Maynard Nexsen acquires North Carolina law firm

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Maynard Nexsen law firm, which has offices in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston, has acquired a North Carolina practice.

The acquisition of North Carolina criminal defense firm Dysart Willis allows Maynard Nexen to expand its white collar criminal defense and government investigations practice.

The four attorneys joining Maynard Nexsen have decades of combined experience in state and federal court with an emphasis on white collar criminal defense and government investigations, including in the areas of antitrust, public corruption, professional licensure defense and Title IX defense, according to a news release.

Joining the firm are two shareholders, Christian Dysart and Ryan Willis, Of Counsel Meredith Brewer, and Associate Katie McCoy.

“Dysart Willis has an outstanding reputation in North Carolina for providing high quality representation in white collar and government investigation matters and other high stakes litigation, and we are fortunate to have this dynamic group join Maynard Nexsen,” said Erica Barnes, leader of the firm’s white collar criminal defense and government investigations practice at Maynard Nexsen, in the release. “The lawyers at Dysart Willis share Maynard Nexsen’s commitment to professional excellence, client service, uncompromising integrity and teamwork, and we cannot wait for them to become a fully integrated part of our growing team.”

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“Joining Maynard Nexsen gives us the platform to collaborate on investigations for clients across the firm–and across the country,” Dysart Willis co-founder Christian Dysart said in the release. “We are excited to add our trial experience to the firm’s growing white collar criminal defense practice. The firm’s Southern roots combined with its national reach make Maynard Nexsen the perfect fit for (co-founder) Ryan Willis’ and my vision for our practice.”

Dysart has been handling white collar criminal defense and government investigations work for over 15 years throughout North Carolina and in federal courts across the country. He is a graduate of Washington and Lee University and Duke Law School. He has long served as Dysart Willis’ Managing Partner.

Willis is a former state prosecutor and experienced trial lawyer, having represented clients to verdict in more than 25 jury trials in superior court and 10 in federal court. In addition to numerous state court victories, Willis won consecutive not-guilty verdicts in federal jury trials in 2020. Ryan is a graduate of North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina School of Law.

Brewer is a graduate of North Carolina State University and Wake Forest University School of Law, where she serves on the Rose Council, WFU Law’s young alumni board. In addition to her white collar and investigations work, Meredith handles complex civil litigation, professional licensure issues and has extensive experience in Title IX investigations. She previously served on the board and was the recipient of the Tenth Judicial District and Wake County Bar Association’s 2020 President’s Award for her service and commitment to the Young Lawyers Division.

McCoy graduated from the University of Mississippi and Wake Forest University School of Law. Katie has experience independently defending criminal matters in North Carolina’s state courts and working on federal criminal matters, as well as complex civil litigation matters. She currently serves on the Wake County Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Executive Board. She will also join WFU Law’s Rose Council in Summer 2024.