Michael Shammas

Katie Duffy's practice is focused on estate planning, trust and estate administration, charitable planning, tax planning for high net-worth individuals, business succession, and transactional and business matters that arise in connection with the acquisition, ownership, and operation of closely held businesses. As a member of the North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia bars, Katie advises clients in all three states with respect to their personal, financial, tax, business and estate plann...

Jason Bennett is a partner in Winston & Strawn LLP’s Charlotte office who focuses his practice on debt financing and other corporate finance transactions, with an emphasis on asset-based and cash flow lending. Mr. Bennett represents banks and other financial institutions on financings involving acquisitions, recapitalizations, multicurrency facilities, foreign collateral, and split lien, first/second lien, mezzanine, and bank/bond structures. He has significant experience in a wide ...

Hal Levinson is one of the firm’s senior corporate and transactional lawyers, having focused his career on complex mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. Hal is known for bringing experienced and practical business oriented legal advice to each transaction. Hal is counsel of choice for many business owners, including those owned by generations of family members, entrepreneurs, and strategic companies that have decided to sell their business. Hal’s extensive transactional exper...

Margaret Santen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Margaret, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Margaret is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian K. Cary is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Brian K., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2014. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brian K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Stephen D. Dellinger advises and represents employers and management in a broad range of employment law matters and labor issues. His practice focuses on employment-related litigation involving: Title VII The Americans with Disabilities Act The Family and Medical Leave Act The Age Discrimination in Employment Act Wage and hour issues Labor matters under the National Labor Relations Act He also handles wage and hour and discrimination class and collective actions and routinely appears before f...

Wood Lay's diverse practice focuses on representing and advising employers in matters involving the full range of labor and employment law issues with an emphasis on employment, ERISA, non-competition, and trade secret litigation. His significant litigation experience also includes the handling of complex business tort claims for a number of Fortune 500 companies. With over 30 years of experience, Wood focuses his practice on advising national employers on addressing the employment law challe...

Mike Connor is a partner in the firm’s IP Litigation Group. He is a recent co-chair of the firm’s national Intellectual Property Practice and a past chair of the national IP Litigation Group. He handles patent infringement and other IP disputes and counseling. Mike has experience in technologies such as cardiovascular implants and other medical devices, mobile telephony, high speed computer networks, financial services, diagnostic imaging, music downloads, robotics, textile machin...

Travis Vance is dedicated to responsive client service and forming a partnership with companies to help tackle their most difficult and high-profile issues. Having gained a reputation as a professional and aggressive advocate for his clients, Travis has emerged as a thought leader in the field of workplace safety. His writing and interviews are followed closely by experts in the safety arena and have been featured in premiere publications such as Inc., Bloomberg Law, Business Insurance, The W...

Bryan Ives is co-chair of the Firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities Group and has recently concluded a 4-year term on the Firm’s management committee and service as the Firm’s Financial Partner. Bryan has deep experience in a wide range of areas, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, taxation and corporate governance, and debt and equity financing. Bryan began his career as a tax lawyer and is a member of the American College of Tax Counsel. Using his ...