Moore & Van Allen Announces Newly-Elected Members
Moore & Van Allen is pleased to announce that the following eight attorneys have been elected as the Firm’s newest members: Peter G. Allen, Lauren E. Biek, Christian E. Buhrer, Kathryn (Kate) G. Cole, Christopher (Chris) J. Knors, Ph.D., Neill (Mac) G. McBryde, Jr., Emily E. Vaughn and Jonathan Watkins. Their new designation went into effect on January 1.
“We congratulate these fine lawyers on their accomplishments and are proud to recognize them as the Firm’s newest members,” stated Moore & Van Allen Chairman Ernie Reigel.
Peter G. Allen belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Public Affairs practice group. Allen works to pursue solutions to clients’ government relations needs, with a focus on grassroots outreach programs. He assists clients in framing persuasive, consistent messages for legislative, administrative and regulatory decision-makers, and helps clients advocate for favorable solutions when government decisions are being made. He has experience in legislative analysis, bill drafting, white papers, and developing educational materials, including videos and books.
Lauren E. Biek belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Financial Services practice group. Biek represents financial institutions and private equity sponsors in connection with the structuring and documenting of syndicated credit facilities, including merger and acquisition-related financings, first and second lien credit facilities, financial sponsor leveraged acquisitions and asset-based lending for companies in a variety of industries.
Christian E. Buhrer belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Federal & International Taxation practice group, and State & Local Taxation practice group. Buhrer primarily focuses on assisting corporate clients with mergers and acquisitions, federal, international and state tax planning, sales and use tax, property tax and state tax incentive consulting.
Kathryn (Kate) G. Cole belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Intellectual Property practice group. She focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation primarily involving copyright, trademark, trade secret and patent matters, as well as other complex business disputes for a variety of clients. Cole has represented plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state court and before specialized tribunals such as the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and the National Arbitration Forum.
Christopher (Chris) J. Knors, Ph.D., belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Research Triangle office Intellectual Property practice group. Knors advises companies and research institutions on legal issues relating to obtaining, protecting, enforcing and transferring intellectual property. He focuses his practice on technologies that involve chemistry, materials and polymers, and provides counseling on patent portfolio management and strategy with issues that include patent validity, infringement, reexamination, post-grant review, design around strategies, licensing, technology acquisitions and collaborations.
Neill (Mac) G. McBryde, Jr., also belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Financial Services practice group. He represents clients in a range of corporate transactions, with an emphasis on the representation of financial institutions, mezzanine funds and borrowers in complex financing transactions. McBryde’s experience also includes the representation of clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions and general corporate law matters.
Emily E. Vaughn belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Corporate practice group. Her practice consists of a variety of transactional fields, with a focus on advising public companies on securities, corporate governance and other regulatory compliance issues, including the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Additionally, Vaughn has assisted clients with general corporate, operational and commercial contract needs, including drafting and negotiating large equipment purchases and critical vendor agreements.
Jonathan Watkins belongs to Moore & Van Allen’s Charlotte office Litigation practice group. Watkins has a range of experience in complex, high-stakes litigation. His practice covers a variety of intellectual property litigation, mergers and acquisitions litigation, securities litigation, commercial litigation, and appellate litigation. Watkins has represented clients at trial in federal and state courts across the country, before federal and state appellate courts, and in a matter before an international arbitration tribunal.