James C. "Jim" Smith

Mr. Ellsworth counsels clients to procure, protect, license and enforce intellectual property rights. Mr. Ellsworth works diligently to understand his client’s business and to leverage that understanding to achieve his client’s intellectual property goals in a turn-key and cost-efficient manner. Mr. Ellsworth manages extensive domestic and international patent portfolios for several publicly traded companies and provides strategic counseling to a variety of smaller business concer...

Thomas Rivers is a recognized practitioner in commercial real estate law at Venn Law Group, where he has been honored in The Best Lawyers in America since 2019. His practice encompasses the full lifecycle of commercial property, representing buyers, sellers, landlords, tenants, borrowers, and lenders. He provides comprehensive legal counsel on acquisition, development, financing, leasing, management, and the sale of commercial properties, while also serving as North Carolina local counsel for...

Travis Vance is dedicated to responsive client service and forming a partnership with companies to help tackle their most difficult and high-profile issues. Having gained a reputation as a professional and aggressive advocate for his clients, Travis has emerged as a thought leader in the field of workplace safety. His writing and interviews are followed closely by experts in the safety arena and have been featured in premiere publications such as Inc., Bloomberg Law, Business Insurance, The W...

Marcus Spake is known for aggressively representing his clients, and for ensuring that their best interests are protected at all times. During his career, Marcus has represented both injured workers and defendants in workers’ compensation claims, giving him a vast depth of knowledge of both sides of the law. He firmly believes that every injured person deserves competent and effective counsel and uses his experience to his client’s absolute advantage. Marcus was born and raised in...

Kurt B. Aktug is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Kurt, 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 Kurt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin Ransom is a member of the Moore & Van Allen Intellectual Property group. A trained electrical engineer with corporate experience, Kevin brings both technical experience and legal know-how to his widely varying U.S. and non-U.S. based intellectual property clients. Some of the services Kevin provides his clients include: Obtaining patent protection in the U.S. and non-U.S. patent offices. Infringement and invalidity investigations, product landscaping, and freedom to operate investig...

Ronald S. Lovelace is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Banking and Finance Law. Ronald S. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Ronald S. Lovelace since 2016. 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 Ronald S. Lovelace is held by other lawyers.

Michael D. Ray is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Michael D. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Michael D. Ray since 2021. 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 Michael D. Ray is held by other lawyers.

C. Todd Burbank is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Real Estate Law. C. Todd practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized C. Todd Burbank since 2016. 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 C. Todd Burbank is held by other lawyers.

Jeff Brown is a member within Moore & Van Allen's Commercial Real Estate group. He focuses his practice on the representation of investors and developers in an array of real estate-related transactions and ventures. Jeff represents and serves as counsel to his clients in a comprehensive range of real estate-related matters, from financing, acquisitions and dispositions, joint venture and real estate investment structuring, and development, including complex land use, entitlement and publi...