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.

Bar Admissions

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

Education

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

Significant Accomplishments

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

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