Moore & Van Allen, PLLC > Charlotte, United States > Firm Profile

Moore & Van Allen, PLLC > The Legal 500 Rankings

Energy > Energy transactions: electric power Tier 4

Demonstrating ‘national – not simply in-state – electric power development, finance, tax equity, and M&A’ expertise, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC counts a number of financial institutions, private equity firms, and energy producers among its client roster. In recent work highlights, the team has overseen the acquisition and disposition of large-scale solar projects and natural gas facilities, as well as handling joint ventures and commercial agreements. Joe Fernandez is a highly active advisor who acts as the key client contact and leading figure in the group. Joe is equally proficient across conventional and renewable energy sources and is well-placed to act on M&A and corporate finance. Josh DeBottis brings strong tax expertise to a range of transactions. Lesley Attkisson Lewis is also recommended. All lawyers mentioned are based in Charlotte.

Finance > Commercial lending Tier 4

With strengths in the lending space, the financial services practice at Moore & Van Allen, PLLC is well regarded for its assistance to clients with syndicated lending transactions, as well as leveraged syndicated lending transactions. The team has experience handling a vast range of transactional structures for several large financial institutions, as well as club and bilateral loan facilities for private credit funds and other non-bank lenders. The Charlotte-based practice is jointly led by Wayne McKinzie and Tripp Monroe who are both highly regarded in the lending space. Meredith Reedy is also a key member of the team with strengths in acquisition financing and real estate financing, alongside Andrew Price who is a key name for his work representing banks and other financial institutions. An additional notable mention is Ryan Smith, who is active in non-bank lending.  

M&A/corporate and commercial > M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m) Tier 4

Praised for bringing a ‘balance of legal and commercial perspectives to each deal’, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC's practice handles a broad range of domestic and cross-border transactional work, standing out in particular for its ability to handle impactful mergers in a diverser range of industries. Jeremy Godwin and Joe Fernandez jointly oversee the Charlotte-based team. Godwin excels at leading negotiations for sales agreements, while Fernandez frequently leverages his broad knowledge of the power and energy sectors. Bill Zimmern maintains fruitful relationships with local and national financial sponsors. Rob Rust is frequently tasked with leading on major deals for the firms’s strategic manufacturing clients.

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

Based in Charlotte, Moore & Van Allen, PLLC frequently handles sensitive government and internal investigations. The team, which is co-led by Valecia McDowell and John Fagg, is especially skilled at advising clients within the financial services sector. McDowell is well versed with navigating cross-border investigations involving Europe, South America, and Asia. Fagg has experience representing companies as well as individuals in a broad range of cases, including false claims, securities fraud, and public corruption. James McLoughlin is recommended for matters concerning money laundering, tax fraud, and market manipulation. Other key members of the team include counsel Melissa Veronda and associate Kaitlin Price. Veronda has an in-depth understanding of cases involving fraud, while Price regularly assists with some of the firm’s most significant cases.

Finance > Financial services regulation Tier 6

Moore & Van Allen, PLLC‘s Charlotte-based financial regulatory practice is frequently called upon to represent banking clients in dealings with the SEC, FINRA, and FDIC among a range of other regulatory bodies, with further expertise in Dodd-Frank regulations, AML guidelines, and their burgeoning intersection with AI. The team is led by compliance specialist and former BofA general counsel Edward O’Keefe, and Neil Bloomfield, who specializes in assisting banks with their transitions from LIBOR, in addition to assisting with CCAR stress testing. Kathryn Wellman is also engaged in LIBOR transitions, with further expertise in recovery and resolution planning.