Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough was founded in 1897 in Columbia, South Carolina. The Columbia location still stands as the firm’s headquarters but has since expanded to 25 total locations across 12 states, largely in the southeast. Though the firm has the most locations in Florida it is also highly regarded in South Carolina.

Focusses / specialisms

The full-service firm is especially active in the banking, M&A and restructuring and insolvency practice areas. 

In banking the team works on acquisition financing, construction financing, real estate financing, project financing, refinancing and general corporate financing. It acts for borrowers and lenders.

The firm’s M&A practice is concentrated in the Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts and Tennessee locations. It is focused on the mid-market, advising strategic clients on both the buy and sell side.

The restructuring and insolvency team acts for trustees, creditors, debtors and other related parties in Chapter 7 and 11 proceedings and reorganizations. Also of note is the Floridian real estate teams, which are market leaders in the state.

Key clients

Key clients for the firm include Avenger Flight Group, Amzak Capital Management, Chemical Finance Corporation, CenterState Financial Corporation, Cosmopolitan Travel Services, Sprinturf, PIETech, and Lime Energy.

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Throughout the research period the banking and finance team assists both borrowers and lenders. The South Carolina partners focused more on acquisition financing, while the Floridian offices focused on project financing and real estate financing.

The M&A team worked on the buy and sell side in a large amount of deals in the banking and financial services and technology industries. The deals were both strategic acquisitions and private equity acquisitions.

The restructuring and insolvency team in mostly Chapter 7 proceedings, but also a significant number of Chapter 11 proceedings. 

Regarding lateral moves, the corporate and M&A practice brought over numerous partners. M&A focused partners Adele Hogan moved over from Hogan Law, Andrew Tucker from Womble Bond Dickinson and Michael Bryan from K&L Gates. Corporate partners James Bartling and Sabring Conyers moved from in-house positions. In the Florida real estate practice, partners JJ Johnson, Michelle Tanzer and William Liss. The partners came from Johnson Real Estate Law, GrayRobinson and Santen & Hughes, respectively. 

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Avenger Flight Group $120 million financing

Chemical Bank / TCF Financial merger

PG&E Chapter 11 restructuring