John Hodnette

· Served as a law clerk for United States District Court Judge James B. McMillan in Charlotte; partner in the firm of Ferguson Stein Chambers Gresham & Sumter, PA, until retirerment in 2010 and partner Tin, Fulton Walker and Owen 2011-present · Practice areas are employment litigation and negotiation, public employee rights, constitutional law, general civil litigation, appellate practice, and personal injury. · Recognized by his peers for his work in employment and c...

Ronald S. Lovelace is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Ronald S., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ronald S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

Having tried nearly 20 cases to verdict, Ben Chesson is a trial lawyer with a proven record of winning when it matters. He has tried cases for corporate and individual clients in state and federal courts across North Carolina. Ben has also represented clients in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, all appellate courts in North Carolina, and the South Carolina Supreme Court. Whether representing plaintiffs or defendants, Ben understands that while disputes are resolved in courtrooms—cas...

Cole Richins advises banks, other financial institutions, equipment lessors, and corporate entities in restructuring matters, corporate bankruptcies, foreclosures, and collections. Cole routinely represents administrative agents in connection with the negotiation and documentation of secured and unsecured senior syndicated financing transactions, and banks and other financial institutions in front-end secured and unsecured middle market financings. Cole also has considerable experience in rep...

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...

Hal Levinson is one of the firm’s senior corporate and transactional lawyers, having focused his career on complex mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Hal is known for bringing experienced and practical business oriented legal advice to each transaction. Hal is counsel of choice for many business owners, including those owned by generations of family members, entrepreneurs, and strategic companies that have decided to sell their business. Hal’s extensive transactional exper...

Kirk Bradley is a partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group. His practice focuses on litigation and counseling in complex patent cases during discovery, trial, and appeal. His experience encompasses a wide variety of technologies, including marine electronics and sonar, financial services, medical devices, wireless telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and software programs. Mr. Bradley frequently counsels clients on how to manage or avoid patent issues affecting their business, pr...

Amanda Groves is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Amanda, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amanda is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mark Kelly is a member of the Corporate Transactions & Securities Group in the firm’s Charlotte office. He concentrates his practice in the areas of public offerings, private financings, mergers and acquisitions and general corporate matters. Mr. Kelly leads the firm’s private equity practice and has worked with private equity firms and their portfolio companies since the late 1980s in equity and debt financings, leveraged buyouts and exit transactions, including mergers with ...