Kerry L. Traynum

After graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law, Bryan began practicing in the employment law and employee benefits areas, working for large law firms that concentrated in those areas. In 2001, Bryan returned to school at the Georgetown University Law Center and studied to receive an LL.M. in Taxation with a concentration in Employee Benefits, a field that includes retirement plans, health insurance plans, short- and long-term disability, life insurance and other similar ...

Danielle Thompson Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Patent. Danielle Thompson, 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 Danielle Thompson is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Ryan is a partner in the Construction and Litigation Practice Groups in the Charlotte office. His primary focus is large public and private commercial construction practice disputes. Ryan has extensive experience in representing contractors, subcontractors, and sureties in various state and federal courts, as well as private arbitrations. He also assists clients in drafting and negotiating their construction contracts to meet the client’s specific needs on each project. Ryan has taught ...

Brian Hayles focuses his practice on advising clients in the healthcare sector. As a seasoned antitrust attorney, Brian provides guidance on hospital and physician practice mergers, antitrust litigation, federal and state antitrust investigations, and managed care contracting practices. He earns his clients’ trust by cutting to the chase and getting results. With clients across the United States, Brian has taken a leading role in matters from Maine to California. He has a wealth of expe...

Janice L. Davies is the Founder of Davies Law PLLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Davies’ practice areas include tax, wealth transfer and business succession planning for individuals and closely held businesses and probate and administration of estates and trusts. She received her B.S. degree from Pfeiffer University; her J.D. degree, law review , from Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law; and her LL.M. degree in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School...

James M. Dedman IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Insurance. James M., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which James M. 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.

Rob Rust represents clients on a variety of transactional matters, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contract work and joint ventures. Representation includes Fortune 150 companies, private equity clients and privately held entities operating across various industries and market segments, including manufacturing, professional services and digital consulting with the scope of such representation encompassing complex domestic and cross-border transactions.

Elizabeth R. Gift is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Elizabeth R., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian M. Davis is a Partner at VLP, a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and former Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Brian focuses his practice on client counseling relating to trademarks, including trademark clearance and the prosecution of U.S. and foreign trademark applications. He also has experience with copyright and other intellectual property issues, such as domain name disputes (including the UDRP), licensing programs and other intellectual property-r...