Sam Holder

Nicholas P. Valaoras is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Nicholas P., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Nicholas P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Timothy Sheriff is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Timothy, who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Timothy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Wayne McKinzie is co-head of the firm’s Financial Services group, leveraging his years of experience to provide sophisticated, business-oriented counsel to client transactions. Wayne McKinzie is co-head of the firm's 100+ attorney Financial Services practice group. In his more than 25 years at the firm he has developed a broad base of experience representing financial institutions, investment firms, insurance companies and other institutional investors and corporate clients on complex f...

Jon is a civil litigator who primarily practices in the areas of complex business litigation, construction litigation, lien disputes, and disputes between developers, design professionals, general contractors, and subcontractors. He represents a variety of local contractors and subcontractors in drafting and reviewing construction contracts, advising on risk management, liability, and employment-related issues, and litigating disputes. Jon has significant experience litigating cases to verdic...

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.

Patrick Hayden is a partner in the Global Finance & Debt Products Group. His practice focuses on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securitization, and he has represented global financial institutions as indenture trustee in negotiating and closing hundreds of CDO transactions, including CLOs, commercial real estate CDOs and synthetic CDOs. He currently represents indenture trustees in connection with the administration of CDO transactions and has extensive experience with questions and dis...

Guy Gosnell leads the Intellectual Property Patents – Electrical & Computer Science Group and its efforts to counsel clients in regard to patent matters in the electrical, computer software and business method arts. Guy has more than 20 years’ experience in the intellectual property field and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Guy has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America , the Top Attorneys in North Carolina and in Super Lawyers magazi...

With an emphasis on the origination and restructuring of debt secured by real estate assets, Karen Nelson advises on a range of commercial real estate finance matters. Recognized as a leading lawyer by North Carolina Lawyers Weekly and the Charlotte Business Journal, Karen represents commercial banks, investment banks, insurance companies and REITS. She handles matters related to real assets of all types, including office, retail, hotel, apartment, homebuilder, condominium and industrial prop...

Mr. Carpenter's primary practice areas include tax, estate planning and probate law, IRS tax controversy, asset protection planning, business mergers and acquisitions, and commercial real estate law. He is a NC Board Certified Specialist in Estate Planning and Probate Law. Mr. Carpenter specializes in estate planning, estate administration, representing clients before the IRS, asset protection planning, and sophisticated real-estate tax-deferral strategies, including capital gain maximization...

Brandon M. Shelton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Brandon M., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brandon M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.