Banking & Finance: North Carolina

THE FIRM Moore & Van Allen's financial services group has always ranked among the firm's strongest practices, but even in a market with some notable talent in this space, the Charlotte-based team stands out. Highlighted for the quality of its work, the team is also a leader in terms of the volume of deals it handles, and has been particularly active of late in the syndicated debt and private equity spaces. It is trusted by the cream of the local banking community and has recently handled deals for Bank of America, BB&T and SunTrust Bank.

Sources say: "It is by far the best firm: it has more transaction experience than anyone else; it has unrivaled bench strength; and the lawyers don't bring ego and are very oriented to getting deals done. The approach and culture is very important to us."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Hazlett's lending-based financial services practice has long seen him at the top of the game in North Carolina. He has a resume that includes extensive work for BB&T, among others, and sources inform us that he has "a business-friendly approach and is innovative in coming up with ways to move past stumbling blocks."

James Hovis is one of "the real titans of the Charlotte banking scene" and heads the firm's financial services department. He acts as a senior consultant on deals, often with a focus on senior debt, and is reputed to be "extremely knowledgeable and forthright but with the ability to compromise to get deals done."

Thomas Mitchell is particularly active with Bank of America, Regions Bank and SunTrust Bank, often representing his clients in complex senior financing transactions.

THE FIRM This Charlotte-based practice, which has a reputation for sophisticated lending work, has recently undergone a significant expansion of the team, giving it the impetus to make further inroads into the market. The group is adept in syndicated, structured and asset-backed finance matters.

Sources say: "Right up there with the top firms when it comes to syndicated lending."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Of counsel Boyd Campbell has a broad business practice, with a focus on M&A, securities and financial services regulation.

THE FIRM This firm's banking and commercial finance practice works closely with its corporate group to provide a host of services for marquee clients, and is frequently appointed by lead arrangers in high-profile syndicated deals. The firm undertakes a lot of work on behalf of Wells Fargo, and also counts Bank of America and Regions Bank among its clients. It also has a thriving public finance practice, acting as bond counsel for municipal healthcare clients such as Duke University Health System and Mecklenburg County.

Sources say: "A superb firm! One of the outstanding choices for sophisticated banking transactions."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Buck is one of the firm's leading business attorneys, combining a superb corporate practice with an equally respected finance practice. He is described as "a legend" by admiring peers.

Edwin Lucas is a leading light in the firm's public finance practice, and has substantial expertise in healthcare and educational financing. Sources cite him as "one of the great bond counsel."

The "highly esteemed" Allen Robertson focuses on public financing for healthcare clients such as Carolinas HealthCare System.

Stokely Caldwell has a banking and finance practice increasingly weighted toward sports, and in particular NASCAR and other motor sports.

Graham Robinson focuses on senior lending and junior debt work. Sources tell us that he is "excellent for transactions involving syndicated deals."

THE FIRM This historic North Carolina firm's banking practice is highly regarded for its syndicated finance and debt placement work, while strong real estate and public finance practices underline its strength in this space. Active clients include BB&T Capital Markets, for which the team has worked on numerous revolving credit and secured credit facilities.  

Sources say: "It has strong business-minded attorneys. It is a great comfort to know that they are there watching you every step of the way."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Christopher Leon heads the firm's capital markets practice group. Sources say that "he has a wide breadth of experience and his knowledge of the market is exceptional."

Jacqueline Camp is an "extremely smart business lawyer" noted by observers for her expertise in complicated lending structures.

THE FIRM The seven-strong Brooks Pierce team is noted for its work with community and regional banks. In addition to advising clients across a broad range of regulatory matters, including Dodd-Frank, the firm has also handled a number of notable recapitalizations. Representative clients include Bank of North Carolina and NewDominion Bank.

Sources say: "The firm does an excellent job of guiding us through the maze of banking rules and regulations."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Edward Winslow, the firm's managing partner and a "superb banking attorney," represents financial institutions of varying sizes both inside and outside the state.

The respect that Robert Singer commands in the local banking community is illustrated by his role as general counsel for the North Carolina Bankers Association. He represents clients ranging from small community banks to larger statewide banks.

THE FIRM Mayer Brown's Charlotte office continues to be involved in large-scale, sophisticated acquisition financings, often with an international flavor. The group is highly rated for its presence in the leveraged finance space and has handled some impressive cross-border acquisition facilities on behalf of Merrill Lynch. Also of note is the team's representation of GE Capital in its role as arranger of a $1.5 billion structured financing in support of Comcast's acquisition of NBC.

Sources say: "The Mayer Brown team took a great, proactive approach to learning about our bank's policies and procedures."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Keith Oberkfell has a broad financial practice with a focus on securitization. Sources say he has exceptional negotiation skills and is "a quick thinker who finds business-friendly solutions."

Carol Hitselberger heads the Charlotte finance team. She has a national reputation in structured finance and securitization.

Timothy Ryan, who anchors the team's relationship with Bank of America, has a practice that is national and international in scope. He is valued by clients for his "very balanced and thoughtful approach."

Will Walker recently made partner at the firm, impresses with his work on syndicated loan transactions. Sources reveal that "he cuts through the peripheral issues very quickly to get to the crux of the commercial point." 

THE FIRM Parker Poe has long had one of the premier public finance practices in North Carolina and acts as bond counsel to clients such as the City of Charlotte and the City of Winston-Salem. Alongside this, the team offers broad expertise in securitized debt and loan servicing on behalf of institutional lenders. Clients include SunTrust Bank and Sunbelt Rentals.

Sources say: "They produce high-quality work and turn things around very quickly."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Donald Ubell is the firm's leading figure for public finance work. As one source says, "when it comes to municipal finance issues, it is very hard to beat his take on things."

Charles Lee brings "cutting-edge commercial lending expertise, great responsiveness and a huge work ethic." He concentrates on the representation of borrowers and lenders in sophisticated financial transactions.

THE FIRM The Charlotte office of this international firm has a history of representing institutional lenders and is particularly prominent in the field of asset-based lending. The firm has serviced a number of loan transactions running into the billions of dollars, often with complex, cross-border elements involved. Active clients include Bank of America and Barclays Bank.

Sources say: "The firm has some very sharp and very technically savvy lawyers."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Molly McGill's asset-based lending and leveraged finance practice often sees her involved in national work on behalf of clients such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Market observers comment that "she has a very good read on the industry after working within it for a long time; she has a good, practical understanding of what lenders need."