Best Lawyers in America for Corporate Governance Law
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State
Michael Fenech is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Michael practices law in South Bend, Indiana Best Lawyers has recognized Michael Fenech since 2025. 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 Michael Fenech is held by other lawyers.
Mr. Erwin focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, biotechnology and health care. Mr. Erwin's clients include both foreign and domestic businesses in the industrial and service sectors, as well as technology companies and health care providers. He regularly serves as counsel and legal advisor to corporations, other businesses and health care providers on a variety of issues, including: Stock and asset purchases and sales, mergers, acquisitions and similar transactions, Strategic join...
G. William Joyner III is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law, Securities Regulation and Venture Capital Law. G. William practices law in Winston-Salem, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized G. William Joyner III since 2013. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recogni...
Jim Smith is a founding partner of Smith Hurst, PLC. Jim’s practice experience is extensive and spans the full range of business advisory and transactional law. He routinely counsels companies across diverse industries in a myriad of business matters including capital raising, advising Boards of Directors, senior management, executives and controlling shareholders regarding governance and fiduciary duty matters, compliance with regulatory obligations, ordinary course of business contrac...
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...
S. Joel Cartee is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Communications Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. S. Joel practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized S. Joel Cartee since 2013. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area....
Clay C. Wheeler is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation, Corporate Compliance Law and Litigation - Securities. Clay C. practices law in Raleigh, North Carolina Best Lawyers has recognized Clay C. Wheeler 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 Clay C. Wheeler is held by other lawyers.
Philip A. “Phil” Cooper is a corporate and M&A attorney in the Atlanta office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP. He advises buyers, sellers, investors, privately held companies, private equity sponsors and portfolio companies, borrowers, and lenders in mergers and acquisitions, equity transactions, acquisition financing, commercial finance transactions, corporate governance matters, and complex commercial arrangements. Phil brings a practical, deal-focused perspect...
Zane A. Gilmer is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Corporate Compliance Law. Zane A. practices law in Denver, Colorado Best Lawyers has recognized Zane A. Gilmer since 2026. 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 Zane A. Gilmer is held by other lawyers.
Patrick A. Miles, Jr. is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Governance Law and Corporate Law. Patrick A. practices law in Grand Rapids, Michigan Best Lawyers has recognized Patrick A. Miles, Jr. since 2025. 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 Patrick A. Miles, Jr. is held by other lawyers.
Brian V. Breheny is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Governance Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Brian V. practices law in Washington, District of Columbia Best Lawyers has recognized Brian V. Breheny 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 Brian V. Breheny is h...
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...
Benjamin Cooke is a partner in Hahn Loeser’s Business Practice Area. He has a wide range of experience representing both private sellers and buyers in M&A transactions and has advised numerous buyers in management group buyouts, corporate divestitures, and spin-offs. Benjamin represents private equity and independent deal sponsors and serves as outside general counsel to private companies both in Ohio and nationally, where he handles all contract and transactional matters including ...
Mr. Levin has concentrated his practice on complex business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, buyouts, private equity and venture capital investing, formation of private equity funds, debt and equity restructurings and workouts, and executive compensation, with emphasis on tax, corporate, SEC, and structuring aspects, handling transactions which range in size from several million dollars to more than $7 billion.
Craig Owen White is a senior partner in Hahn Loeser’s business transactions group and serves as the firm’s National Chair of Strategic Relations and Community Outreach. Based in the firm’s Cleveland office, Craig guides clients and companies of all sizes through mergers, acquisitions, divestures, strategic alliances, financing, enterprise governance and licensing issues throughout the United States and abroad, with a particular focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. He has particular ...
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.
