Vivian D. Hoard

Mr. Watson is chair of the Bankruptcy Group. His practice focuses on representing secured lenders in pre-bankruptcy workouts and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases. In addition, Mr. Watson represents several national franchisors in bankruptcy cases of franchisees and is a frequent lecturer on a variety of bankruptcy related topics. He is licensed to practice in Georgia and New York and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Bankruptcy Law Institute. Mr. Watson is listed in Chamber...

Marquetta J. Bryan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Marquetta 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 Marquetta J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike Parisi leads private credit and bank lenders through cash flow and asset-based lending transactions, including sponsor-backed leveraged buyouts and acquisition financings. Clients value Mike’s ability to navigate intricate finance transactions and his recognition of commercial dynamics. Mike is chair of Alston & Bird’s Corporate Debt Finance Team. He leads private credit lenders, bank lenders, corporate borrowers, and private equity sponsors in structuring, negotiating, a...

Anisa I. Abdullahi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Banking and Finance Law and Commercial Finance Law. Anisa I., 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 Anisa I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rick Horder has engaged in the practice of environmental law and litigation for nearly forty years. As an Assistant United States Attorney from 1974 to 1977, he represented the U.S. EPA in numerous water and NEPA cases. From 1978 to 1989, he was Regional Counsel, and later Associate General Counsel, for Georgia-Pacific Corporation, where he was responsible for all environmental and toxic tort compliance and litigation company-wide. In 1989, he joined Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, a large Atlanta l...

Paul Z. Rothstein is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Venture Capital Law. Paul Z., 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 Paul Z. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Smith has achieved Martindale-Hubbell’s highest rating for legal ability and ethics for more than 20 years. He has been listed for the past 14 years as one of Georgia’s “Super Lawyers” by Atlanta Magazine in a peer-reviewed selection process utilized around the country as well as in its Corporate Counsel edition. He currently chairs the firm’s Professional Liability Practice Group and served as chair of the USLaw Professional Liability Practice Group from 200...

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...

Lauren Sullins Ralls is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Trademark Law. Lauren Sullins, 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 Lauren Sullins is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Brad J. Denson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Brad J., who practices law in Atlanta, Georgia, has been recognized since 2022. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brad J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.