Mel J. Garofalo

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.

Bailey King is a litigation partner and trial attorney with over a decade of experience representing businesses in the areas of intellectual property, trade secrets, securities fraud, and other complex commercial disputes. He has tried numerous cases, including bet-the-company matters, to verdict. Recognizing that businesses often prefer to avoid trial, Bailey also uses his trial experience to counsel clients on litigation avoidance strategies and to negotiate favorable settlements prior to t...

Rebecca S. Chaffin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Rebecca S., 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 Rebecca S. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Carpenter's primary practice areas include tax, estate planning and probate law, IRS tax controversy, asset protection planning, business mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate law. He is a NC Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Mr. Carpenter specializes in estate planning, estate administration, representing clients before the IRS, asset protection planning, and sophisticated real-estate tax-deferral strategies, including capital gain maximization...

William L. Mills IV is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. William L., 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 William L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Frank makes it a goal to close his complex deals on his client's desired timeline. To accomplish this, he keeps a rigorous focus on the end game. He emphasizes his client's key objectives without wasting time negotiating irrelevant provisions. That approach allowed him to close a large portfolio loan of 10 assets in just 15 business days for one of the world's largest banks. Executing the deal in such a short timeframe was all the more impressive because it was his client's first deal with th...

Bill Zimmern provides strategic leadership and practical, business-oriented advice on a broad range of mergers and acquisitions transactions, with substantial experience involving financial sponsors, large corporations, and the representation of founders and long-time owners. He also assists clients with securities and general corporate matters. Bill serves as Co-head of the firm's Corporate practice. Bill has worked for sophisticated clients across a number of industries, including in the he...

Jerry H. Walters, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Labor Law - Management. Jerry H., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jerry H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jim McLoughlin brings commitment, passion, and more than 35 years of cutting-edge experience to the civil disputes, criminal investigations, and trials that he strives to resolve for clients. Jim’s critical thinking, relentless preparation, and experienced perspective delivers effective results for clients. Jim has dedicated his career to winning civil and criminal cases. He has prosecuted and defended dozens of appeals. Jim advocates for clients in regulatory and criminal investigation...