John W. Kirkman, Jr.

Patrick Haywood is sought after by clients and other attorneys for his insight into complex and novel issues. At his core, Patrick solves problems, though he is no stranger to the courtroom. He has tried over 70 cases to juries in his career and has appeared in nearly all of North Carolina’s 100 counties. To further advance his clients’ interest, Patrick utilizes a deep bench of litigation and transactional talent at Carruthers & Roth. Whether your issue involves business matt...

Brian McMillan brings experience and insight from more than 10 years in manufacturing, distribution and sales and more than 26 years practicing law at Brooks Pierce to bear on his counsel to individuals and businesses. His practice focuses on a variety of litigation and transactional matters. Brian’s business and practical background gives him a deep understanding of clients’ goals, operations and legal challenges. His business and corporate practice includes negotiating and draft...

Jane C. Jackson is a highly accomplished attorney with a career marked by excellence in workers’ compensation, employment law, personal injury, and insurance litigation. A former standout scholar-athlete at Wake Forest University, Jane translated her discipline and leadership on the basketball court into a distinguished legal practice. As Of Counsel at Robinson & Lawing, LLP, she brings decades of experience, a deep commitment to achieving positive outcomes for her clients, and lead...

Libby Brewington's practice is concentrated in business law and corporate transactions. Libby represents clients in commercial loan transactions, purchases and sales of businesses, entity formation and business reorganizations, and other corporate legal issues that arise in business operations. Libby represents mezzanine lenders, venture capital funds and other investors in complex financing transactions and in making investments at every level of a company's capital structure. Libby has exte...

Howard Williams has over 40 years of experience representing privately held companies and their shareholders. His diverse practice includes representation in connection with tax planning and litigation, general corporate work, employee benefits and executive compensation, and aviation matters. Howard has extensive experience representing businesses in tax disputes or controversies in district courts, the United States Tax Court, and before the Internal Revenue Service and North Carolina Depar...

Ken Carlson is a senior litigator who has successfully defended companies in virtually every aspect of employment law. He also has a strong practice in drafting employment contracts, independent contractor agreements, and noncompetition agreements, combined with a significant amount of work involving trade secret and noncompetition law. In addition to his litigation practice, Ken regularly advises employers on how to avoid problems before they occur, and helps companies protect their intellec...

Iain MacSween represents business and corporate clients in the fields of banking and financial services, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and securities law. Iain represents financial institutions and their holding companies on a variety of corporate, regulatory and operational issues. Iain’s experience includes the chartering of de novo banks, the conversion of mutual financial institutions, public offerings, private equity and debt offerings, corporate reorganizations, mergers...

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

Denise M. Gunter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law, Health Care Law and Litigation - Antitrust. Denise M., who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Denise M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob King has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of litigation and environmental matters, and has been widely recognized as a leading litigator and trusted advisor by clients and peers. Representative examples of Bob’s work can be found in the "Experience" tab. Bob also serves as the Firm's General Counsel and previously served as the Chair of the Firm’s Associates Committee. Bob has been honored by election as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers. Bob has e...