Robert B. Friedman

Sarah Mackenzie is a partner in Alston & Bird’s Corporate & Business Transactions Group. Sarah represents private and public companies in complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, joint ventures, inbound international business transactions, and securities offerings. Her practice also includes counseling companies on corporate governance, ongoing SEC compliance, and other general corporate matters. Sarah earned her J.D., cum laude, in 2009 from Washington and Lee ...

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...

Lisa Wolgast is a partner in the firm’s Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy and Corporate & Commercial Litigation Practices. She focuses her practice on creditors’ rights and bankruptcy issues, representing creditors in and out of bankruptcy in state and federal court. Her practice also includes complex commercial litigation and arbitration. Ms. Wolgast regularly represents creditors in complex workouts, protects creditors’ rights under Chapters 7 and 11 of the Bank...

Janine Brown is an M&A and corporate partner who serves as partner-in-charge of the firm’s Atlanta office. She works with companies in a variety of sectors, including technology, media, telecommunications, renewable energy and manufacturing, and has been involved in a wide variety of domestic and international transactions, including capital raising transactions, corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, information technology transactions, joint ventures/strategic all...

Chris Baugher advises on deals involving payment systems participants and the financial technology industry. In particular, Chris regularly represents payment processors, sophisticated merchants and financial institutions in the following matters: Payment Processors Mergers, acquisitions and dispositions of operating companies, payment technology assets and credit card portfolios. International expansion initiatives, joint ventures and strategic alliances in the U.S., Europe and Asia. Merchan...

Joe All focuses his practice on commercial real estate development, investment and leasing.

Paul Beshears represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law with an emphasis on collective bargaining, strikes, union organizing campaigns, labor arbitrations, and NLRB unfair labor practice cases. He also advises companies on labor and employment issues, including those that arise in connection with mergers and acquisitions, reductions in force, and plant closings, and those dealing with the labor law aspects of government contracting, such as compliance with the Davis-Baco...

Ryan Kurtz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and International Arbitration - Commercial. Ryan, who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Ryan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Roy E. Hadley, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Government Relations Practice and Privacy and Data Security Law. Roy E., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Roy E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sam Kaywood is a co-chair of the Federal Income & International Tax Group. Sam concentrates his practice on federal income tax and international tax, including cross-border M&A and joint ventures, as well as in-bound investments into the United States. Sam has worked on virtually all forms of cross-border investments, with substantial experience in Canada, Europe, China and Latin America. He is particularly active in structuring investments and acquisitions in Latin America, including...