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About Attorneys

Home-Attorneys

Crispin Rinaci
General Lawyer

For more than ten years, Crispin has represented clients in the public and private sectors with respect to environmental law matters and related policy issues. During that time, he has worked with and for members of Congress, State legislatures, industry trade associations, and public commissions and departments in an effort to develop and implement reasonable policies and solutions to various issues, both individual and general in nature, related to environmental regulation and real estate development.

Crispin’s practice concentrates in the areas of Environmental and Administrative law. He counsels and represents clients on a wide variety of environmental permitting, compliance and regulatory enforcement matters and on environmental due diligence aspects of real estate and brownfield transactions including brownfield tax abatements. He has represented a wide range of clients, large and small, public and private, with particularized needs including industrial recruitment, site selection, construction on greenfield and brownfield sites, expansions and transfers as well as ongoing compliance requirements and response to enforcement actions.

Crispin recently served on an advisory panel, appointed by Alabama’s Governor, focusing on Riparian Rights and other legal issues in the state. The panel advised the Governor and the Alabama Water Agencies Working Group on issues related to the development of a water management plan for the State.

Crispin is a contributing author to the firm’s Environmental Law Matters Blog providing news and tips to clients on environmental matters.

Prior to joining the firm in 1997, Crispin practiced for twelve years with quality skills in Alabama Department of Environmental Management, where he attained a well recognized position. His duties included representing the Department in a variety of legal matters, particularly those involving hazardous and solid waste management and wastewater regulation

While in law school, Crispin was on Mercer’s Championship Moot Court Team and was selected to the National Order of the Barristers. Prior to entering law school, Crispin served as a legislative aide to the Honorable Elliott H. Levitas, a Member of Congress from Georgia’s Fourth District.

Skill

Success Cases 93%
Case Experience 84%
General Law 79%

Brak Harwill

civil Lawyer

Brak represents clients throughout Louisiana and the surrounding region in complex commercial litigation and in the representation of lawyers and law firms in connection with issues of ethics and professional liability.

Mr. Brak handles cases in both state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. His clients include two of Louisiana’s largest electric utilities (Entergy and Cleco), as well as numerous out-of-state clients with litigation in Louisiana. He has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers in America in multiple categories, including Bet-The-Company Litigation (2019), Real Estate Litigation (2020), Legal Malpractice Law – Defense (2014, 2016, 2018) and Antitrust (2012, 2015). As an appellate lawyer, Mr. Brak serves as Chair of the LSBA Appellate Section and as a member of the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization’s Appellate Practice Advisory Commission.

Mr. Brak graduated from Louisiana State University summa cum laude and received the University Medal for academic achievement. He graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he received the Oberman Award for legal writing. After graduation, he served as law clerk to the late Honorable Albert Tate, Jr. on the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Since 1985, Mr. Brak has taught on a part-time basis on the adjunct faculty of Tulane Law School. As an adjunct Professor of Law, his courses have included Criminal Process and Practice, Trial Advocacy, Legal Ethics, and Professional Responsibility. He currently teaches an upper-class seminar on Professional Responsibility.

Skill

Success Cases 91%
Case Experience 82%
civil Law 78%

Jolicia Grayson

Family Lawyer

Jolicia Grayson originally is from Wisconsin. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota in 1996 and graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 1999. While in law school, Jolicia was a staff member for the North Carolina Journal of International Law and Commercial Regulation and a member of the Holderness Moot Court National Team. He also received the Gressman-Pollitt Award for outstanding oral advocacy during her first year of law school. Jolicia served for two years as a law clerk to the Honorable Sarah Parker of the North Carolina Supreme Court immediately after law school, then practiced family law with a large Raleigh firm for more than 16 years before establishing Jackson Family Law.

Jolicia’s practice is devoted to family law and appeals. He also has extensive experience dividing various types of retirement benefits, including IRAs, pensions, defined contribution plans, and governmental retirement plans.

Jolicia is a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in Family Law. He currently is the Secretary of the North Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Jolicia has served on the Family Law Specialization Committee of the North Carolina State Bar Board of Legal Specialization and on the Grievance Committee of the 10th Judicial District Bar. Jolicia has been recognized by Business North Carolina magazine as one of the “Legal Elite” in North Carolina and as a “Rising Star,” a “Top 50 Women Lawyer,” and a “Top 100 Lawyer” by North Carolina Super Lawyers magazine. She formerly was a member of the Family Law Council of the North Carolina Bar Association and is a past co-chair of the Equitable Distribution Committee of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. Jolicia also served on the Board of Directors for the 10th Judicial District Bar and the Wake County Bar Association. Jolicia currently serves on the CLE Curriculum Committee of the North Carolina Bar Association Family Law Section.

Jolicia is a frequent course planner and speaker at Continuing Legal Education programs throughout North Carolina. Jolicia also has been a guest speaker for family law courses at the University of North Carolina School of Law, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Campbell Law School, and Wake Forest University School of Law.

In addition to her legal activities, Jolicia is dedicated to volunteering in her community. Jolicia has served as the President (2016-2017) and Vice-President (2015-2016) of the Hunter Elementary GT/AIG Magnet Elementary School PTA and continues to serve on the Hunter PTA Board. Jolicia also is the coach of the Ligon Middle School Mock Trial Team and is a founding board member and the current Secretary of the Lucille Hunter Elementary School Foundation.

Skill

Success Cases 91%
Case Experience 80%
Family Law 77%

John Fletcher

Criminal Lawyer

John Fletcher, Esq., an attorney since 1989, founded the firm in 1997, after six years of award-winning service as a federal prosecutor. The skills and experience he gained by overseeing some of the most complex investigations and trials as a federal prosecutor, are now used to defend those being investigated or charged by the government. Mr. John started his criminal defense practice with one goal in mind – to provide the best possible defense for individuals targeted by the government. His approach to cases is straight forward – work hard, focus on the details, commit to finding the weaknesses in the government’s case, and provide the client and their family with the support to get through one of the most stressful times of their lives.

Since launching John Criminal Defense Lawyers, he has represented clients in complex criminal matters, both at trial and on appeal, and matters before the NASD and SEC. Mr. John represents those charged in a variety of frauds, and specializes in representing licensed professionals such as: physicians, dentists, lawyers, accountants, appraisers, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and investment advisors and brokers charged with healthcare fraud, mortgage fraud, securities fraud and tax crimes. He also represents select defendants charged with crimes of violence, drug offenses and money laundering. Most recently he represented a former police officer in Bergen County facing murder charges; in federal court in Boston, one of the two students from Kazakhstan charged in connection with the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing; and a person charged in federal court in the Southern District of New York in a murder-for-hire plot.

While many of Mr. John’s successes can be read in newspapers and on-line, some of the most satisfying successes never come to the public’s attention because he has successfully convinced the prosecutor to decline bringing charges. When retained early in the investigative stage, the firm’s goal is to prevent charges from being brought.

Mr. John’s entire practice is devoted to defending individuals and corporations charged with federal and state violations. His list of clients includes individuals, government officials and corporations In federal courts throughout the United States, state courts in New Jersey and New York, and overseas in places including the United Kingdom and the former U.S.S.R.

Mr. John has an extensive background in criminal investigations and trials. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey for more than six years and specialized in leading the investigation and prosecution of complex white-collar crime, tax, and organized crime cases. As an Assistant U.S. Attorney, Mr. John successfully prosecuted multi-defendant, complex fraud cases with trials lasting as long as nine months, including the largest excise tax fraud case in the history of the United States.

During his USDOJ tenure, Mr. John received two of the highest national awards given by the Department of Justice and the Attorney General of the United States for his outstanding trial skills. Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney's Office, Mr. John was a law clerk for U.S. District Court Judge John W. Bissell for two years. Mr. John graduated magna cum laude from Seton Hall Law School.

Since 2007, Mr. John has been continuously selected as a Super Lawyer in White Collar Criminal Defense. Mr. John is Certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Criminal Trial Attorney.

The Certified Trial Lawyer designation by the New Jersey Supreme Court is limited to lawyers who have demonstrated:
  • Substantial involvement in trial matter in Superior Court;
  • An unblemished reputation as attested to by judges and lawyers; and
  • Substantial knowledge and continuing legal education shown by passing a special written examination on trial practice.
    • Mr. John also appears as a legal commentator on Fox News and Fox Business News and has been quoted in major newspapers and wire services across the United States.

Skill

Success Cases 88%
Case Experience 85%
Criminal Law 80%

Micheal Wagou

Corporate Lawyer

Micheal Wagou is a Member in the firm’s business section and has been practicing law since 1997. He concentrates his practice on advising clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general business matters.

General Business/Transactional Experience
Mr. Micheal assists businesses of all sizes and their owners in addressing their day-to-day legal needs. This involves counseling clients on organizing and structuring new entities, employment issues, equity incentives and corporate governance. It also includes reviewing and drafting various types of commercial business agreements, such as manufacturing and supply, distribution, outsourcing, joint venture, licensing, employment and consulting agreements.

Merger, Acquisition and Sale Transactions
Mr. Micheal has represented both the “buy” side and “sell” side in a variety of complex transactions such as mergers, acquisitions of stock or assets, management-led buyouts, recapitalizations, reorganizations, and private equity investments.

Corporate Finance
Mr. Micheal has significant experience in the corporate finance area representing clients in connection with public offerings, private placements, venture capital transactions and fund formation. He has also advised publicly held companies on questions of compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, corporate governance matters, disclosure obligations and other matters under federal and state securities law.Mr. Micheal has been involved with Start Garden for several years. Start Garden is a venture capital fund with a twist – it’s created an ecosystem that helps ideas become businesses. He is also a part of the mentor network for the Seamless Coalition and Accelerator which was formed in the spring of 2015. This new partnership with area companies creates collaborations and shared resources with startups that will focus on the “Internet of Things”.

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors
Mr. Micheal is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, Grand Rapids Bar Association (GRBA), the Michigan Venture Capital Association and Association for Corporate growth, West Michigan Chapter. He is a member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Regulation of Securities Committee of the Business Law Section and serves as the treasurer and secretary of the Business and Taxation Section of the GRBA.Mr. Micheal was selected for inclusion in Michigan Super Lawyers–Rising Stars for Business/ Corporate in 2010.

Skill

Success Cases 90%
Case Experience 78%
Corporate Law 87%

Morrison De Whyte

Financial Lawyer

Morrison focuses his practice in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securities, emerging businesses and commercial finance as a member of the firm's Business Services and Economic Development Departments.

Morrison regularly represents companies, their owners and their investors in stock and asset acquisitions and divestitures, mergers and other reorganizations. He also counsels startup and emerging companies in connection with business formation, seed, early-stage and follow-on financing and exit transactions. In addition, Morrison frequently advises clients in commercial financing and real estate transactions and also has substantial experience advising public utilities in financing and transactional matters.

Skill

Success Cases 81%
Case Experience 80%
Fanancial Law 90%