Nicki Engel

Holly Bannerman, named to Best Lawyers in America , is a member in the commercial real estate group. Holly Bannerman concentrates her practice in commercial real estate. She represents developers, owners, landlords, tenants and limited partners in a variety of real estate transactions, including land acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development and leasing. She also specializes in joint venture and limited partnership agreements and the related structuring of real estate transactions. H...

Mary Katherine Stukes is head of the firm’s Environmental practice. She advises clients on environmental issues involved in all types of business transactions, as well as regulatory compliance issues and environmental litigation. Ranked in Chambers Partners USA since 2017, clients describe her as a “zealous but practical advocate.” Mary Katherine helps manufacturers, real estate developers, lenders, local governments, and other clients find creative solutions in real estate,...

Sonya Pfeiffer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Sonya practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Sonya Pfeiffer since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sonya Pfeiffer is held by other lawyers.

Valecia McDowell is a national thought leader in the areas of governmental and internal investigations, conduct risk management, and civil rights and racial equity assessments. Valecia is ranked in Chambers USA and Best Lawyers , included in national publications such as Bloomberg , American Banker , Corporate Compliance Insights , and Inside Counsel. Valecia was one of the ten “Innovative Legal Practitioners” identified by the London-based Financial Times in 2023 and on Forbes To...

Aaron C. Lang is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Commercial Litigation. Aaron C. practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Aaron C. Lang since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Aaron C. Lang is held by other lawyers.

Ben Shook regularly represents companies and individuals in a variety of complex commercial disputes including shareholder disputes, business torts, and complex contract disputes. Having handled numerous federal and state court trials, including several bet-the-company disputes, Ben is a go-to litigator for high-stakes, commercial disputes. Ben is a commercial litigator with a wealth of experience representing clients across a wide array of industries. When disputes cannot be resolved amicabl...

Chris Douglas is active in Alston & Bird’s pre-grant and post-grant patent practice areas. Chris represents both petitioners and patent owners in post-grant proceedings and is recognized as one of the more active post-grant practitioners nationwide. Chris remains one of the few practitioners to tout confirmation of all claims in an inter partes review in a final written decision on behalf of a patent owner. In addition, he maintains a robust pre-grant patent prosecution practice. Hi...

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...

Chris Jones is a nationally recognized specialist in the areas of estate planning and business succession planning. Chris heads the firm’s Wealth & Estate Planning group and has substantial experience advising and counseling clients regarding sophisticated estate planning, business succession, asset protection, charitable planning, life insurance matters, and international estate planning. Understanding that each client has specific, unique objectives, Chris and his team provide cre...

Alan Lanier represents clients of all sizes in a variety of real estate transactions, with a particular focus on development, acquisition, disposition, and leasing matters. Alan focuses his practice in the area of commercial real estate, advising owners, investors, developers, and tenants in the acquisition, disposition, development, management, operation, leasing, and financing of office, industrial, retail, hospitality, multi-family, and mixed-use properties. He also regularly represents cl...