Thompson Hine LLP is pleased to announce that Michael V. Coleman has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Transactions & Securities practice group. Corporate lawyer Tara N. Roberts, who has worked with Coleman for 10 years, also joined the firm as counsel.
This news comes only two months after the announcement that Roy E. Hadley, Jr. and John L. Watkins joined the firm’s Atlanta office as partners in the Corporate Transactions & Securities and Business Litigation practice groups, respectively.
“We couldn’t be more excited about welcoming Michael and Tara to the Atlanta office,” said Russell J. Rogers, office partner-in-charge. “Michael’s experience speaks for itself – he is well-known throughout the city of Atlanta and nationally. His corporate practice complements our existing practice, and his considerable experience and skills will benefit our clients significantly.”
Coleman’s practice focuses on general corporate issues, mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate internal investigations, public/private transactions and business litigation. In addition to serving as outside general counsel for a number of Atlanta-based companies, he has worked on numerous high-profile projects, including representing Turner Broadcasting and the Atlanta Hawks in connection with the development and financing of Phillips Arena, the city of Atlanta in connection with the development and financing of Atlantic Station and Central Atlanta Progress in connection with the creation of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, Atlanta’s first downtown improvement project. Coleman also has significant “major case” litigation experience, having represented a broad range of clients in litigation across the country.
Roberts focuses on mergers and acquisitions, general corporate law and commercial finance. She negotiates and drafts a wide variety of documents and agreements, including corporate governance documents, asset purchase agreements and development agreements; counsels borrowers and lenders in connection with commercial finance transactions; advises nonprofit corporations on organizational matters; and represents corporate clients in connection with early- and mid-stage private equity investment transactions.
Coleman also adds depth to the office’s government experience, having served as City Attorney for Atlanta under former Mayor Maynard Jackson and as a principal attorney for the city during the negotiation of several agreements during the 1996 Olympics. His background complements the recently hired Hadley’s, who previously served as special assistant attorney general for the state of Georgia.
Regarding his decision to join the firm, Coleman stated, “I was attracted by the breadth and depth of Thompson Hine’s practices, particularly its robust corporate practice. I also was very much impressed by the direction of the firm, which is on an upswing and by its leadership, both in Atlanta and firmwide. I also like the fact that the firm has a group of very nice and cordial people, which is very important to me.” Firmwide managing partner Deborah Read, Executive Committee member Tony White, corporate practice group leader Frank Chaiken and Russ Rogers, who heads up the Atlanta office, all made particularly strong impressions on Coleman. Thompson Hine’s strong commitment to diversity and inclusion also was appealing to him.
The recent additions continue a strategic lateral hiring trend in Thompson Hine’s Atlanta office. Other recent top-notch laterals include Gregory D. Chafee in the Corporate practice, Gary S. Freed and J.A. Schneider in the Litigation practice, Rocky Horde in the Real Estate practice, J. Timothy McDonald in the Labor & Employment practice and Suzanne M. Arpin in the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice.
