Michael J. Blakely, Jr.

Justin B. Heineman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities Regulation. Justin B., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Marcus Dean is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Marcus, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marcus is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Agents and lenders rely on Chris Underwood to guide them through their complex secured lending transactions. Chris represents private credit funds, asset management firms, and commercial banks as agents and lenders in middle market cash-flow and asset-based credit facilities. He focuses his practice on complex domestic and international leveraged acquisitions, recapitalizations, restructurings, and growth and expansion credit facilities across a variety of industries, including technology, he...

Barry Hester leverages his prior experience as in-house counsel for a leading financial institution to provide clients with strategic advice, compliance insights, and practical guidance in addressing their financial services transactional and regulatory matters. Barry seeks to obtain results efficiently and to provide actionable, technical, market-based guidance. Barry provides transactional and compliance advice to banks and special-purpose financial institutions, as well as payment processo...

Henry Walker serves as the Chair of Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. In this role, he oversees the strategic direction and growth of the firm. Mr. Walker plays a key role in building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and developing capabilities in key industries and markets. Mr. Walker leads the firm’s Executive Committee working closely with them to define and execute the firm’s strategic objectives. Prior to his election to Chairman, he served as the firm&...

Beth Kitchens brings leadership and focus to her work as a Healthcare lawyer. Her practice is centered on guiding her clients through the regulatory landscape and advising them on compliance and litigation matters. Beth’s proactive communication style and industry focus ensures her clients always feel their questions are being answered correctly and efficiently. Working with hospitals, healthcare systems, physicians and other individuals in the healthcare industry, Beth navigates throug...

Benjamin R. Schlesinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Patent. Benjamin R., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rick Blumen represents lead arrangers, lenders, borrowers, private equity firms and underwriters, and has served as counsel to several of the largest U.S. commercial banks and their affiliates, and Fortune 500 companies, in a variety of finance transactions. These transactions include secured and unsecured syndicated credit facilities, private placements, high-yield debt offerings, acquisition financings, recapitalizations, first- and second-lien loans, mezzanine financings and pre-petition w...

Frank Layson focuses his practice on mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures. He represents leading companies in a wide variety of cross-border transactions. Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/layson-frank/

STEVEN M. KUSHNER is a trial lawyer with an emphasis in business disputes, business torts and intellectual property. Mr. Kushner entered the Emory University School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1992. Mr. Kushner began trying cases with the DeKalb County Solicitor’s office prosecuting misdemeanors in 1991 as a third year law student.Since graduation, Mr. Kushner has been representing multi-national and domestic companies, as well as individuals, in commercial disputes through me...