John P. Higgins

Jason Bennett is a partner in Winston & Strawn LLP’s Charlotte office who focuses his practice on debt financing and other corporate finance transactions, with an emphasis on asset-based and cash flow lending. Mr. Bennett represents banks and other financial institutions on financings involving acquisitions, recapitalizations, multicurrency facilities, foreign collateral, and split lien, first/second lien, mezzanine, and bank/bond structures. He has significant experience in a wide ...

Preston O. Odom III is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Preston O., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Preston O. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Baron is the lead partner of the Charlotte office’s Federal and International Tax Group, partner-in-charge of the Charlotte office and chair of the partners committee. His practice is principally transactional in nature, and his clients include both domestic and foreign companies and financial institutions, as well as private equity firms, CDOs and hedge funds. He regularly provides tax structuring advice and renders tax opinions with respect to mergers and acquisitions, structured...

An experienced intellectual property attorney, Kate Cole represents clients in connection with the acquisition, licensing, and enforcement of intellectual property across a range of industries and technologies. Kate provides strategic leadership and counsel on complex intellectual property matters for domestic and international clients, including start-ups, private equity groups, and large private and public companies. Her broad IP experience positions her to serve as a valued business partne...

Ryan Smith is co-head of the Investment Team and a member of the Management Committee. For over 20 years, he has built a practice that represents clients on a variety of complex leveraged financings, senior and junior capital lending transactions, private equity and other equity investments, and corporate transactions. Ryan’s primary focus is in finance and equity investment transactions. As counselor to lenders and passive and controlling stakeholders, he represents a variety of financ...

Matthew B. Covington is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Matthew B., 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 Matthew B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jerri Simmons is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Jerri, 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 Jerri is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Daniel A. Lewis is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Daniel A., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kobi K. Brinson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law, Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Banking and Finance. Kobi K., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Kobi K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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 ...