Stephen H. Sparwath

Steve Ensor is a partner and the leader of the firm’s Labor & Employment Group. Steve has represented employers for over 30 years in all areas of labor and employment law, including complex employment class and collective litigation and traditional labor union matters. Steve has also excelled in leading several client teams, and has been recognized by the firm’s clients for his exceptional client service, his aggressive approach to “win-win” alternative fee arrange...

Richard Hays is the Managing Partner of Alston & Bird. Since 2008, he has led the strategic direction of the firm and played a key role in its growth and performance. Mr. Hays also chairs the firm’s Administrative Committee. The firm has offices in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Silicon Valley, Research Triangle and Brussels. Prior to his election as the Managing Partner, Mr. Hays served as the firm’s Financial Partner and also headed the ...

Key players in the financial services industry, including banks, mortgage companies, and wealth management and investment advisory firms, rely on Chris to guide them through business combination and securities transactions, as well as ownership transition and succession planning transactions. His knowledge is also sought on corporate governance matters and new business formation and registration. Chris Frieden, former co-chair of Alston & Bird’s Financial Services & Products Gro...

Mark Ray offers health care clients a nuanced and business-focused approach to public or private company M&A and corporate finance transactions. His knowledge of the unique regulations, risks, and market pressures affecting health care companies results in unique insights and creates value for his clients. Mark is the former chair of Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group, which includes teams of corporate, FDA, health policy, and health care compliance lawyers. He concentrates his p...

As a pragmatic creditors’ rights and litigation partner, Brian Levy represents financial institutions, non-traditional lenders, mortgage servicers, secondary debt purchasers, and other creditors in out-of-court loan workouts and restructurings, bankruptcy proceedings, and related litigation. Brian regularly represents creditors in loan workouts, suits on notes and guarantees, enforcing rights under the Uniform Commercial Code and real estate foreclosure law, and post-judgment enforcemen...

Uly Samuel Gunn brings both law firm and in-house experience to bear for his clients in trademark and copyright practice. Sam is counsel in the Trademark & Copyright Group. He focuses his practice on trademark and copyright enforcement, litigation, prosecution, and counseling. Most recently, Sam worked for a large private company in the diverse areas of consumer retail tableware, professional food service, apparel fiber, machine learning and data analytics, packaging and cellulose, agricu...

Kamal Ghali is a former federal prosecutor and an award-winning trial lawyer who has been recognized for his commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, white collar defense, and cybersecurity litigation work. Mr. Ghali regularly litigates high-stakes and mission critical matters that require courtroom excellence. He has particular experience litigating fraud, racketeering (RICO), intellectual property, contract, and fiduciary duty claims. He has first-chaired numerous jury trial...

Lisa A. Wade is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Workers' Compensation Law - Employers. Lisa A., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lisa A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brian M. Gordon is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Brian M., 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 Brian M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lucas A. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Lucas A., 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 Lucas A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.