Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Governance and Compliance Law

Litigator James G. Martin defends corporations and individuals facing high-stakes, complex business lawsuits, white collar criminal charges, and allegations of corporate governance and compliance violations. A former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri, Jim is regularly lead defense counsel in class action and civil litigation matters, including SEC fraud and healthcare fraud in False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. Corporations also call on him to lead internal investigations rel...

Martin R. Galbut brings decades of counseling and litigation experience to the firm. He combines a distinct blend of corporate, securities, banking, real estate, antitrust, intellectual property, and finance counseling and litigation experience with tenacious thoroughness and unmatched client service. Martin represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a broad range of cases involving securities, banking and finance, labor and employment, corporate governance, intellectual property, antitrust...

Peter D. Hardy is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Compliance Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Tax Law. Peter D. practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Best Lawyers has recognized Peter D. Hardy since 2018. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Peter D. Hardy is held by other lawyers.

Stuart has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, with a non-exclusive emphasis on private equity transactions. He also devotes a substantial amount of time to assisting investment managers and family offices with regulatory matters. Stuart also represents numerous private equity portfolio companies and family-owned businesses with respect to general corporate matters.

Jason Cole is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Governance Law and Health Care Law. Jason practices law in Manchester, New Hampshire Best Lawyers has recognized Jason Cole since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jason Cole is held by other lawy...

Richard Latta is a partner in the Business Practice Group, Co-chair of the Reorganizations, Financial Restructuring and Workouts Group, and a leader of the firm’s Distressed Real Estate Group. He practices in the areas of corporate and partnership acquisitions and reorganizations, debt restructurings, corporate banking transactions, corporate governance matters, tax law, and planning for closely-held businesses, including succession planning for generational transfers of wealth. In addition t...

Ken Julian represents companies and individuals in civil and criminal cases and governmental investigations. He has prevailed in matters involving allegations of insider trading, healthcare fraud, financial fraud, false claims, price fixing, FDA violations and environmental contamination. He has represented Fortune 500 companies, corporate executives, physicians and attorneys. His clients include a former Major League Baseball player and a worldwide film star. Colleagues have described him as...

Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice is recognized as a skillful and innovative negotiator of complex litigation settlements, having served as the lead negotiator in some of the largest civil actions our courts have seen in the last 35 years. In 2023, his law school alma mater renamed the school the USC Joseph F. Rice School of Law. Corporate Legal Times reported that defense counsel and legal scholars described Joe as one of the nation's “five most feared and respected plaintiffs’ law...

Frank M. Placenti is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Frank M. practices law in Phoenix, Arizona Best Lawyers has recognized Frank M. Placenti since 2007. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in ...

Wifredo A. Ferrer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Compliance Law and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Wifredo A. practices law in Miami, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Wifredo A. Ferrer since 2019. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Wifredo A. Ferrer is held by other lawyers.

Stewart Landefeld, partner and Chair of the firm's Business practice, has 30 years of experience counseling companies and boards in the areas of corporate governance, securities compliance, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, private equity investments and venture capital. Stewart has provided corporate governance and other general corporate counsel to dozens of leading companies, including Microsoft Corporation, Costco Wholesale Corporation, T-Mobile, PetSmart Inc., Orbitz (Audit Com...

Jonathan Awner serves as Co-Chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. Ranked by Best Lawyers in America , Chambers USA , and The Legal 500 as a preeminent corporate lawyer, Jonathan Awner advises clients in automotive retail, aviation, distribution, hospitality, logistics, manufacturing, services, technology, waste management and other industries. Described by a client quoted in Chambers USA as a “top-notch” lawyer who is “smart, hard-working and practical,” J...

Jeffrey A. Allred is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Jeffrey A. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Jeffrey A. Allred since 2017. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Jeffrey A. Allred is held by other lawyers.

Daniel B. Nunn, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Daniel B. practices law in Jacksonville, Florida Best Lawyers has recognized Daniel B. Nunn, Jr. since 2015. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Daniel B. ...

Marc S. Gerber is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate Governance Law. Marc S. practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Marc S. Gerber since 2016. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Marc S. Gerber is held by other lawyers.

George R. Fair was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1973. He has a general civil practice of both business and litigated matters, primarily in the banking, commercial lending and finance, corporate, public utilities, construction, fidelity and surety areas. George is a former President of the Mississippi Bar and an active member in several professional organizations.