J. Walton Milam III

For almost 30 years, I’ve been fighting to defend individuals accused of crimes in the State and Federal courts of North Carolina. I love the job. For example, at the moment I am defending clients in investigations involving diverse subjects such as businesses being charged with PPP loan fraud, doctors and nurses with billing, coding and medical necessity issues, executives and managers accused of kickback schemes and wire fraud. In the process of defending these clients, I find it fasc...

Mr. Carpenter's primary practice areas include tax, estate planning and probate law, IRS tax controversy, asset protection planning, business mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate law. He is a NC Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Mr. Carpenter specializes in estate planning, estate administration, representing clients before the IRS, asset protection planning, and sophisticated real-estate tax-deferral strategies, including capital gain maximization...

Ed O’Keefe advises and represents financial institutions. From strategy to tactics and logistics, Ed’s experience includes investigations, litigation, regulatory compliance, governance, cybersecurity, compensation, and risk management. He also advises on law department management, including effective legal engagement with regulators and control functions. Ed is the former Global General Counsel of Bank of America Corporation. Having also headed or served as a senior executive with...

Elizabeth Murphy advises institutional and nonbank lenders on the origination and servicing of conduit and portfolio real estate loans. She is active in the firm’s Women’s Initiative and has been honored by the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy with its 2021 Pro Bono Award. Elizabeth represents senior and mezzanine lenders and borrowers in the origination and servicing of conduit and portfolio loans. She concentrates in originating loans secured by complex collateral structures ...

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...

Bailey King is a litigation partner and trial attorney with over a decade of experience representing businesses in the areas of intellectual property, trade secrets, securities fraud, and other complex commercial disputes. He has tried numerous cases, including bet-the-company matters, to verdict. Recognizing that businesses often prefer to avoid trial, Bailey also uses his trial experience to counsel clients on litigation avoidance strategies and to negotiate favorable settlements prior to t...

Kevin Dalton is a partner in the firm’s Charlotte office. His practice focuses on counseling clients regarding employment issues and defending clients against claims alleging wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, and wage and hour violations. He has assisted companies in remaining non-union, including responding to unfair labor practice charges and advising employers during union representation campaigns. Before joining the firm, Kevin served as a Captain i...

Jim McLoughlin brings commitment, passion, and more than 35 years of cutting-edge experience to the civil disputes, criminal investigations, and trials that he strives to resolve for clients. Jim’s critical thinking, relentless preparation, and experienced perspective delivers effective results for clients. Jim has dedicated his career to winning civil and criminal cases. He has prosecuted and defended dozens of appeals. Jim advocates for clients in regulatory and criminal investigation...

Tom Mitchell has served as Managing Partner and Chair of the Management Committee since 2018 and is a nationally recognized finance lawyer with over 30 years of experience representing financial institutions. Tom serves in multiple leadership positions at the firm, including as Managing Partner, Chair of the Management Committee, and Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee. He is also an active member of the firm’s Inclusion & Belonging Committee. Tom served previously as head of ...

Representing buyers, sellers, lenders, borrowers and underwriters, Rick Hazlett brings strategic insight to parties in various financing transactions. Rick focuses his financial services practice on lending, letter of credit and leasing transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities and tax-exempt finance. He is often engaged to advise on complex business and finance transactions, and regularly advises corporations and other businesses on acquisitions, securities and other corporate matters.