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CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Womble Bond Dickinson attorneys from the UK and US attended the 14th Annual Gateway Award, presented by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, Inc. (GACC South). The Womble Bond Dickinson team was joined by partners from WBD-UK’s alliance partner, the German law firm Redeker.
Womble Bond Dickinson attorneys John Branson, Richard Collins, Jennifer Cory, Melinda Davis Lux, Jeff Hay, Anna Mills, Stephen Pierce, Patrick Strubbe and Client Service Director Stephanie Hinrichs represented the firm. Redeker attorneys who attended the event were Jürgen Lüders and Andreas Rosenfeld.
The Gateway Award is GACC South’s annual signature event in the Carolinas and it honors outstanding accomplishments in German-American business relations. This year’s Gateway Award ceremony took place on May 5th at the Carolinas Aviation Museum in Charlotte. The museum is the home of the “Miracle on the Hudson” A320-214 flown by Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger.
More than 100 people attended the event, which saw Lufthansa German Airlines (North Carolina) and Dräxlmaier (South Carolina) honored for their contributions to German-American business.
Womble Bond Dickinson joined BMW, Lufthansa and Roedl in sponsoring the Gateway Award event.
John Branson has a broad litigation practice that encompasses complex business litigation with a focus on international arbitration. John has represented foreign sovereigns in international investment disputes and has experience with commercial claims, such as breach of contract and business torts, under the rules of a variety of international arbitration institutions. In addition to international arbitration, John defends and prosecutes claims before Federal and State courts.
Richard Collins has experience of a broad range of commercial and contentious matters including disputes arising out of complex financial products, pensions disputes, professional negligence matters, shareholder disputes and substantial multi-jurisdictional contractual claims. He also leads the firm’s contentious procurement team.
Jennifer Cory leads the Womble Immigration Solutions team. She navigates the complexities of U.S. immigration law to design efficient, effective visa routes for her clients, who include educators, entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and investors in key industry sectors such as academia, automotive, financial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and technology.
Melinda Davis Lux focuses her practice on complex business deals, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and financing transactions. She also advises public companies, directors, and stockholders with respect to securities law and corporate governance matters, including SEC reporting requirements.
Jeff Hay is the Managing Partner of Womble Bond Dickinson’s Charlotte office and leads Womble Bond Dickinson’s US-based Global Business Group. Jeff’s practice involves representing corporate clients, private equity groups and venture capital funds in the US and abroad on cross-border private equity and venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, technology licensing, joint ventures and securities matters.
Anna Mills is a veteran corporate attorney who serves as a trusted advisor to clients ranging from large, multi-national companies to privately held middle market businesses. Mills guides clients in mergers, acquisitions, sales, corporate formations, expansions, financing, strategic investments, lending and other mission-critical commercial deals. She currently serves as Chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Business Law Section and is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Board of Governors.
Stephen Pierce focuses his practice on corporate finance work and, in particular, M&A and private equity transactions. He also advises on joint ventures and other shareholder arrangements, as well as corporate reorganizations and corporate governance and compliance issues.
Patrick Strubbe represents corporate clients, private equity groups and lenders in the US and abroad on a variety of complex cross-border business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, and strategic transactions. He also advises companies as outside general counsel on corporate governance, complex commercial contracts and general business law matters.
Stephanie Hinrichs initiates and builds client relationships, and works with Womble Bond Dickinson lawyers to provide the highest quality client service. She brings more than a decade of experience in marketing and sales, specifically in the legal, economic development, airline, and transportation industries.
