Miller & Martin PLLC announced that Ward W. Nelson and J. Patrick Murphy have been appointed as co-chairmen of the firm’s Corporate department.
Mr. Nelson has 27 years of experience in business and health care law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and contracts. He is also a former CPA. For years, he has represented a public soft drink bottling company in connection with domestic and international bank financings and the acquisition of soft drink beverage bottlers ranging from $5 million to $2 billion. He has extensive expertise in shareholder disputes and redemptions. For many years, Mr. Nelson has represented hospitals and other health care providers on business, contractual and regulatory issues. Mr. Nelson also regularly counsels clients on choice of entity issues and general corporate and contract matters.
Mr. Murphy represents finance companies, lending institutions, investment funds and individual investors throughout the southeast. His primary focus is on representing regional and national private mezzanine and subordinate debt investment funds in connection with investment and lending transactions. The transactions include loans, debt with warrants, preferred stock and common stock and involve a variety of business types and industries from various parts of the country with the most significant portion located in the southeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the country. The proceeds of the investments/financings are generally used as growth capital or as part of the capital for M&A transactions. Mr. Murphy primarily represents lenders and investors; however, he also represents private equity funds and other borrowers in connection with indebtedness for private equity acquisitions and for working capital. Mr. Murphy's practice also includes representing several privately owned and family owned companies for general legal and planning matters.
“With the continued expansion of our firm’s Corporate practice, we see a need to have Co-Chairs of this important department,” said Jim Haley, chairman of the firm. “Having Ward and Pat’s combined 50 years of experience will undoubtedly continue to serve the department and our clients with exceptional leadership and results.”