Lawyers in the News – April 26

Tony Copeland has joined Brooks Pierce as senior economic development and corporate strategist to launch the firm’s new economic development practice area, which will help businesses considering expansions or additional operations. Copeland served as North Carolina’s Secretary of Commerce from January 2017 to January 2021.

Robinson Bradshaw announced that seven new attorneys have joined the firm. Kirk P. Altman is a transactional attorney who focuses his practice primarily on corporate finance. Patrick H. Hill represents businesses in high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts. Matthew D. Kusel represents companies in securities transactions and compliance matters. Preetha Suresh Rini represents clients in complex business litigation and appeals. Emily J. Schultz is an experienced class action and complex commercial disputes litigator. Lauren M. Talboom focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions. Rosemary Chandler Wells practices corporate law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions.

Kimberly Richards has rejoined Womble Bond Dickinson as of counsel in the firm’s Winston-Salem office. Richards’ practice focuses on corporate transactions, insurance, and commercial real estate, and she rejoins the firm after having served as General Counsel of REIN Technologies (US) Inc.

Ellis G. Payne has joined the Raleigh office of Ellis & Winters LLP as a member of the firm’s real estate group. Ellis concentrates his practice on commercial leasing for landlords and tenants and real estate development and financing. He was previously senior vice president and general counsel for a commercial real estate development and management company.

Michael Goldsticker has joined Parker Poe in its Raleigh office as counsel. Goldsticker is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney and joins the firm’s business litigation team.

Kent Jones has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings as a partner in the firm’s real estate and finance practices group in its Charlotte office. Josh Stone has joined the firm as an associate in the same group.

Gina M. Von Oehsen Cleary has joined Cranfill Sumner in the firm’s Raleigh office as of counsel. She will focus her practice in the area of complex civil litigation.

Brandon J. Crainer has joined Fisher Phillips as of counsel in the firm’s Charlotte office. Crainer is an experienced employment litigator who comes to Fisher Phillips from a firm in Omaha, Nebraska.

Amanda Hawkins has joined Brooks Pierce as an associate based in the firm’s Raleigh office, where her practice will focus on commercial litigation.

Fox Rothschild announced that Richard A. Coughlin has been named managing partner of the firm’s Greensboro office, and Jeffrey P. MacHarg has been named managing partner of its Charlotte office.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has named partner Angelia Duncan as managing partner for the Charlotte office.