Michael J. "Mike" McConnell

Matthew T. Harris is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Real Estate Law and Venture Capital Law. Matthew T., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alex Brown’s clients rely on him to litigate complex commercial disputes in court and arbitration, as well as defend them in FTC and state AG investigations. Alex focuses his complex commercial litigation and investigations practice on high-stakes antitrust, consumer protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and telecommunications matters. Alex has spent more than a decade representing corporate plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts, including class actions and multidistr...

David Carpenter regularly advises clients, including Fortune 500 companies, on all aspects of commercial litigation from individual disputes to major consumer class actions. He helps his clients find cost-effective solutions as an alternative to trial whenever possible. He concentrates his practice in general business and commercial litigation, with special focus on consumer and privacy class action defense, business torts and contract disputes. David has served as lead counsel and assisted i...

Steven S. Sidman is a deeply experienced, highly regarded transactional attorney dealing in the business of pop culture. His practice focuses on the modern entertainment, food & beverage/hospitality, lifestyle/branding, and sports industries. For nearly 28 years, Steve has provided sophisticated, insightful, front-line legal advice and business affairs counsel to highly creative talent and high-profile individuals and corporate entities, along with their various entrepreneurial ventures. ...

With a background in mechanical engineering and industry experience with aerospace systems integration projects, Chris Lightner practices in Alston & Bird’s Intellectual Property – Mechanical Patents Team. Chris focuses his practice on patent solicitation and counseling, as well as on IP-driven due diligence efforts, licensing agreements, confidentiality considerations, and patent brokerage agreements. Chris prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications for wide...

Madison M. Pool is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Health Care Law. Madison M., 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 Madison M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Duncan Douglass heads Alston & Bird’s payment systems practice and focuses on transactions, product development and regulatory issues related to retail and wholesale payment systems and products. Payment Card Services Mr. Douglass regularly counsels payment card issuers and service providers in regulatory compliance matters, in structuring card issuance programs, and in negotiating co-branding, program manager, issuer processor and sales/distribution agent agreements. He also advise...

John Hickman is head of the firm’s Health Benefits Practice, where he leads several attorneys devoted exclusively to health care reform issues under the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA privacy, health savings accounts (HSAs) and consumer-directed health care, flexible benefit plans and related health benefit issues. Mr. Hickman has worked closely with health plans, financial institutions and employers, as well as the IRS, Treasury and DOL, in addressing health benefit issues. Mr. Hickman has...

Margaret R. Martin is a family law and divorce attorney who handles complex financial issues and helps clients obtain a fair division of marital property, including closely held businesses, trusts and investments that are not easily accessible. Margaret’s approach is to give clients an early and realistic assessment of how a divorce is likely to be settled and work toward obtaining that result as quickly as possible with minimum drama. Her focus always is to give clients the support and...

Jared Welsh counsels entertainment and digital media companies, brand owners, and creative individuals on a broad range of entertainment and intellectual property matters. He focuses his practice on complex entertainment, media, technology, and intellectual property transactions, with an emphasis on digital media distribution and the licensing of music, videos, and other entertainment content. Jared also has deep experience in the protection, maintenance, exploitation, and enforcement of copy...