits and executive compensation issues with her experience navigating the rules under the Internal Rev...

Preston O. Odom III is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Appellate Practice. Preston O. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Preston O. Odom III since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Preston O. Odom III is held by other lawyers.

Karen H. Stiles is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Karen H. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Karen H. Stiles since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Karen H. Stiles is held by other lawyers.

Valecia McDowell is a national thought leader in the areas of governmental and internal investigations, conduct risk management, and civil rights and racial equity assessments. Valecia is ranked in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers , included in national publications such as Bloomberg , American Banker , Corporate Compliance Insights , and Inside Counsel. Valecia was one of the ten “Innovative Legal Practitioners” identified by the London-based Financial Times in 2023 and on Forbes To...

Rob Rust represents clients on a variety of transactional matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contract work and joint ventures. Representation includes Fortune 150 companies, private equity clients and privately held entities operating across various industries and market segments, including manufacturing, professional services and digital consulting with the scope of such representation encompassing complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

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 ...