Practices & Industries

Public Company Team

Parker Poe’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group leads a multi-disciplinary Public Company Team designed to tailor all of our legal services to the unique needs of our public company clients. Our Public Company Team consists of attorneys in nine key practice areas who are highly skilled in delivering legal services in a public company context.

The Public Company Team hosts semi-annual gatherings of financial and legal personnel representing public companies headquartered throughout the Carolinas. These Public Company Forums provide updates on recent securities law, corporate governance and the other key substantive areas of law described below and allow for the exchange of information among peers.

Experience Highlights

  • The Corporate and Securities Practice Group focuses on all aspects of capital formation and regulatory compliance before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), state securities regulators and stock exchanges. This Practice Group also regularly advises senior management and Boards of Directors on corporate governance and general corporate matters. Doug Harmon, a partner with more than 25 years of experience as a securities lawyer, is the head of the Corporate and Securities Practice Group and chairs the Public Company Team.
  • Many public companies enhance performance through strategic acquisitions and sometimes dispose of underperforming or unrelated business units. John Jaye, a partner in our Corporate and Securities Practice Group, has significant experience as a Mergers & Acquisitions lawyer, as well as representing public companies regarding securities offerings, regulatory compliance and corporate governance.
  • Virtually all public companies fund their operations in part through bank credit facilities, including domestic and international revolving credit lines, term loans, secured and unsecured loans and a variety of other structures. A public company must carefully consider all public disclosure implications related to its credit facility from inception to termination. Chuck Lee is the head of our Banking & Finance Practice Group and has more than 25 years of experience with a wide variety of corporate banking transactions, both as counsel to borrowers and lenders.
  • It is critical that all executive compensation and employee benefit arrangements be considered in the context of a company’s overall compensation package and that compensation decisions and disclosure be well reasoned and transparent. Debbie Kleman is a partner in our Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Group and advises executive management and Compensation Committees on a full range of compensation plans and arrangements. She also assists with drafting SEC registration statements for equity compensation plans and proxy statement disclosure.
  • Negotiation of employment agreements and severance arrangements for public company personnel, particularly executive management, can be a sensitive and difficult process. In addition, the implementation of whistle-blower hotlines and procedures creates employment issues, even among lower level employees, that must be handled with care by experienced counsel. Stacy Wood is a partner in our Employment Practice Group with more than 15 years of experience working with our public company clients on employment issues.
  • The enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act has caused public companies to increasingly consider whether circumstances warrant an internal investigation into suspected wrongdoing. Also, the SEC or other regulators may initiate informal inquiries or formal investigations into possible irregularities or regulatory violations. Rick Glaser is the head of our White Collar Criminal Defense & Internal Investigations Practice Group. Rick regularly advises executives, Boards of Directors and Audit Committees on all types of SEC, Foreign Corrupt Trade Practices, Code of Conduct, ethics and other matters.
  • Many of our public company clients consider international expansion to be a key aspect of their strategic plan. These companies must carefully balance the unique aspects of international operations with the mandates of United States securities laws and governance requirements or best practices. We also represent several companies with securities traded on public markets overseas that have significant operations in the United States. George Pretty and Al Guarnieri are partners in our International Business Practice Group and represent major international companies throughout Europe, Asia and Latin America.
  • Public companies must properly disclose the effects of the tax laws on their operations and financial statements. Jimmy Greene is the head of our Tax Practice Group and works regularly with public companies to ensure that all disclosure requirements are met and transactions are properly structured to maximize the tax benefits for, and minimize the tax payments by, our clients.
  • Many public companies must navigate the complex issues of environmental regulation and compliance in their day-to-day operations. Steve Weber is the head of our Environmental Practice Group and also advises on all aspects of environmental law, helping clients achieve business goals without undue interference or delay.
Name/Title Phone V-Card Email

J. Carlton Fleming, Jr.

Associate

 t 704.335.9501 V-Card Email

Richard S. Glaser, Jr.

Partner

 t 704.335.9531 V-Card Email

James N. Greene III

Partner

 t 704.335.9896 V-Card Email

Albert E. Guarnieri

Partner

 t 704.335.9888 V-Card Email

R. Douglas Harmon

Partner

 t 704.335.9020 V-Card Email

John C. Jaye

Partner

 t 704.335.9872 V-Card Email

Debra E. Kleman

Partner

 t 864.253.6107 V-Card Email

Charles B. Lee, Jr.

Partner

 t 704.335.9001 V-Card Email

George H. Pretty II

Partner

 t 704.335.9073 V-Card Email

A-J Secrist

Partner

 t 704.335.9090 V-Card Email

Stacy K. Wood

Partner

 t 704.335.9844 V-Card Email

News

Contact