James C. Wheeler

Partner | Corporate

About

Jim Wheeler’s practice focuses on advising his clients about their legal risk in corporate, banking, mergers and acquisitions, and finance matters.


Practices

  • Banking and Financial Services

  • Commercial Transactions

  • Mergers and Acquisitions

  • Private Equity

  • Securities

Admissions

  • Georgia


Education

  • Duke University School of Law; J.D., 1990

  • Florida State University; B.S., Finance, 1987


Recognition

  • Legal 500 US Elite Ranking (Atlanta – Corporate and M&A)

Experience

  • FisherBroyles, LLP

  • Bryan Cave, LLP

  • Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP


Representative Transactions

Representative Bank Regulatory/Financial Institutions Transactions

  • Advised Eastern Connecticut Savings Bank on its merger with Guilford Savings Bank (GSB) to create Ascend Bank, which has $1.4 billion in assets and serves 25,000 clients.

  • Led negotiations in the $1.1 Billion sale of a national bank.

  • Represented multiple investor groups in investment transactions in financial institutions.

  • Represented numerous financial institutions in negotiating and complying with their regulatory orders.

  • Represented numerous financial institutions in successfully raising capital, including public and private offerings.

  • Represented numerous financial institutions in mergers and acquisitions transactions, including asset and stock transactions, whole bank, loan portfolios, branches, identified assets, control, and non-control sales and acquisitions.

  • Represented numerous financial institutions in corporate restructuring, holding company, management and director matters, strategic planning, corporate governance, shareholder management, and regulatory issues.

Presentations and Teaching Experience

  • American Bankers Association, October 2011 Annual Convention: “Nominating Committees and Compliance”; October 2009 Annual Convention: “FDIC Loss-Share Dynamics”

  • Georgia Bankers Association, June 2011 Annual Convention: “Bank Directors Strategic Planning”

  • Alabama Bankers Association, January 2009 Community Bank Directors Conference: “Board Committees”

  • Quality Growth Institute, October 2010: “NPDES Permit Requirements: Plain & Simple for Bankers”

  • France Publications, May 2010: “Georgia Banks In Transition”

  • ABA – Community Banker, October 2008 “Buy, Sell, or Hold”