James C. "Jim" Smith

Bradley Kline is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Bradley, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bradley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

“It is rewarding to help clients complete complex real estate transactions and make critical business decisions. In my 16+ years of practice, I have developed an instinct for the issues that can kill a deal, and focus on what matters most to a client. Clients expect all lawyers to know the law and see the issues, but a lawyer becomes invaluable by bringing calm, clarity, and efficiency to the table.” Andrew McCullough is a skilled lawyer that understands the delicate balance betwe...

John Nicholas Suhr, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Securitization and Structured Finance Law. John Nicholas, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which John Nicholas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Mitchell Anderson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Mitchell, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mitchell is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Sarah Negus is a labor and employment member with experience counseling employers on policies and procedures, personnel decisions, and other workplace challenges. She also litigates employment disputes in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. Sarah concentrates her practice in all areas of employment law. She has broad experience in discrimination and retaliation claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with...

Zachary Smith is a Member and the Co-head of Moore & Van Allen’s Financial Restructuring practice. Zach is a nationally recognized restructuring lawyer with more than 20 years of experience in complex restructurings, representing a broad spectrum of stakeholders in special situations and bankruptcy proceedings. Before joining MVA in 2013, Zach was a partner in the restructuring practice of an international law firm based in New York City. Zach’s practice covers transactional a...

Jim Langdon represents both debtors and creditors in bankruptcy cases, with an emphasis on representing lenders and other financial institutions in connection with the collection and/or restructure of indebtedness both in and outside of bankruptcy. Jim has significant experience representing parties in connection with the acquisition of assets out of bankruptcy, lenders in connection with postpetition financing and entities in the acquisition and administration of distressed debt investments....

Alan Pope primarily counsels financial institutions in corporate workouts and bankruptcies and in structuring intercreditor arrangements. Alan applies substantial experience to representing administrative agents and collateral agents in syndicated credit facilities and other financial institutions in secured lending transactions.