Jonathan Coates

Mr. Watson is chair of the Bankruptcy Group. His practice focuses on representing secured lenders in pre-bankruptcy workouts and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, Mr. Watson represents several national franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. Mr. Watson is listed in Chamber...

Gabriel L. Imperato is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Health Care Law and Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants. Gabriel L., who practices law in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been recognized since 1995. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Gabriel L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stuart Richeson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law and Litigation - Construction. Stuart, who practices law in New Orleans, Louisiana, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stuart is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Astrid Guardado is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Community Association Law, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate. Astrid, who practices law in Tampa, Florida, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Astrid is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Edward Burrell is a member of the Business & Corporate Services Group in the firm's Nashville office. Edward has a broad transactional practice with experience in a variety of industries. He has extensive experience with mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, due diligence, entity formation and governance, private equity transactions, corporate finance, equity owner disputes and commercial contracts. Edward's experience with commercial contracts includes drafting, reviewing and negotiati...

Jordan T. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Jordan T., who practices law in Las Vegas, Nevada, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jordan T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael W. Shackelford is a Shareholder in Buchalter’s Portland office and a Member of the firm’s Corporate Practice Group. Mr. Shackelford’s corporate practice focuses on counseling and business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity financings and joint ventures for privately-held and family-owned businesses in a variety of industries, including the technology, manufacturing, healthcare, bioscience and food processing industries.

David W. Thal is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. David W., who practices law in Stamford, Connecticut, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lou Weber, former Tax Department Chair, concentrates his practice in transactional and controversy matters. He advises clients on a wide variety of corporate and private equity transactional issues. He advises clients on numerous issues related to both taxable and tax-free mergers and acquisitions on behalf of public and private buyers and sellers, and on behalf of private equity funds and their portfolio companies. He also has advised clients: in structuring tax-free reorganizations, recapit...

Bob Northcutt received his B.A. from Birmingham-Southern College and his J.D. degree from the Cumberland School of Law. He has regularly served as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Alabama for over a dozen years. Bob serves as Co-Chair of the Firm’s Litigation Section and has served as a member of its Board of Directors. He is a native of Dothan, Alabama and is listed in Best Lawyers in America. Bob’s practice is concentrated primarily in the area of civil litigation incl...