Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP > Tampa, United States > Firm Profile

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP > The Legal 500 Rankings

Miami Elite > Commercial and international disputes

Miami Elite > International corporate and M&A

John Haley at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, is the go-to resource for clients operating in the energy, infrastructure, technology, and transportation industries throughout South America and the Caribbean, as well as advising clients involving cross-border transactions in Europe and Asia. He is especially strong representing clients in both private and public offerings of debt and equity securities, cross-border financings, as well as forming and structuring private equity funds.

Boston Elite > Commercial litigation

Matthew Lindenbaum at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP specializes in securities, class actions, and financial services, brings longstanding commercial litigation experience to his firm. Lindenbaum represents clients across industries such as fintech, crypto, and auto, including Bitmain, Poloniex, and Portal. As leader of the firm’s litigation team Lindenbaum also co-chairs the securities and sanctions practices, handling high-profile, complex matters involving emerging technologies, digital assets, and regulatory challenges.

Dispute resolution > E-discovery Tier 1

The e-discovery practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP covers a host of issues including data breaches, trade secrets and antitrust investigations for a focused client base in the pharmaceutical, automotive and technology industries. A team of four led the team from South Carolina. John Martin has experience handling multi-district litigation and assists clients with issues of information management and cybersecurity. Lucie Cohen serves as discovery counsel for high-end clients across industries. Heyward Bonyata  has vast experience as a litigator, developing and negotiating both offensive and defensive discovery strategies for clients. Julie Flaming specialises in pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, product liability and business litigation, often involving technology in discovery processes. Travis Bustamante provides support from Charlotte, focusing on data breach response efforts and information governance. Jarrett Coco , also based in South Carolina, is another key contact,.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: automotive/transport Tier 1

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s product liability practice are true specialists in automotive cases, and has recently expanded significantly with a raft of recent hires from rival firms. The practice’s lawyers regularly serve as lead trial counsel in high-stakes bellwether cases and as national coordinating counsel in major multidistrict litigations and complex product liability cases. The firm’s recent victories include achieving a complete dismissal for Tesla in a self-driving car collision lawsuit in California, a defense verdict for Crown Equipment Corporation in an $112m forklift crash case in New York, and representing Polaris in ongoing nationwide vehicle rollover cases. The firm’s high-profile clients include major automotive companies such as Tesla, Ford, Honda, Kia, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Richmond based Sandra Ezell is a leading trial lawyer in automotive product liability, representing Tesla, Ford, and Nissan in high-profile litigation. Terri Reiskin specializes in class actions and mass torts, working out of Washington DC and frequently serving as lead counsel in MDLs, particularly in the automotive and medical device industries. Kurt Kern , a seasoned trial attorney, focuses on automotive and industrial equipment litigation for Toyota and Honda from the firm's Plano office. Rob Wise is an appellate and advanced motions specialist with extensive experience in product liability defense. Also based in Richmond, Wise often defends major manufacturers in nationwide automotive and vehicle putative class actions.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: pharmaceuticals and medical devices Tier 2

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s growing practice defends global pharma and medical devices companies in product liability litigation. With dedicated teams on both coasts, the firm regularly serves as lead trial counsel in bellwether cases and as national coordinating counsel in multidistrict litigation. In South Carolina, David Dukes led the firm’s defense of Merck in the Gardasil HPV vaccine MDL. Atlanta-based Richard North is national lead for Beckton Dickinson and its subsidiaries in litigation regarding C. R. Bard’s inferior vena cava filter, currently handling cases in federal courts throughout the country. Washington DC’s Terri Reiskin brings extensive experience in class action defense and mass torts. The broader litigation group is led by South Carolina’s Mark Jones, who has acted as counsel in nationwide pharma litigation, and Minneapolis-based Alana Bassin, who has served as national and lead counsel for global medical device manufacturers in consolidated actions and mass torts.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: toxic tort Tier 2

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP‘s national practice is experienced in litigating product liability and toxic tort matters state-wide, with the firm benefitting from its ability to serve as both national coordinating counsel and as trial counsel in bellwether cases. Situated in Baltimore, Mike Brown is an active first-chair product liability trial counsel within bellwether cases in toxic tort and product liability matters across the US, while Columbia-based David Dukes  is currently managing the numerous matters that have opened with regards to the firefighting foam ‘MDL’ for Tyco FireProducts and Chemguard. In Charleston, Mark Phillips  is active in asbestos litigation, and Washington DC-based John Kalas is defending Bayer Corporation in cases concerning the Roundup weedkiller. Keith Ameele, Peter Mularczyk, Erika Muse and Madelyn Iulo all joined the firm in May 2024.

Transport > Rail and road: litigation and regulation Tier 2

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP‘s automotive law group works with automakers and equipment manufacturers, advising Ford, Hyundai, Tesla, and Kubota in a diverse assortment of transactions, disputes, regulatory queries and compliance matters. The team is headed by its senior partners, which includes the Columbia-based Steven McKelvey and Ronnie McMahan  , the former being a key point contact for automakers and distributors, including dealership establishment, termination, allocations, and manufacturer issues, and McMahan remaining a specialist in manufacturer and distributor litigation. Richard Otera is highly active in regulatory and commercial matters pertaining to franchises, distribution law, and disputes for international automakers such as Honda and Subaru, and heads the Los Angeles office. Andy Bertron , based in Tallahassee, is a key component of the team for litigation arising from terminations, audits, relocations, and franchises among automakers and distributors. Denver-based Mark Clouatre is experienced in representing clients at the appellate level and before administrative agencies. Suzanne Swaner is a key name in Texas.

Dispute resolution > Product liability, mass tort and class action - defense: consumer products (including tobacco) Tier 3

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has played a pivotal role in high-profile litigations, representing major manufacturers in cases involving products ranging from weedkiller to talcum powder to refrigerators. Key representations include acting as national coordinating and trial counsel for Colgate-Palmolive in nearly 300 talc cases, defending Bayer Corporation in the well-known Roundup litigation, and achieving successes for Electrolux in a billion-dollar exposure refrigerator fire case. Baltimore based Mike Brown is a key figure in the firm’s toxic tort and product liability litigation team, while Sandra Ezell works out of Richmond, and handles major cases specializing in automotive and consumer electronics product liability.

Finance > Capital markets: equity offerings Tier 3

With in-depth knowledge in all aspects of SPAC mergers- primarily in the mining and biotech sectors- Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP leverages its multi-jurisdictional expertise across the Caribbean, European, and Asian markets. Operating out of Washington DC, Jonathan Talcott specializes in all elements of IPOs and follow-on offerings in the banking, financial tech, and crypto spheres, while Andrew Tucker is an expert in corporate and securities matters. In Raleigh, David Mannheim predominantly focuses on private placements and public offerings, Atlanta’s Michael Rafter is knowledgeable on REITs, and Peter Strand is also highlighted as key.

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 3

With a marked focus on deals in the $10m-$250m bracket, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s M&A group is valued for its ability to ‘strike a balance between the client’s commercial goals and legal risks’. The sizeable national group draws on over 150 lawyers across the US, which equips it to handle transactions across all key industry sectors, with its recent highlights spanning the technology, healthcare, automotive, and financial services spheres. Columbia-based Gus Dixon co-chairs the department and maintains a broad corporate practice that intersects M&A, private equity, and corporate governance. The group is additionally co-led by Baltimore-based Colleen Pleasant Kline and Atlanta managing partner Michael Hollingsworth, both of whom focus on middle-market M&A. Also noted in Atlanta are William Ching, who chairs the private equity and venture capital group, and Brian Galison, who specializes in M&A involving the TMT, manufacturing, and financial services areas.

Media, technology and telecoms > Telecoms and broadcast: regulatory Tier 3

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP‘s group has particular expertise in enforcement and investigation defense matters, as well as mobile and IoT product development and market entry. The team is led by John Heitmann in Washington DC and Geof Vickers in Nashville. Heitmann has extensive experience advising clients in market entry, subsidy program participation, investigations and corporate transactions, as well as in regulatory and compliance matters. Steven Augustino is an expert in matters relating to the USF, anti-robocall tech and the TCPA. Debra McGuire Mercer covers a wide array of issues, including compliance, transactions, spectrum licensing and the marketing of radiofrequency devices. Joshua Guyan is also a name note. Unless otherwise specified, noted attorneys are based in DC.

Government > Government relations Tier 4

The bipartisan government relations practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP advises private sector clients and non-profit organizations across healthcare, prison reform and education on public policy development and government relations strategies, securing funding and counsel on new regulations and legislation. Experienced political advisor Christopher Cushing is based in Washington DC and leads the practice alongside Greenville based partner David Wilkins, who specializes in US-Canada interests, aided by his experience as US ambassador to Canada. Further strengthening the practice is George Ray in Atlanta, whose practice is focused on Georgian state and administrative law and Andrew Heath in Raleigh, who fields extensive state government experience and handles legislative and regulatory advice.

Labor and employment > Immigration Tier 4

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is distinguished by its expertise in the manufacturing sector, seeing it working with major international employers in the process of setting up manufacturing and distribution facilities in the US. Jeong-Hwa Lee is responsible for leading the Atlanta-based team, which benefits from her specialist knowledge of immigration issues involving Korea. Jay Ruby is also a key name and focuses his practice on business immigration and compliance matters. Alice Pak specializes in a wide range of immigrant visa and non-immigrant visa matters.

M&A/corporate and commercial > Venture capital and emerging companies Tier 4

Hailed by some as a ‘first call for deals and sensitive issues’, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP’s sizeable emerging companies practice possesses the resources to handle large exits via M&A transactions, alongside financing rounds and general corporate work. The group additionally stands out for its cross-border firepower, with dual New York- and Brazil-qualified Leandro Molina a key contact for Latin American clients - he splits his time between New York and Miami. The department is led jointly by New York-based Joe Daniels, who focuses on advising start-ups and investors on transactions in the technology, life sciences, and consumer products areas, and Atlanta-based Paul Rothstein, who supports emerging and growth stage companies on corporate and financing matters. Clients also highlight Atlanta’s George Akers for ‘balancing business needs with risks’.

Media, technology and telecoms > Outsourcing Tier 4

The Nashville office of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP is home to an experienced team of outsourcing partners, most notably Jason Epstein, who is co-head of firm’s technology industry group, and Geof Vickers, who is co-leads the technology and procurement practice. Epstein frequently acts for buyers and sellers of technology both domestically and internationally, and his clients hail from industry sectors as diverse as fintech, health IT, and energy. Vickers takes point on ITO and telecoms outsourcing agreements, BPO deals, and licensing arrangements, drawing on his experience in HealthIT, privacy and security, IoT, and cloud computing. Ed Hansen and Val Paverd have left the firm.

Dispute resolution > Corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense Tier 5

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has a strong litigation team advising on internal investigations, grand jury subpoenas, and regulatory inquiries, as well as anti-money laundering compliance. Miami-based Jon Sale  handles cases involving healthcare fraud, FCPA violations, and tax offenses. Bart Daniel , practicing in Columbia and Charleston, specializes in fraud cases. Christopher Cavallo in Miami represents clients in both civil proceedings and criminal investigations. Solomon Wisenberg , working in Washington DC, and Raleigh, represents individuals and companies in investigations concerning public corruption, bribery, and insider trading.

Healthcare > Service providers Tier 5

The national healthcare practice at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP handles a broad spread of matters encompassing regulatory issues, reimbursement work, fraud and abuse claims, and transactional mandates; the group is also recommended for healthcare litigation including FCA cases. In South Carolina, Thomas Moran leads the national healthcare transactional practice, counting physicians, hospitals and medical services providers as clients. As part of the firm’s strength across the Southeast, Gabriel Imperato in Florida heads up the healthcare enforcement, compliance and litigation team, while the firm’s North Carolina office fields regulatory experts Noah H. Huffstetler III, Robert Wilson and Patricia A. Markus.

Real estate Tier 5

Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP's real estate team offers a range of services with a particular focus on affordable housing, land acquisition and entitlement, development and construction, capital markets, and financing. The breadth of the firm is evidenced by its experienced leadership team. In Atlanta, Eric Wilensky focuses his practice of commercial real estate transactions on retail and multifamily properties, while Andrew Litvak focuses on development and leasing transactions. Further, David Itskovich and Michelle Jessell act out of the Boca Raton office, often representing landlords and tenants on all leasing matters. Jo Thacker and Hollie Croft are both based in Orlando, with experience representing property owners before local governments and non-profit developers respectively. Elsewhere, in Charleston, Jay Claypoole routinely advises clients on all aspects of the development of their portfolios of single real estate assets throughout the Southeast.

Tax > US taxes: contentious