Robert D. Hays

Alison Jones is a partner within the firm's Real Estate Finance & Investment Group. Alison focuses her practice on the representation of a broad range of real estate investors and participants, including developers, REITS, private funds as well as institutional funds and life companies. Her clients are engaged in developments, acquisitions and joint ventures across the United States and involving various product types. . She also has significant experience on multisite, multijurisdictiona...

Richard J. Valladares is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Richard J., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Richard J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Erica Mason serves as regional and national employment counsel to large and medium-sized companies throughout the United States, primarily in the hospitality, retail and manufacturing sectors, as well as hospitals and physician's groups. Ms. Mason defends clients from claims of alleged racial, age, national origin, disability and religious discrimination, harassment and/or retaliation; testing and public accommodations; wage and hour disputes; and restrictive covenants disputes brought under ...

Charles D. Vaughn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulation. Charles D., 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 Charles D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert D. Klingler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law. Robert D., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hayley Hall is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trusts and Estates. Hayley, 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 Hayley is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Justin Barry is a Partner in the firm’s commercial real estate development & finance and commercial lending practice groups. Mr. Barry has experience representing banks, life insurance companies, and other financial institutions in structuring, negotiating and documenting a variety of lending transactions, including development and construction loans, real estate secured term and acquisition loans, and syndicated loan facilities across all asset classes (with a particular focus in t...

Sarah Ernst is chair of Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group, an interdisciplinary team of health care corporate, FDA, health policy, and health care compliance lawyers. Sarah focuses her practice on corporate transactions, and she represents public and private companies and private equity clients in complex mergers and acquisitions, carve-out transactions, securities offerings, restructurings, joint ventures, and spinoffs, with an emphasis in the health care industry. Sarah also couns...

Anne Cox-Johnson advises public and private companies in a variety of complex transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, strategic investments, carve-outs, recapitalizations, going-private transactions and special committee representations. She represents clients in various industries, including food and beverage, technology, pharmaceuticals, restaurants, telecommunications, consumer products, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and retail. Anne also represents ...