Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Governance and Compliance Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Ben Williams is a corporate and transactional attorney in the firm’s Real Estate and Banking & Financial Services practice groups with more than 40 years of experience in complex corporate, commercial finance, and real estate transactions. Ben’s practice includes creating, negotiating and closing nuanced structures and innovative financing alternatives on behalf of lender and borrower clients alike, and assisting businesses on both sides of acquisitions and mergers. His work i...
Jason Bushby provides regulatory compliance, enforcement, and litigation assistance to a range of financial services clients across the country. On the compliance and enforcement side, Jason assists numerous clients as they bring their operations into compliance with various obligations imposed on them by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), including the Mortgage Servicing Final Rules in Regulations X and Z and the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule. He also advises clients on...
Scott M. Rusert is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Compliance Law and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Scott M., who practices law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Scott M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jordan Green, a partner in the firm's Litigation practice, focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, corporate compliance, internal investigations and commercial litigation. Jordan has represented individuals and businesses in governmental investigations relating to tax, the environment, OSHA , MSHA , securities , mail and wire fraud, antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, government contracting, immigration and political contributions. He has authored corporate compliance...
Gary W. Derrick specializes in corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, ’34 Act reporting, private equity and debt financing, venture capital financing, business formation and restructuring, corporate governance, and general business contracts. His clients are in oil and gas, technology, hospitality, agriculture, manufacturing, retail and professional services.
Herbert H. West, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Herbert H., who practices law in Birmingham, Alabama, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Herbert H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Edward L. Dowd Jr. is a litigator who defends corporations, professional service firms and individuals in high-stakes, complex civil, and white collar criminal cases and investigations. He represents clients with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the SEC, DOJ, EPA,, IRS, Health and Human Services and other federal and state agencies. In addition, Ed works with companies to strengthen corporate compliance in order to avoid the initial missteps that result in investigations and trials. Ed&rsqu...
Dennis O. Garris is partner-in-charge of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and is the former co-head of the firm’s securities, mergers and acquisitions practices. His practice focuses on securities and complex Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulatory and disclosure matters and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Garris is a nationally known expert on SEC regulatory matters, including the proxy rules, tender offer rules, going-private rules and beneficial ownership reporting ...
Daniel J. Fritze is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulation. Daniel J., who practices law in Columbia, South Carolina, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Howard is the leader of the firm’s Capital Markets Group. He specializes in counseling both public and private companies involved in equity and debt financings, including IPOs and follow-on public offerings as well as private placements, and regularly advises clients regarding ongoing corporate governance and disclosure matters, stock exchange listing standards and Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Dodd-Frank Act compliance. Howard advises companies in a number of industries including real estate ...
Veteran dealmaker Steve Roddenberry advises clients in corporate compliance and governance issues, public and private securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and private equity investments. Described as a “masterful strategist” by Chambers USA , he has built longstanding relationships with Huizenga Holdings, the Miami Dolphins, Sheridan Healthcare, and The GEO Group, among others. Steve has served as lead counsel in hundreds of M&A transactions, spin-offs, and restr...
Rick’s practice is focused on representing companies and individuals involved in complex litigation matters. Rick is experienced in a variety of high-stakes litigation areas, including complex commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, securities claims and derivative litigation, fiduciary obligations, and corporate governance disputes. Rick has handled all phases of complex litigation from investigation through trial and appeal, as well as in arbitration and mediation. Ri...
Duncan A. Peete is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Litigation and Controversy - Tax, Nonprofit / Charities Law, Real Estate Law, Tax Law and Trusts and Estates. Duncan A., who practices law in Billings, Montana, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Duncan A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal prac...
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...
Daniel B. Nunn, Jr. is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Daniel B., who practices law in Jacksonville, Florida, has been recognized since 2015. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel B. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.