WASHINGTON, D.C. – Troutman Pepper has announced its 18 newly elected partners, listed below by office and practice area. Partner promotions are effective January 1, 2025, and span numerous practices and multiple offices, including Atlanta, Berwyn, Charlotte, New York, Orange County, Philadelphia, Princeton, Raleigh, Richmond, and Washington, D.C.
“This year’s class of partners embodies the dedication, innovation, and commitment to client service that are the hallmarks of Troutman Pepper,” said Managing Partner Amie Colby. “Our new partners have consistently demonstrated remarkable leadership and creativity. I am confident that they will continue to elevate our firm and deliver outstanding results for our clients.”
Partners
Allie Apple (Atlanta | Construction)
Christopher Carlson (Richmond | Regulatory Investigations Strategy + Enforcement)
Sheila Chen (Orange County | Insurance & Reinsurance)
Massie Cooper (Richmond | Consumer Financial Services)
Ryan Deck (Princeton | Intellectual Property)
Joseph DeFazio (New York | Consumer Financial Services)
Kyle Dolinsky (Philadelphia | Health Sciences Litigation)
Erica Dressler (Philadelphia | Business Litigation)
Courtney Goins (Atlanta | Corporate)
Daniel Gorman (New York | Business Litigation)
Andrew Henson (Richmond/Raleigh | Labor & Employment)
Russell Kooistra (Washington, D.C. | Energy)
Sean McConnell (Berwyn | Intellectual Property)
Elizabeth McCormick (Washington, D.C. | Energy)
Tricia McNeill (Charlotte | Corporate)
Melissa Oellerich New (Atlanta | Energy)
Edward Philpot (Atlanta | Construction)
Alex Smith (Atlanta | Business Litigation)
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK –Madeline Moore, Pro Bono Director and Counsel, has been named Pro Bono Partner of the Year by the Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE). A4TE was founded in 2024 as the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), two long-time champions for the trans community, merged together as one organization. A4TE builds on their successes to boldly imagine a world where trans people live our lives joyfully and without barriers.
As pro bono director and counsel, Moore leads and facilitates the pro bono practice across several of the firm’s offices, including New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Princeton, and Rochester. She provides direct representation to pro bono clients and maintains an active practice that is driven by her passion to provide quality representation to underserved and undervalued communities. Moore builds relationships with community partners, nonprofits, and legal service organizations to provide unmet legal needs on a national basis.
Moore has been actively involved with TLDEF, now A4TE, since joining the firm in 2023. Under her leadership, the firm has significantly contributed to A4TE’s name change project, assisting transgender individuals with the legal process of changing their names, while also increasing engagement with corporate partners and law students to support hard-to-place cases.
Each year, Troutman Pepper attorneys dedicate thousands of pro bono hours in support of nonprofits, immigrants, military veterans, children, the wrongfully convicted, civil rights and social justice initiatives, and so many more. Learn more at troutman.com/pro-bono.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper’s client, Payroc WorldAccess LLC (Payroc), an omni-channel payments provider, recently announced the successful completion of its acquisition of the merchant services business, along with the related payments software and technology solutions, from i3 Verticals, LLC (i3). Read a company press release about the acquisition agreement.
Payroc is a high-growth merchant acquirer, processor, and payment integrations powerhouse that offers best-in-class sales enablement and payment processing technology on a global scale, delivering proprietary, innovative, and full-service merchant acquiring solutions together with key card brand network payment sponsorship registrations. The strategic acquisition, first announced in June of this year, has strengthened Payroc’s capacity to provide comprehensive payment solutions to a broader range of partners and merchants. Payroc now processes more than $115 billion of annual processing volume for approximately 190,000 merchant customers across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the U.K., and the EU.
The Troutman Pepper team counseling Payroc in the agreement included Brad R. Resweber, Mark T. Wilhelm, Peter N. Dragna, Monica Q. Vu, Valentina Rivera, Samer A. Roshdy, James E. Schutz, Lauren G. Alvarez, Barbara T. Sicalides, Emily Schifter, Kristalyn Lee, Brent T. Hoard, Aileen Ng, Michael J. Crumbock, Joan C. Arnold, Thomas Gray, and Stefanie L. Brennan. The firm has more than 250 financial services attorneys who regularly advise global, national, regional, and community banks, financial technology companies, payments companies, consumer and commercial lenders, and a wide variety of other financial services businesses on the most crucial aspects of their business, from structuring major transactions to dealing with regulatory scrutiny and litigation.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
PHILADELPHIA – Troutman Pepper client Plan Management Corporation (PMC), the creator of OptionTrax®, a leading digital equity plan administration platform and service provider, recently announced that it has been acquired by Empower, a leading provider of retirement and wealth management services. Read a company press release about the acquisition.
Under the agreement, Empower has wholly acquired PMC, headquartered in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, including its technology, proprietary product and service offerings, intellectual property, licenses, and contracts. The combination will bring together Empower’s leading retirement and wealth management services and integrated financial tools with OptionTrax’s growing, digitally oriented equity compensation platform and administration services.
The multi-disciplinary Troutman Pepper team advising PMC was led by Robert Friedel and Joseph Kadlec, and included Sakia DeLaney, Lele Meng, Thomas Gray, Keegan McCoy, Josh Gelfand, Emily Davidson, Peter Wakiyama, Pamela Bishop, and Dawn Hall.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper has achieved Diversity Lab’s Mansfield Certification Plus for the seventh consecutive year. The Mansfield Rule is a structured certification process designed to ensure all talent at participating law firms has a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership.
“We are immensely proud to have achieved the Mansfield Certification Plus again this year,” said Nicole Edmonds, Chair of Troutman Pepper’s Diversity, Equity + Inclusion Committee. “This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and lead. We remain dedicated to pushing for greater inclusivity and equity in the legal profession.”
The Mansfield certification aims to boost the representation of lawyers from a diversity of backgrounds in law firm leadership by broadening the pool of candidates considered for such opportunities; promoting a diverse hiring pool of candidates; encouraging varied pitch teams and staffing; and increasing the diversity of candidates being considered for partnership. Additionally, to attain the “Plus” designation firms must voluntarily measure the outcomes of their inclusive processes and have achieved positive results. More than half of the 360+ Mansfield Certified law firms achieved this honor this year.
Named for the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States, the Mansfield Rule measures whether law firms have considered at least 30% women, attorneys of color, LGBTQIA+, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities, and senior lateral positions. Firms are audited bi-annually and certified annually for this distinction.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are among Troutman Pepper’s core values and are fundamental to its culture and client service. The firm believes that an equitable and inclusive environment allows every attorney and staff member to perform at their best, resulting in superior outcomes and greater client satisfaction. Troutman Pepper’s dedication to these principles is evidenced by our 14 consecutive years of recognition by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.”
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper client Deposits Inc., a provider of modern banking software tools and infrastructure, recently announced that it has been acquired by Ingo Payments, a trusted leader in account funding and disbursements solutions defined as Money Mobility. Read a company press release about the acquisition.
Deposits Inc. is a pioneering fintech company providing modern banking software and infrastructure. With a mission to democratize access to modern financial services, Deposits Inc. offers a suite of modular, API-driven solutions that enables banks and organizations of all sizes to rapidly build and deploy customized financial products and deliver exceptional financial experiences through its flexible, scalable technology platform. With its acquisition of Deposits, Ingo has created a modern, modular, bank-grade, end-to-end platform that connects money in and money out through its Modern Money Stack. This stack includes a processor-agnostic side core and the tools necessary for banks to confidently meet regulatory obligations, reduce third- and fourth-party risk, and offer modern financial services to their customers.
The Troutman Pepper team counseling Deposits Inc. included Brad Resweber and Cody Mathis.
Troutman Pepper’s Financial Services Group provides comprehensive support to all types of financial services businesses in today’s challenging and ever-changing environment. The team includes more than 250 attorneys who regularly advise global, national, regional, and community banks, financial technology companies, payments companies, consumer and commercial lenders, and a wide variety of other financial services businesses on the most crucial aspects of their business, from structuring major transactions to dealing with regulatory scrutiny and litigation.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys strategically located in 20+ U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper has been named among Law360’s 2024 Regional Powerhouses in Georgia for its high-impact and high-profile work across the Peach State. The firm is among only five recognized in the category. Read Troutman Pepper’s feature online here.
Troutman Pepper’s Georgia-based attorneys had a standout year, from helping utilities navigate the challenges associated with increased energy demands throughout the state, to defeating high-stakes state constitutional challenges, to clearing the path for a $5 billion Rivian electric vehicle plant to drive forward.
“Troutman Pepper has a rich history in the state of Georgia and a legacy of service we are incredibly proud of,” said Charlie Peeler, managing partner of Troutman Pepper’s Atlanta office, the firm’s largest by headcount with more than 200 lawyers. “This recognition is a testament to our enduring commitment to going above and beyond for both our clients and community.”
“It’s also a nod to the firm’s ability to build and retain a deep bench across practice areas and key industries,” said Justice Harold Melton. “We take a true team-based approach when serving clients here in Georgia and across the country.”
The firm’s Georgia-based attorneys provide national and international counsel to Fortune 500, middle market, and emerging companies in all major areas of legal practice. Industries served span energy, media and entertainment, financial institutions, real estate, transportation, communications, and technology, as well as global manufacturing, retail, trade, and government, among other areas.
Attorneys and professional staff frequently volunteer time with civic, charitable, and cultural organizations across the state. The Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta recognized Troutman Pepper as its 2023 Law Firm of the Year for the firm’s contributions of attorney time and counsel helping Atlanta-area nonprofits.
Over the past year, Troutman Pepper has been recognized nationally for its extraordinary client service. In April 2024, BTI Consulting ranked Troutman Pepper among the top 5 percent of all law firms for its “impressive client service delivery.” The firm was recognized on the prestigious BTI Client Service 30 list, ranking No. 28, and earning the highest marks for “being easy to work with” and “including clients early in strategy discussions.”
The firm’s focus on innovation to improve client experiences also took center stage in the last year. The Financial Times recognized it among the top 25 most innovative law firms and, The Legal Intelligencer named it among the 2024 Law Firm Innovators for being among the first law firms to launch and fully adopt a bespoke generative AI tool, Athena.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys strategically located in 20+ U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
ATLANTA – Troutman Pepper client Alum-a-Lift, a creator, manufacturer, and world-leading provider of advanced technology consisting of innovative ergonomic lifting equipment, headquartered in Winston, Georgia, has been acquired by Piab Group, a global leader in industrial automation. Read the Piab Group press release about the transaction online here.
Founded in 1989, Alum-a-Lift develops and produces innovative ergonomic lifting equipment for use in a wide range of industries, including semiconductors, aerospace, and logistics. Alum-a-Lift’s solutions help manufacturers meet their material handling needs safely and efficiently, from single custom units to multiple devices to entire lifting systems.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Alum-a-Lift was led by Tom Dwyer and included Dan Sieck, Sam Griffith, Michael Seymour, and Danielle Clifford (corporate); Dan Anziska and Amanda Sterling (regulatory/export control); Stefanie Brennan (real estate); Mike Crumbock (benefits); Tom Phelan, Randy Varner, and Raina Bora (tax); and David Wormser and Emily Newcomer (IP).
Troutman Pepper’s Emerging Companies + Venture Capital practice often advises innovative technology companies like Alum-a-Lift through every stage of their life cycle — from formation through seed, Series A, and their eventual merger, acquisition, or IPO exit. The firm’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include private equity, strategic exits, and capital markets transactions as well as other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys strategically located in 20+ U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
CHARLOTTE – Heryka Knoespel, an attorney with extensive experience in defense litigation and financial services, has joined Troutman Pepper’s Consumer Financial Services Practice in Charlotte as a partner. Knoespel comes from McGuireWoods LLP, where she built strong relationships within the financial services sector.
“We are delighted to welcome Heryka to our Consumer Financial Services practice,” said John West, Chair of Troutman Pepper’s Business Litigation Department. “Her financial services litigation and regulatory counseling experience makes her an invaluable addition to our team. Heryka’s addition builds upon our strong financial services bench and demonstrates our continued commitment to our clients in this dynamic industry.”
Knoespel’s primary focus is on complex financial services litigation, where she represents clients in federal, state, and administrative courts through all procedural phases, including dispositive motions and trials. She also advises clients on regulatory oversight matters, helping them navigate issues related to supervision, investigation, and enforcement. Knoespel also counsels on issues related to marketing and providing products and services in non-English languages. As a native Spanish speaker, Knoespel handles litigation and regulatory matters for clients servicing Spanish-speaking clientele in the United States and multinational clients with operations in Latin America and Spain.
“Heryka’s move to Troutman Pepper is a perfect fit for our Charlotte office,” said Jason Evans, Charlotte Office Managing Partner. “Her impressive track record and deep connections within the financial services sector align seamlessly with our strategic goals. We are excited to have Heryka on board and look forward to the positive impact she will have on our team and our clients. Her commitment to excellence and proactive approach to client service will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success and growth in the Charlotte market.”
Knoespel earned her JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“I am excited to join Troutman Pepper and look forward to growing my practice with the firm,” Knoespel said. “The move makes perfect sense for my clients, as Troutman Pepper’s comprehensive financial services offerings and collaborative team will enable me to better serve their needs and address the complex challenges they face.”
Clients in the financial services industries depend on Troutman Pepper’s top-ranked, national Consumer Financial Services team to resolve litigation, provide regulatory guidance, and assist with investigations and actions initiated by government agencies. Chambers USA has ranked the team in all three pillars of consumer finance law; compliance, regulatory enforcement, and litigation. Law360 has also recognized the team twice as a Consumer Protection Practice Group of the Year.
Troutman Pepper’s Financial Services Group provides comprehensive support to all types of financial services businesses in today’s challenging and ever-changing environment. The team includes more than 250 attorneys who regularly advise global, national, regional, and community banks, financial technology companies, payments companies, consumer and commercial lenders, and a wide variety of other financial services businesses on the most crucial aspects of their business, from structuring major transactions to dealing with regulatory scrutiny and litigation.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with 1,100+ attorneys strategically located in more than 20 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Nanette Heide, a leader in the private equity and cross-border M&A sectors, has joined Troutman Pepper as a partner in the firm’s Corporate practice in New York and will lead the firm’s private equity growth in New York. Heide previously served as global co-chair of Duane Morris’ private equity division.
Heide represents private equity investors and multinational and domestic corporations (public and private) in a wide spectrum of M&A and corporate finance transactions. She also has formed and structured private equity funds.
“Nanette is a dynamic addition to our firm and has extensive experience handling complex transactions, including private equity and cross-border transactions. Her arrival further bolsters our already impressive roster of private equity lawyers, and she will lead the firm’s continued growth in New York,” said Matt Greenberg, chair of the firm’s Corporate practice.
“We are delighted to welcome Nanette to our New York office. Her impressive background and experience in private equity and cross-border transactions will be a tremendous asset to our clients here in New York, across the country, and abroad,” said Steven Khadavi, managing partner of Troutman Pepper’s New York office.
Heide is a member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and serves as chair of its Corporate Governance and Activism Subcommittee. “We are particularly excited for Nanette to join Troutman Pepper to help lead our efforts building our international network of collaborative law firms,” added Mason Bayler, chair of the Firm’s Transactional Department. Heide earned her JD from Washington and Lee University School of Law and her bachelor’s degrees in economics and chemistry from West Virginia University.
Heide also serves as outside counsel for many mid-sized companies on issues of corporate governance, securities law compliance, general commercial transactions, and disclosure issues. Her clients span a wide variety of industries, from consumer products to medical devices, technology and communications, media, cannabis and Internet-based businesses.
“Troutman Pepper is a recognized leader in the private equity space — within the middle market, in particular — and the firm’s focus on client service, experience, and innovation aligns well with the needs of my clients,” Heide said. “Moreover, Troutman Pepper gives me an opportunity to continue to partner with my IBA colleagues on cross-border matters.”
Troutman Pepper’s Corporate practice is consistently recognized among the top in the country, with attorneys regularly handling multi-million- and multi-billion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include private equity and capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. Additionally, the firm has significant expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investment management and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,100 attorneys strategically located in 20+ U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.