Thomas C. "Tom" Watkins

Regan Adamson 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. Regan, who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Regan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kelly Otis focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions. Kelly regularly represents purchasers, sellers, and developers with the acquisition, development, financing, sale and lease of commercial real estate, including the drafting and negotiation of contracts, leases and loan documents, assistance with due diligence, and drafting of reciprocal easement agreements, covenants, escrow agreements, and other closing documents. She counsels clients on complex title issues and defects...

D.J. O’Brien represents employers and individuals in business litigation, employment law, and government enforcement actions. He has deep experience in all levels of federal and state appellate and trial courts in North Carolina, including the N.C. Business Court. D.J. concentrates a significant part of his practice in high-stakes actions under the False Claims Act. D.J. represents businesses in a variety of employment-related litigation cases, including class and collective actions and...

Steven Gardner is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation - Patent and Patent Law. Steven, who practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

A trusted advocate and accomplished litigator, Jim Phillips advises and represents businesses, business people and professionals in litigation and other disputes with third parties and the government. He is frequently called upon to take the lead in disputes in the public eye. For a full list of Jim's representative experience, please click on the Experience tab. Jim Phillips is frequently called upon by businesses, professional firms, educational institutions, individuals, and municipalities...

Mark Davidson plans, negotiates and documents a wide variety of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, organization, governance, debt and equity financing, executive compensation, partnership and corporate taxation, and management/ownership succession. Mark focuses his practice on the planning, negotiation and documentation of a wide variety of transactions in the life of a business, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, organi...

Rich Keshian has extensive experience in civil litigation, concentrating in product liability and business litigation. He is a certified mediator and arbitrator. Mr. Keshian has represented numerous clients in the automotive and furniture industries and other manufacturing industries regarding product liability issues. Mr. Keshian is also an adjunct professor at Wake Forest School of Law. During law school, Mr. Keshian was an Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review . Mr. Keshian has regularly bee...

Tom Waldrep's deep institutional expertise in the bankruptcy space is informed by his decade of experience serving as a bankruptcy judge. He acts for all parties in complex proceedings and out-of-court matters, including particular skills advising on bankruptcies and distressed M&A transactions in the healthcare industry. Tom represents secured creditors, debtors, unsecured creditors’ committees, and trustees in business bankruptcy cases. He has extensively represented buyers and se...

Ray Grantham Jr. is a seasoned attorney with a distinguished career in family law, employment law, and complex commercial litigation. A veteran of the United States Army and a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Ray brings the discipline, leadership, and strategic thinking honed during his military service to his legal practice. He is a National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Fellow. As Of Counsel at Robinson & Lawing, LLP, he focuses on complex equitable dist...

Jim Wall represents entrepreneurs and businesses in a wide array of transactions and governance issues. He has significant experience representing health care providers and other clients in the health care field including owners and managers of long-term care facilities, management service organizations, providers of clinical research and local management entities. He has extensive experience helping providers and MSOs navigate North Carolina’s corporate practice of medicine doctrine. H...