Partner, Atlanta
303 Peachtree Street, NE
Suite 5300
Atlanta, GA 30308

TEL: 404.527.4140
FAX: 404.527.4198
EMAIL: jspikes@mckennalong.com

PROFILE

Currently a senior partner based in the firm’s Atlanta office, Jesse Spikes is a corporate lawyer who focuses his practice on corporate transactions, governance and compliance, internal investigations and audits as well as special committee representations. He also works with businesses in the area of advertising and marketing law, including the negotiation of endorsements and the preparation of licensing agreements.

During his career of nearly thirty years, Jesse has:

• Counseled public and private corporations and their officers and directors regarding a wide variety of corporate governance and compliance issues;
• Represented clients in internal investigations;
• Represented a large consumer products company in connection with certain marketing and advertising activities;
• Represented several high-profile athletes and entertainers with respect to contract negotiations, endorsements and other business ventures;
• Represented issuers and investors in private securities offerings;
•  Handled numerous mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, joint ventures, private equity investments, leveraged and management buy-outs and similar corporate transactions;
•  Counseled major restaurant chains and others, locally and nationally, with respect to general regulatory, alcoholic beverages licensure and other issues;
•  Represented public and private clients with respect to an array of corporate matters;
•  Served as general counsel to a life insurance company;
•  Served in-house as legal adviser to an international commercial bank headquartered in the Middle East where he lived for over four years;
•  Assisted private parties in providing services to commercial and governmental entities, including successful navigation of both  the initial disadvantaged/female/minority-owned business enterprise certification process and the subsequent establishment of the appropriate teaming arrangements between the parties; and
•  Represented governmental entities in the privatization of water and waste water treatment systems.

Jesse has also advised corporate clients with respect to litigation strategy and has represented independent Board committees of private companies.  He currently serves as a director on the board of Atlanta Life Financial Group.

Prior to joining the firm, Jesse clerked for the Honorable Damon J. Keith on the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. His community activities include service as Chairman of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections and on the Boards of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation, the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Agnes Scott College, the Atlanta Organizing Committee for the 1996 Olympic Games and many other organizations.