William L. Esser IV

Patrick H. Flanagan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law, Employment Law - Management, Litigation - Insurance, Litigation - Labor and Employment and Litigation - Municipal. Patrick H., who practices law in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice...

David L. Levy is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction Law. David L., 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 David L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Clients can rely on Emily to use her experience in federal district and appellate court to advocate for their interests in criminal and civil proceedings. Emily is well regarded for her work as amici curiae for high-profile individuals and as counsel for corporations and individuals in government investigations and litigation. Emily McGowan is well regarded for her work as counsel for organizations and individuals in a variety of complex enforcement and litigation matters. She defends individ...

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

Beth Grimes’ practice focuses exclusively on employee benefits and executive compensation. She regularly advises the firm’s clients on a broad array of executive compensation, employee benefit matters, and equity compensation issues in connection with corporate mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations, and other significant corporate transactions. Beth works to resolve employee benefits and executive compensation issues with her experience navigating the rules under the Internal Rev...

Joshua R. Adams is a principal in the Charlotte, North Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He exclusively represents employers in a broad range of employment-related litigation in both federal and state courts, as well before administrative agencies. In addition to providing employers with advice and counsel, Josh focuses his litigation practice on collective/class action wage and hour litigation and complex, single-plaintiff wage disputes across the country. He regularly advises employers...

Ryan Smith is co-head of the Investment Team and a member of the Management Committee. For over 20 years, he has built a practice that represents clients on a variety of complex leveraged financings, senior and junior capital lending transactions, private equity and other equity investments, and corporate transactions. Ryan’s primary focus is in finance and equity investment transactions. As counselor to lenders and passive and controlling stakeholders, he represents a variety of financ...

Holly Bannerman, named to Best Lawyers in America , is a member in the commercial real estate group. Holly Bannerman concentrates her practice in commercial real estate. She represents developers, owners, landlords, tenants and limited partners in a variety of real estate transactions, including land acquisitions, dispositions, financing, development and leasing. She also specializes in joint venture and limited partnership agreements and the related structuring of real estate transactions. H...

As former General Counsel for the Americas of The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (BTMU), Tom Pennington has extensive experience in the financial services industry and with its regulation, corporate and securities law, and litigation matters. Tom’s focus is on federal regulatory advice, defense and investigations, federal and New York corporate governance, and corporate finance matters. Tom represents financial institutions, and also advises fintech start-ups and clients in the inve...

Chris Jones is a nationally recognized specialist in the areas of estate planning and business succession planning. Chris heads the firm’s Wealth & Estate Planning group and has substantial experience advising and counseling clients regarding sophisticated estate planning, business succession, asset protection, charitable planning, life insurance matters, and international estate planning. Understanding that each client has specific, unique objectives, Chris and his team provide cre...