Charlotte, NC – Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP announced today the addition of four new attorneys in its Charlotte office. Joining the Banking and Capital Markets Group from Johnston, Allison & Hord, P.A. are Wanda C. Townsend, William F. (Rich) Potts, Jr., Brian E. Koontz and Shelia J. Loring. The team will provide a broad range of advisory services across the financial and commercial real estate sectors, and will enhance the firm’s loan origination practice.
Wanda Townsend joins the firm as partner and brings extensive experience in commercial real estate, lending, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and health care entity representation. Townsend focuses her practice on representing large institutional lenders in real estate transactions and commercial real estate developers in negotiation, acquisition, financing and management matters. Townsend has received numerous awards, including being recognized by Chambers USA as a ranked attorney for Banking & Finance (2014 and 2015), and in The Best Lawyers in America Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law sections (2013 - 2016). Townsend received her BA and her JD, with honors, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Rich Potts joins the firm as partner and focuses his practice on financial services and commercial real estate. He represents national and regional banks and other financial institutions in a wide variety of financing transactions, including acquisition, construction and development loans, syndicated loans, asset based loans and revolving credit facilities. He was selected by Chambers USA as a ranked attorney for Banking & Finance (2015), selected to The Best Lawyers in America Real Estate Law Section (2008 - 2016), and named a North Carolina Super Lawyer (2006 and 2015). Potts received his BA from the University of Virginia and his JD from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Also joining the firm as partner is Brian Koontz, who will serve the Banking and Capital Markets Group with experience in the areas of creditors’ rights, financial services, corporate and commercial real estate. He has been named to the list of North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2014 and 2015). Koontz received his BA from Wheaton College and his JD from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Counsel Shelia Loring is a financial services, commercial real estate and leasing and consumer regulatory compliance attorney. She represents banks and other financial institutions in secured financing transactions and advises financial institutions on consumer regulatory compliance matters. Prior to joining Johnston, Allison and Hord, Shelia worked as in-house counsel with Bank of America’s Legal Department for over eight years. She received her BA from Stetson University and her JD from Wake Forest University. In addition to North Carolina, Shelia is licensed in Texas and Georgia.
“This addition of Wanda, Rich and their powerhouse team represents a significant enhancement of our full service advisory capabilities in Charlotte, as well as across the region,” said Scott Shail, Parker Poe Charlotte Partner and leader of the firm’s Financial Services Industry team. “Their professional excellence and experience are welcome additions to Parker Poe’s already strong banking team.”
The four new attorneys are joined by paralegal Connie Kern and legal professional assistant Tania Gomez.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has approximately 200 lawyers in seven offices located in major markets across North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. The firm provides legal counsel to large commercial and public organizations on litigation, corporate and regulatory matters.