Mr. Adams’ primary areas of practice are bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and commercial disputes and workouts. He has forty years of experience in all aspects of bankruptcy matters and has represented creditors, lessors, committees, debtors, guarantors, and trustees in a broad range of matters and industries. He has significant experience representing hospitals and health care entities in bankruptcy cases and transactions.

---

Education

• Davidson College, B.S., 1972
• Wake Forest University School of Law, J.D., 1979

Experience

• Representing creditors, creditors' committees, and debtors in bankruptcy cases and troubled loan workouts, including matters involving health care entities, real estate developers, builders, commercial real estate lessors and tenants, manufacturing enterprises, retailers, religious organizations, and individuals
• Representing creditors and debtors in bankruptcy litigation matters, including preference and fraudulent transfer defense, relief from stay, lease rejection, cash collateral, claim objections, section 363 bankruptcy sales, dischargeability, denial of discharge, chapter 11 plan confirmation, defense of involuntary bankruptcy petitions, constructive trust litigation, and related bankruptcy matters
• Representing clients in bankruptcy appeals in the United States District Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States
• Representing buyers and sellers in asset and stock purchases of businesses
• Representing commercial lessors and tenants in lease negotiations
• Representing parties in commercial litigation involving breach of contract and business torts
• Selected as the receiver in state court receivership
• Former Chapter 13 Standing Trustee for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, Winston-Salem Division
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Elon University School of Law (2008 – 2016) – inaugural teacher of bankruptcy course; Preceptor to first year students; Guest lecturer in contracts class
• Adjunct Professor of Law, Wake Forest University School of Law (Fall 1998) – taught debtor – creditor law course; Guest lecturer in bankruptcy courses
• Regularly provides pro bono services to clients of Legal Aid of North Carolina

Distinctions

• Board Certified Specialist in Business and Consumer Bankruptcy Law, North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization (since 1987)
• AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
• Listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine for bankruptcy law
• Named in Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite for bankruptcy law
• Nominated by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Admissions

• North Carolina State Bar
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• United States District Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina
• United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Western, Middle and Eastern Districts of North Carolina

Memberships

• North Carolina Bar Board of Legal Specialization Bankruptcy Specialization Committee, Chair 1995-1998; Member 1991-1998
• North Carolina Bar Association, Bankruptcy Section, Council Member, 1988-1991, 2014-2017; Treasurer, 2002-2004
• American Bankruptcy Institute
• Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Inc., Officer and Director, 1994-2010

Publications & Presentations

•  As a Winston-Salem attorney, Mr. Adams is a frequent speaker at seminars, including those sponsored by the North Carolina Bar Foundation, Middle District Bankruptcy Seminar, Inc., Turnaround Management Association, National Association of Chapter 13 Trustees, National Business Institute, Lorman Education Services, Sterling Education Services, Inc., North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, Community Bankers Association of North Carolina, and the Greensboro Bar Association
• Co-editor of chapter on dischargeability and denial of discharge for North Carolina Bankruptcy Practice Manual

Community Involvement

• Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC
• Guilford Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc.
• Habitat for Humanity of Greater Greensboro
• Sea Island Habitat for Humanity (Johns Island, SC)
• The Caring Program for Children, Inc., President and Chair, 1995-1997; Director, 1991-1997
• Human Rights Committee of the Murdoch Center