Maynard Nexsen Welcomes 2023 Class of New Associates

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Maynard Nexsen is pleased to announce the addition of 20 new associates who recently graduated from law schools across the United States and have joined the Firm.

"We are excited to welcome this premier group of talented professionals in our 2023 class of new associates," said Stephanie Mays, chief talent officer for Maynard Nexsen. "Each of these lawyers demonstrates the character and professional qualifications we seek in growing our firm, and we look forward to having them on the team."

• Jake Barnes - Complex & Commercial Litigation, Mobile
• Philip Boyd - Real Estate, Birmingham
• Mary Anna Brand - Labor & Employment, Mobile
• Nick Burnosky - Complex & Commercial Litigation, Orlando
• C.J. Coleman - Corporate & Business Transactions, Huntsville
• Zach Gillespie - Insurance, Birmingham
• Ben Grimes - Complex & Commercial Litigation, Birmingham
• Molly Hall - Economic Development, Charleston
• Josh Holmes - Complex & Commercial Litigation, Birmingham
• Taylor Holt - Government Solutions, Huntsville
• Mollie Hughes - Insurance, Birmingham
• Adam Johnston - Corporate & Business Transactions, Charleston
• Price McGiffert - Real Estate, Birmingham
• James Nye - Private Markets, Raleigh
• Jillian Purdue - Corporate & Business Transactions, Huntsville
• Garrett Reinhart - Health Care, Columbia
• Amy Rodenberger - Private Markets, Birmingham
• Whitt Watts - Corporate & Business Transactions, Birmingham
• Jada Wilson - Complex & Commercial Litigation, Columbia

Jake Barnes joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen's Complex & Commercial Litigation practice group. Jake received his J.D., summa cum laude, from Florida State University College of Law. In law school, he ranked third in his class, won numerous Book Awards, and was a member of the Order of Coif. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Jake clerked for the Honorable Judge M. Casey Rodgers and worked at the Firm as a summer associate in 2020. He holds a BASc. in Risk Management and Insurance from Florida State University.

Philip Boyd joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Real Estate practice group. Philip received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was a Hugo L. Black Scholar, elected to the Order of the Coif, and was an editor of and published in the Alabama Law Review. He holds a B.S., summa cum laude, in Finance from the University of Alabama.

Mary Anna Brand joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Labor & Employment practice group. Mary received her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Mississippi Law Journal and was a member of the Phi Delta Phi and Phi Kappa Phi Honor Societies. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Mary Anna worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022. She holds a B.A., cum laude, in Communication Studies from Samford University.

Nick Burnosky joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Complex & Commercial litigation practice group. Nick received his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and graduated with a concentration in Litigation and Dispute Resolution. In law school, he was Managing Editor of Student Works for the Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Nick clerked for the Honorable Joel H. Slomsky of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Temple University.

C.J. Coleman joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Corporate & Business Transactions practice group. C.J. received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he served as an editor for the Mississippi Law Journal. He holds an M.T.A. from the University of Mississippi and a B.B.A., cum laude, in Accounting from Millsaps College, where he played on the football team.

Zach Gillespie joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Insurance practice group. Zach received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, he clerked for the Honorable James L. "Jay" Mitchell of the Supreme Court of Alabama and worked for Governor Kay Ivey. He holds a B.S. and M.T.A. in Accounting from the University of Alabama.

Ben Grimes joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Complex & Commercial Litigation practice group. Ben received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was the Acquisitions Editor of the Alabama Law Review, a member of the Order of the Coif, a recipient of the M. Leigh Harrison Award, and a Hugo L. Black Scholar. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Ben served as a law clerk for the Honorable L. Scott Coogler, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He holds a B.S., summa cum laude, in Biology from the University of Alabama.

Molly Hall joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Economic Development practice group. Molly received her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she served as President of the Student Bar Association and received the John R. Holland Scholarship Award for leadership. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Molly clerked for the Honorable Michael G. Nettles in South Carolina’s Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court. She previously worked for IBM and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. She holds a B.S., magna cum laude, in Business from the University of South Carolina.

Josh Holmes joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Complex & Commercial Litigation practice group. Josh received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he was an associate Case Editor for the Mississippi Law Journal and a member of the Trial Advocacy Board. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Josh served as a law clerk to the Honorable Madeline H. Haikala of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Josh previously taught middle school English and History through Teach For America. He holds a B.S. in Political Science from Berea College, where he served as Executive President of Student Government.

Taylor Holt joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Government Solutions practice group. Taylor earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law. During law school, she was an editor of the Alabama Law Review and a member of the Order of the Barristers. She holds a B.S., summa cum laude, in Social Studies from Troy University.

Mollie Hughes joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Insurance practice group. Mollie earned her J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she ranked first in her class. In law school, Mollie earned seven Best Paper awards while also serving as President of the Student Bar Association and Managing Editor of the Alabama Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Mollie served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ed Carnes of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals and to the Honorable Stuart Kyle Duncan of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. She holds a B.A., summa cum laude, in American Studies and Political Science from the University of Alabama.

Adam Johnston joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Corporate & Business Transactions practice group. Adam earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served as an editor of The Journal of Law and Education. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, he worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022. He is also a licensed CPA and worked for several years in the public accounting industry. He holds a B.S. and MPAcc in Accounting from Clemson University.

Carolyn Kraft joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Estate, Trust & Business Planning practice group. Carolyn earned her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she served as President of the Federalist Society. She holds a B.A., cum laude, in Environmental Studies and Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she was an editor of the UCLA Undergraduate Law Review.

Price McGiffert joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Real Estate practice group. Price earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he graduated first in his class, served on the Alabama Law Review, was president of the Bench and Bar Legal Honor Society, and was a member of the Blackburn Institute and the Order of the Coif. Price earned an L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University, where he served as a member of the Tax Law Review. He also holds an MBA and B.S., summa cum laude, in Civil Engineering from the University of Alabama. While in undergraduate school, Price was president of the Student Government Association and a member of the Jasons Senior Men’s Honorary.

James Nye joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Private Markets practice group. James earned his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, James worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022 and clerked for The Honorable James A. Wynn, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He holds a B.A. in Political Science and Germanic Studies from Duke University.

Jillian Purdue joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Private Markets practice group. Jillian earned her J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, where she served as an articles editor for the Alabama Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Jillian worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022 and interned with the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee. She holds a B.A., summa cum laude, in Economics and English from The University of the South.

Garrett Reinhardt joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Health Care practice group. Garrett earned his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where he served as the senior research editor for the South Carolina Law Review.  Prior to joining the Firm full-time, Jillian worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022. He holds a B.A., cum laude, in Government and Business from Wofford College.

Amy Rodenberger joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Private Markets practice group. Amy earned her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Georgetown Law & Technology Review. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, she worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022. She previously served as executive office director for the Mayor of New Orleans and as a fundraising consultant for political and non-profit organizations across the South. She holds a B.A., magna cum laude, in Political Science and Government, International Relations from Tulane University.

Whitt Watts joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Corporate & Business Transactions practice group. Whitt earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law, where he was the special works editor for the Alabama Law Review. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, he worked as a summer associate in 2021 and 2022. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Auburn University.

Jada Wilson joins as an associate in Maynard Nexsen’s Complex & Commercial Litigation practice group. Jada earned her J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, where she served as vice president and public relations chair of the Matthew J. Perry Jr. Chapter of the Black Law Students Association. Prior to joining the Firm full-time, she worked as a summer associate in 2020 and 2021. She holds an M.S. in Community Engaged Medicine and a B.S. in Health Sciences from Furman University.