Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, today announced the expansion of its office in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with the addition of tax lawyer Robert Wall and litigators Bryan Scott and Steven Hemric. Wall's broad experience in strategic tax planning complements the office's strengths in corporate and investment management transactions. Scott and Hemric deepen Akerman's national litigation bench with experience resolving complex commercial and construction matters.
"Our Winston-Salem office is growing in areas that reflect Akerman's litigation and transactional strengths," said Paul Foley, Winston-Salem Office Managing Partner and Investment Management Practice Chair. "Rob, Bryan and Steven are excellent lawyers and their arrival advances our capabilities for institutional investors, real estate developers and other corporate clients nationwide."
Akerman's Winston-Salem office opened in 2019 as Akerman's 25th office location and as part of the firm's national growth strategy to meet increasing client demand in financial and business centers across the United States. Foley helped establish the office, along with Associate Kiki Scarff and Practice Group Attorney Bree Ward. The team joined from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, bringing experience in fund formation, investment adviser regulation and securities matters.
Robert Wall: Partner, Tax
Wall focuses his practice on representing corporations, entities, and individuals on strategic tax planning matters and best practices. Specifically, he advises clients on matters pertaining to federal and state income tax laws and how to minimize the impact of taxes on business transactions. He advocates on matters before the Internal Revenue Service and state departments of revenue on client issues, including audits and appeals from audit determinations, compliance, collections, and U.S. Tax Court matters.
Bryan Scott: Partner, Litigation
Scott focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, construction law, and creditors’ rights. His range of experience include contract disputes, collections and foreclosures, lender liability, title issues, insurance coverage, warranty claims, secured transactions, patent and trademark infringement, unfair trade practices and competition, shareholder disputes, fiduciary claims, and products liability. In his construction law practice, Scott represents public and private owners, developers, contractors, lenders, and insurers on the full scope of issues that may arise in the construction industry.
Steven Hemric: Associate, Litigation
Hemric focuses his practice on commercial litigation and advising construction industry clients in the negotiations of commercial and residential construction contracts, in addition to resolution of jobsite disputes on public and private construction projects, scheduling and delay claims, defect claims, and payment claims. He also counsels insurance carriers on coverage and financial responsibility obligations in a variety of coverage situations and industries.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.
Akerman’s Tax Practice Group collaborates with some of the most notable market leaders in the United States and internationally. Recognized by Law360 as a “Tax Practice Group of the Year” for our precedent-setting work, we help multistate and multinational companies navigate these challenges and disputes and drive growth and expansion in the financial services, retail, e-commerce, sharing economy, digital goods, technology, hospitality, and healthcare sectors, among others. Moreover, we develop novel tax strategies for companies operating at the forefront of disruption—from ridesharing to gaming innovation.
Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group has vast experience in a wide range of civil and criminal litigation, including class action defense, securities and corporate litigation, banking, white collar crime and government investigations, insurance, and real estate. The team is ranked tier one nationally by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in several categories including Commercial Litigation and Appellate.