A team of highly experienced transactional and estate planning attorneys who serve as advisors to their clients and work collaboratively to foster relationships by providing reliable and thoughtful counsel and creatively solving issues.

Brad Austin

Partner

Prior Experience

Johnson Group

McGuireWoods

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Credentials

Wake Forest University, JD

University of North

Carolina Chapel Hill,

BSBA, MAC

Brad Austin has been practicing law since 2006, primarily representing buyers and sellers in business M&A transactions. He has worked with private equity firms, family offices, and various capital providers in control and minority transactions. In addition, he assists with private capital raises, equity and debt restructuring, and general corporate matters.

Prior to his legal career he worked in public accounting, both with a Big Four and a smaller firm, focusing on tax compliance and consulting. Most recently, he spent time as a c-level officer for a privately held, diversified enterprise. His practice as a CPA and his work in operations with private companies provide a unique set of experiences that allow Brad to provide multidimensional advice and counsel to clients.

Thomas Cooper

Partner

Prior Experience

Moore & Van Allen

McGuireWoods

Winston & Strawn

Credentials

Emory University, JD

University of Virginia, BA

Thomas Cooper’s practice is focused on personal and business tax planning, trust and estate planning and administration, business succession, and general business matters that arise in connection with the ownership and operation of closely held businesses.

Thomas supports clients’ existing and prospective business interests, including advising on capital structures and prospective liquidity events, business succession planning for family members and key employees such as buy/sell and equity compensation arrangements, business operations and family office structures, life insurance arrangements, and investments, including investments in alternative assets. He regularly works with business owners and investors and their related family members, c-level executives and other business operators, accountants, wealth managers, corporate fiduciaries, life insurance providers, and family office advisors in arriving at comprehensive, creative, and practical solutions to achieve his clients’ objectives.

Thomas’ estate planning and trust and estate administration practice focuses on advising on, implementing, and administering estate plans and trust arrangements. This aspect of his practice works in tandem with estate, gift, generation-skipping, and income tax planning, including the use of family limited liability companies, family office investment vehicles, irrevocable trusts, and charitable planning.

Sarah Martin

Partner

Prior Experience

Allstate

McGuireWoods

J.P. Morgan

Davis Polk & Wardwell

Credentials

University of Virginia, JD

University of California,

Los Angeles, BA

Sarah Martin has extensive experience counseling on private M&A transactions, both buy-side and sell-side, working with owner-operators, entrepreneurs, private equity firms, family offices, and other capital providers. Her practice also includes providing general corporate counsel and advising on commercial transactions and estate planning matters.

Sarah began her legal career in New York City, initially advising on bank regulatory matters at an international law firm before moving in-house with a major multinational bank. After moving to Charlotte, she became a partner in the corporate mergers and acquisitions department of a national law firm. She has also spent time with the private equity arm of a publicly traded insurance company advising on various investment-related matters.